Wigan Album
Standish
5 CommentsPhoto: Barrie
Item #: 29797
I learned to ride motorcycles with gears in the field just to the left of this photo and over the coal spoilage hills to the rear left of the photographer, Very happy carefree days
I suspect the railway looks totally different today.
I wonder how Turner would have painted this.
Hello Howard P, as for your question regarding the railway changing in this view...
Today the WCML railway is now overhead electrified at this point at 25KV AC (as part of the Weaver Junction-Glasgow electrification) & as for the little footpath crossing, it has now been replaced by a substantial steel construction green painted footbridge.
Much safer than the old footpath crossing & today the bridge provides a great vantage point to view the trains from.
Hope that helps.
Rob
From this point if you were to turn left you would have followed a path that was virtually straight that took you through 3 fields and boundaries, past a couple of ponds on your right until you came to a large field that came out at the bottom of Grove Lane. You would then have passed 2 large barns that were then where the top of Cranleigh is now ( Midgy Lane ). A short distance on would take you to Birketts shop at the Junction of Ash Grove. Up Grove Lane passing the stables ( Almonds I think )onward up past the Council Bin Yard and Horseshoe Pub onto High Street. Things change over time and now of those places exist as they were. The fields I mentioned soon to be another housing estate. Sad really.