Wigan Album

I worked at Westwood 1969 to 1978. The coal was brought in by canal from Bickershaw Colliery and lifted from the barges by one of the two jetty cranes. It was then dropped into the hoppers above the coal conveyor belt to be carried into the station. During my time there this part of the coal handling system was put into disuse because it became cheaper to bring the coal in from Yorkshire by road. I think that this would be in the early 1970's.

David, do you remember Len Johnson who drove the cranes, he was my dad?

Hi David. Sorry but I don't remember your Dad. The name does sound familiar but 40 + years is a long time.

Some barges were filled with coal and taken to Westwood from a loading bay at Mather Lane Leigh,the first barge pulled two more,quite a lot of coal ended up in the canal,and as kids we kebbed some out and sold it,kebbing was a bucket with some little holes in it,tied to a rope and thrown in,and dragged back,H&S would not allow it today.