Wigan Album
Scholes
27 CommentsPhoto: RON HUNT
Item #: 30652
This photograph was taken before I was born so obviously I won't remember the church and garage. The exact place is where Mannion House block of flats is. The five identical blocks of flats, Woodcock, Derby, Crompton, Mannion and Brook Houses were built in 1966-68 in that order I think.
Does anyone know the name of the church as I just can't remember the building at all, and when was it was demolished? If it was early fifties then it would be understandable.
I can vividly remember going there one evening. It must have been before 1953 as we moved from Spring street which was only about 200 yards away, to Pemberton, just before the Coronation. I was probably about 7. I remember it was full of children and at one end of the church was a big banner (that's how I can describe it). On it was some message written in pictures i.e. I was an eye. saw was represented by a wood saw. etc. etc. I have no idea what it was all about? Probably some religious message trying to entice the younger generation to attend that church. I think we all got sweets after the show or whatever it was had finished. It's the banner with the symbols representing words that fascinated me. I can remember it very vividly even now.
You must have a very good memory Ron - I only remember houses on that side after the Newsagents on the corner going towards Crompton St. I also remember houses on the opposite side but not a church or garage for that matter! I was seven as well when the Queen was crowned.
Ron is that the Wigan little theatre in the back ground or have I got my angel wrong
The cogs in my memory have been 'squeaking' I very vaguely remember the garage - but not the church!
Ron are you sure this is Scholes crossing? I don.t remember the Church in the forties, Was it on the corner of Bold St??
It's taken looking toward Scholes crossing you can see a van, which has just gone through the crossing heading towards Wigan it would be passing Ralph Gubbins shop. The BLUEBELL pub was on the left of the picture just out of shot, opposite the Garage
If you look at photo number 18971 on this section i.e. SCHOLES you can see the roof of the church
I have looked at the other photo and even though it's there in black/white and was still there in the sixties I still don't remember it being there! ( I'm getting worried now!).
On the "Old Maps" website you can "call up" Wigan in their Gazetteer and if you choose the 1954 Ordnance Survey of Wigan (as opposed to the many other years) it's very clear to see the Church and Garage exactly as Ron describes.
I knew the building well.It stood at the corner of Bold Street & was sometimes called Bold Street Mission.It was for many years 1937 to the demolition days,home to the Assembly of God,a Pentecostal denomination .The congregation was formed in about 1926 by open air preaching in the Market Square.An aunt of mine was one of the original members.The SchoolLane building became available when the brethren who had met there built Hebron Hall in Walkden Avenue.The Assembly of God had anew building across the road from the old one & the vestiges of the church are I believe in the Potteries & on a grander scale
Was that the Circular garage ?
I think the CIRCULAR GARAGE was where the Mecca Bingo Hall is. Next to the Spiritualist church in Crompton Street.
Definately Scholes Crossing. Ken, Ron, Circular Garage was further along through the crossing on the left hand side, I bought my Moggy Minor from there in late 1959 and took it to the garage shown for servicing. Circular Garage is now down Chapel Lane. H.
hi was the river douglas in that area
Tom the river Douglas was about 150 yards in the direction the van is going.
hi ron i remember the river douglas ran from greenough st behind water heyes to the little theatre ,also the old bath springs pub .
Tom if you look at photograph 18971 the River Douglas is just out of shot at the bottom of the photo. You can see the church roof to the left of the crossing
My wife remembers this church, Methodist.. Children from the area attended an organised activity there, during the summer months. It was near to Bold Street. She believes the church was named “ Jesus Saves”.
A board ran the length of the building with the message Jesus Saves From the Uttermost to the Uttermost
If my memory serves me right, wasn’t there a wooden board that went along the front of the church, with the words “ Jesus Saves” printed along that board?.
The pavement in front of the church shows the beginning of Bold Street where I lived at No.17. Can I correct Tom's comments about the River Douglas; you are correct in everything except that the Douglas didn't pass by the Bath Springs pub. The pub was about 200 yards further along Crompton Street between School St.and Lime St.
Thanks for your input to the photo Donald Underwood,I can’t remember the church but do remember your aunts living in Mannion House. We brioches to the church when the building had been demolished and were meeting in Greenough St we were there at the building of the new church and the one in pottery Rd still going strong
Interesting to hear from you,Eunice.I was only in the new building once, for Aunt Rachel's funeral.I don't know if my contemporaries remain from the old building days.Ruth Unsworth,John & Kathleen Ollerton,or the Molyneaux brothers from Appley Bridge.I suspect anyone older than I am is now in glory
To reply to you Donald Underwood a few people remember you and your family well was talking to Barbara Belfield and Valerie Vizard the other day, Ruth and John and Kath are doing well
Eunice.Thank you for the info.Ruth's parents and John's go back to the days of the Upper Room in Woodcock Street