Login   |   Register   |   
Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Orrell

11 Comments

The Old Engine, Gathurst Road, 2005
The Old Engine, Gathurst Road, 2005
Photo: Rev David Long
Views: 4,755
Item #: 30752
Demolished July 2011, and replaced by nondescript houses.

Comment by: B. on 18th September 2018 at 12:12

A pint of bitter please, half and half.

Comment by: Dave on 18th September 2018 at 13:17

Better let nondescript houses than leaving an empty building to rot and become an eyesore for ages.

Comment by: jack on 18th September 2018 at 15:44

Correct Dave. Or demolish it and do nothing as per The Stork at Marsh Green.

Comment by: Jarvo on 19th September 2018 at 00:37

It wasn't always empty...

Comment by: English Electric on 19th September 2018 at 07:12

Back in the 1970s I remember seeing buses leaving Wigan town centre to "Kitt Green Old Engine" (think it was the 611 back then).

I sometimes wondered what this mysterious "old engine" was and why a bus would go there. Now I have the answer, and presumably the bus stop in front of the pub in the picture was its terminus.

Comment by: Pete Barker on 19th September 2018 at 18:19

My late little brother and I, used to sometimes sit on the front steps to The Old Engine pub in the early 1960's when we lived on Cambridge road. We used to catch the bus from outside there to school to St Josephs initially, then to St Cuthberts. Sad to hear the pub has now gone, and probably Orrell Royal British legion club too which was just over the road ? As kids we even did daft things like run across all the lanes of the then newish M6 . Traffic was very light in those days. days.

Comment by: fred foster on 19th September 2018 at 20:22

The old engine in question was a stationary one, used to pump water from a mine

Comment by: Bill Kenyon on 23rd September 2018 at 19:35

Back in the 60's this was the first place I ever had chicken in the basket and they gave you plastic gloves to wear while you ate!

Comment by: Stemul on 26th September 2018 at 19:47

PETER BARKER , would that brother be Christopher Barker ?
If so , he was a classmate of mine at St. Cuthberts.

Comment by: Pete Barker on 26th September 2018 at 21:13

Yes mate, my late little brothers name is Chris. There is a pic of him (and others) doing his First Holy Communion at St.Cuthberts on this very website.

Comment by: Anne McHugh on 16th July 2023 at 19:59

Do I remember that in the 1950's this pub was a red brick building? I have a pretty good memory but have no recollection of this white exterior. We used to ride on 'the little bus' from Orrell Post to Standish to visit my uncle who lived on Church St. and the bus passed the pub. The number of houses that have been built at Orrell Post, Gathurst and Shevington
since those days is unbelievable. Google maps are an eye opener!

Leave a comment?

* Enter the 5 digit code to the right of the input box. Don't worry if you make a mistake, you will get another chance. Your comments won't be lost.