Wigan Album

A suggestion. Are the houses going north just inside the News Springs boundary. The road straightens out and becomes level

Looks like the willows on the Mount. I lived around the corner on Wilton ave

the big building on right looks like whelley Methodist chapel

Geoff Dykes -my old history teacher at WGS lived in this row and for many years my parents had an allotment on the wonderful site just behind these houses. Over the road and up a bit was the GP surgery of Dr Simms and (I think) Dr Oldfield (?) for some reason we only ever went to Dr Simms. It was just loke Dr Finlays casebook. Younever had an appointment but would go to the Surgery and sit on one of the long leather benches on either side of the waiting room until it was your turn to see the Doctor. Imagine that these days.

Carolean, It was not Simms it was Dr, Simmonds.

Ken. Dr Simmonds was the lovely man indeed. My only excuse for faulty memory is the passing of time. I left Wigan (for ever as it turned out) when I left in in 1970 to go to University in Geordieland also most of my appointments with Dr Simmonds had been as a young lad. That's why I love this site though, it takes exiles like me straight back to a time and place which seemed like they would last forever at the time but in reality - like the film they have gone with the wind !

With reference to Watchalot and Whelley Methodist Chapel. There is a newer brick built house in the same location as the Methodist Chapel. Part of the front boundary of this new building is what I think is the former wall and gate posts of the Chapel.

Can I suggest this was taken fro the exact same location as the other Whelley photo .... the other looking towards Wigan , this one towards New Springs . Both opposite the doctors

I like how the neighbours have come to the front doors and the children in the road all curious to know they might be in the photograph. Something very new I suppose to them. What you might call 'tooting' at what is going on! ;0)