Wigan Album

I remember this when it was Oxley's but my Mam always called it Poole's. x

I remember when Oxley's opened - I would be 11 at the time (1957). It sticks in my mind because my mother bought me a bottle green serge pinafore for the uniform I would be wearing in the seniors. The cost was 9s/11d. It was a cheaper establishment than Marks or Debenhams. I remember the uneven, creaky floors and payment was processed by an assistant using those overhead tubes if I'm not mistaken.

You're right, Veronica. xx

I seem to remember their was a Christmas grotto at the far end of the store ,the the shop assistant would put your money in a oval container put it in a tube then you had to wait for your change coming back same way

Looking back I think the green serge material which was very course and rough,could have been ex- army khaki dyed bottle green... Nothing was wasted in those days! There was a couple of girls besides me wore the same pinafores. I remember Sister Lucy calling us to the front of the class having a look and examining the material with her gnarled hands. She smiled - but I think she was probably thinking 'cheap'! I have never seen that kind of material since. It was itchy as well!

Veronica, you're quite right they had the tube system for payments . Just for the record after Oxleys it became John Peters and the Waring and Gillow.