Wigan Album

They don't need many blinds now,most of the shops in Mesnes Street now,most of the shops are closed.

I remember Mesnes St so well. The Scotch Bakery was on the left hand corner by the alley that went through to Dicconson St. The shoe shop where my mother always chose clod hoppers for me, which must have been one of the shops in the row pictured. They had an X Ray machine to see where your toes were in the shoe !
Not many shops seem have sun blinds these days.....well most shops are in shopping malls these days so you wouldnt know if it was rain or shine outside...thanks DTease

Not nearly as vibrant as it used to be. My first job was at Aspinall's Decorators (out of shot). But that's the case all around Wigan.

The name of the shoe shop was Scotts!.

Thanks Joyce, I wouldnt have remembered the name of the shoe shop in a Month of Sundays!

(Now where did that saying come from !?)

Aspinall's were quite an upmarket decorators and they had a machine for trimming wallpaper which had to be paid for on top of the customer's bill. Before this people had to trim their own wallpaper which was quite a tedious job. I was Shown how to work the machine and it was very unpredictable - I remember some people at first, would bring the rolls back because the machine sliced some of the pattern off at the edges. I hated doing that job. It was usually the well- off people who paid for that service. There was a team of decorators worked for Mr Aspinall as I remember. Basically I was an errand girl, tripping round about Wigan to the other Decorator's shops and I only stayed about 5 months, it certainly wasn't well paid to work in shops at that time.

Pub quiz. Without zooming in too closely who can say what is written on the 2 stone plaques that can been seen above the buildings. I have walked by them many times but only read them recently.

Give us a clue Philip- my eyes are not that good.....Head - something- Office?

I love those big windows.. The second and third floors would make lovely flats /apartments.. Nice solid well built buildings...

Clue . ? BUILDINGS

I think its something like Market Buildings

A quick cheat by looking at Google Street View gives the answer .... MARKET BUILDINGS

Interesting that the remaining shops not closed and up For Let give a snapshot of those essential staples of modern life ....
A betting shop, a nail salon, a chemists, a dress shop, a sandwich shop and a vape shop.

I think the bakery was Baillie’s.

It is Market Buildings . This photo does show attractive shop fronts. Bill Bryson returned to England and wrote a follow up to his previous book about the country. He remarked how many ground floor shops through out the England had been spoiled but If you look up at the first floor they still retained their original architecture.

Broady I think you are right with the spelling of The Scotch Bakery...not Baileys.