Wigan Album

Rev it was made by Mayors boatyard according to a Wiganworld member, a few years ago she asked if anyone could get up into the tower to see if it was still there

I did get up and took some photos, it was interesting looking through the visitors book and seeing all the comments from bell ringers from all over England

I like your mention of 'bell ringers from all over England', Mick. It's very patriotic - and charming.

Just seen this, my great grandfather Richard Forshaw, died in 1926 was a foreman boat builder at the L &L boatyard Also involved with the church.
He made the mirror, he worked for the L&L for about 50 years and died his 80s according to his obit in the local paper. At one time he lived in one of the cottages near Trencherfield.

MARGARET IF HE MADE THE MIRROR IT'S ODDS ON HE ALSO MADE THE MODEL. CANT MAKE OUT ALL OF THE TEXT ON THE MIRROR.. BUT CAN MAKE OUT THE WORD 'RING'

I was in the tower to record the War Memorial there to Gunner J Ainsworth, killed in WW1, and only took the pic of the mirror because of my interest in canals. Unfortunately I didn't get very good images of all the inscriptions. However, there are two sets carved on the top and bottom of the mirror frame. The bottom set reads 'Ring out the False Ring in the True' - and I expect the set at the top is along the same lines. The brass plaques in the bottom centre, and on the sides, of the mirror frame look as if they were polished a lot for many years, eroding the inscriptions, but then neglected since, so the inscriptions are hard to decipher. But I can just make out, I think, the following:
'.... the Lancashire Association of Change Ringers/ .... Presented to/ William Short Esq./ ...?
The one on the barge stand, of which only half is present, reads: Presented to..../ Mr Daniel ..../ To..../ Brother(s).....
From my set of images, Ron, it looks as if the shelf with the barge on is a later addition to the bottom of the mirror frame