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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Market Place, Wigan

14 Comments

Coronation Day 1937
Coronation Day 1937
Photo: Bill Woodcock
Views: 3,430
Item #: 32082
Good to see the old Wigan Corporation bus in front of Lowes. Taken by my father E.W.Woodcock on Coronation Day 12th May 1937

Comment by: Mick on 13th April 2020 at 22:30

Thats a very long ladder propped up.

Comment by: Ray on 14th April 2020 at 08:33

The van in the photo looks like a Ford, and the name on the
side looks like " Smarts " of Wigan, any ideas who Smarts were and what they did ?

Comment by: Albert.S. on 14th April 2020 at 10:51

No health, and safety then Ray.

Comment by: Albert.S. on 14th April 2020 at 10:53

Sorry. I see it was your comment Mick.

Comment by: Mick LD on 14th April 2020 at 12:00

Ray, the name on the van is Smailes. They were a butchers. I believe they had a shop just down the road from this location, and others in the Wigan area.

Comment by: Veronica on 14th April 2020 at 15:16

There was a Smailes's butchers in Scholes, didn't need to go up town then, every shop you could think of on the doorstep.

Comment by: Ray on 14th April 2020 at 15:45

Mick LD, Thank you for the name " Smailes " on the van.
I have cleaned my specs and it is now much clearer, Cheers.

Comment by: Rev David Long on 14th April 2020 at 16:26

It's a pity that the site of these properties wasn't left empty of buildings when these buildings were demolished in the mid-80s. The Cenotaph and the Parish Church would then have provided a splendid backdrop to the Market Place.

Comment by: GrahamN on 14th April 2020 at 20:23

Two photos but parish clock must have stopped. To the right of shop front is it the Hoggs Head? I thought the pub was the Golden Lion !

Comment by: AH on 15th April 2020 at 09:21

GrahamM;The pub is the black horse Today TUI travel agents.The shop on the other side seems to read OUTSAVES?

Comment by: Josh on 15th April 2020 at 09:27

GrahamN, the clue might be the bulls head located in the arched "window" near the top of the building, seen when the photo is "enlarged" on the computer.

Comment by: ken on 15th April 2020 at 10:11

It's the Bulls Head. The Golden Lion was lower down than the Raven.

Comment by: Mick LD on 15th April 2020 at 11:42

The sign on the Bull's Head reads 'God Save' - it would appear to be part of 'God Save The King'.
If you look at the other Market Place photo posted by Bill, you can see a bit more of the sign.

Comment by: Dave on 16th April 2020 at 13:56

Imay have to go to specsavers but for the life of me i can't see a bus of any discription on this picture.

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