Wigan Album

On the way of our school cross-country run John - 'white vest with one green hoop' springs to mind. Our first run (1960) was made memorable by the fact that 'Jasper' had failed to return, resulting in one of the teachers having to go out and find him … had him by the 'pots, I believe. Like the sweep of the path.

Excellent John, really like your painting. Looked at it again on my mobile and moved the image further away from me, looked even better. Like the rim at the top and the very tiny detail at the very top. Some very talented people on here. Thankyou for sharing.

Brings back happy memories of my time spent in Cross Lane Billinge.

Were these'pepperpots' ventilation shafts Philip, to do with mining or perhaps railways ?

Thanks Phil.
I can't ever remember running cross country at Upholland Secondary. The odd game of footy maybe. I know there was a lovely cricket green and pavillion surrounded by trees. I think we were restricted from there during break times ! And the footy fields were across the road (Oxhouse Lane ? ). E-mail you later ;0)

These are the ventilation shafts for the Upholland railway tunnel on the Wigan to Kirkby line that passes underneath. I think there are three.

Thank you Xpat

Thanks Helen. I should think they'd given ventilation for the men who'd dug the tunnels and for the warming, white cockade that followed, to say nothing of secretive seed beds that could have existed above. However, there's many a fellow out there who could tell you very much more than I am able to. Oh! there were 1960s schoolyard-talks of a nudist camp being out there, so that's ventilation as well … By George!

The cross country at UpHolland Secondary continued until the late 1960s/early 1970s.
As I recall, the route went up the cart track at the side of the school, through New Fold, around the furthermost Pepperpot (near the Pimbo end of the tunnel), where there was generally a games teacher lurking to make sure no one had taken a short cut, and then along various paths, to emerge once more on the track at the side of the school.

Hi Phil your mention of a Nudist camp brought back a long forgotten memory that it was widely reported that there was a NUDIST CAMP near the brick works at Orrell ? Can anyone confirm/deny this?

Not sure how it had panned-out Mick. But I remember the teacher trotting back along the cart track to find him. And, apart from the lad being very bright and becoming well-travelled, he should have done very much better for himself. God Bless his soul.

Haven't known of one being situated close the brickworks Ron; Just the said - sought from a high school-wall back in the day.

Ref the nudist camp. Close to the UpHolland end of the railway tunnel there is a big detached stone house called The Lawns, which has extensive private grounds.
This is where the camp is supposed to have been located. I grew up in the area, and recall all the talk about it.

Thanks Mick. And I've managed to find WW's pics of The Queens Arms, which show the alleged camp's' surrounding trees - no doubt there'd have been a few grand rhodo's amongst them.

Wasn’t The Lawns a private nursing home in the 1940’s. I know, showing my age, but I’m pretty sure that my Mum was booked in there to give birth to me. I was actually born in Billinge Hospital due to complications.

Helen B - I don't know about The Lawns, but Sandbrook House, a couple of hundred yards from it was a private nursing home at that time.

Sorry, I must be confusing them. Another senior moment!

Sorry, I must be confusing them. Another senior moment!

Helen, Nice pic of the 'House, on Item 1913.

Helen - a photo of Sandbrook House can be found on the first page of the UpHolland album in the 'Places' section.
A few people who were born in the nursing home there, have commented on the picture.

Philip and Mick,
Thank you both for your help. I found the photo.

Well-Done Helen, and Mick!

One of the ventilation shafts for Upholland Railway Tunnel (959 yards long from portal to portal)