Wigan Album
Wigan Workhouse
12 CommentsPhoto: RON HUNT
Item #: 33421
My Uncle was in here in the early 1960s when it was Frog Lane Hospital. People dreaded being in there even when it became a hospital because it always had the stigma of being "The Workhouse"
I think it became "St Stephens Hospital"
We used to go there in the 40's when they held Christmas partys for the inmates.
My great uncle died in the hospital, a chap known locally as "Jimmy Lastic".
You could not meet a nicer chap!!!!!!
That name, "Jimmy Lastic", actually rings a bell with me from childhood, Brian, although my memory stops at the name. I can't actually recall the person but the name is familiar. There were so many well-known and wonderful characters at one time in Wigan and its various districts.
I'd never heard it called that Brian, but that will be why the streets next to where it was are named Upper and Lower St Stephens Street.
Jimmy Lastic is also a name I recall being mentioned now and again Irene, but as to why or how I too can't remember.
One of our patients at Whelley Hospital came from here,he was Spastic (Littles Disease) and his sense of humour was second to none.
In the 60s it became occupied by the Makerfield Watee Board
Jimmy Lastic Irene: was a childhood game played by girls in the early 60's. It was a long piece of elastic tied in a knot forming a circle, three played it; two girls each placing the elastic around their ankles standing opposite each other , then a third girl would jump in the circle placing the elastic around their shoes crossing the elastic in intricate crossings then jump out of the Lastic. Not sure why it was called JIMMY Lastic.
Yes, I remember the game, Carole, but I also vaguely remember a man known as Jimmy Lastic.
I can remember there being a character who was known as Jimmy Lastic but don't have any other details about him.
The traffic cones look out of place in the photo. I presume this would be the dropping off point for ambulances when it became a hospital.
Comments on Wigan album Ince Viaduct thread 13th August 2010 Brian Barrow mentions his grandmother's brother William aka Jimmy Lastic.
I remember going singing Carols to the residents in the early 60s with Miss Dickson and the Gidlow Girls School choir. My sister Barbara and I walked from Beech Hill to Frog Lane as there were no buses because of the snow.