Wigan Album

Ooops just seen it was 1962 not the 1950's

I remember going to this circus with my much-older brother Colin and his wife.

I remember going in the fifties. I think it was up Pemberton…

If my memory is right there was a parade of animals up Darlington St East and the Circus was set up on the playing field land where St Pats RL now is. We also went to the show but all I can remember is a woman who wrestled a crocodile !!

When I was at school I recall this being called William Foster playing fields. I was once attacked by a dog on this field, age 13, with my brand new school uniform on. There dog ripped all my blazer, all the people around me, run away petrified, including the owner of the dog, so much for dog training!!!

Edna and Carolaen, it would be Fosters field as you can see Westwood power station on the right of the Big Top and on the left part of a cooling tower.

Ron, I've heard the name cimek or chemic mentioned in the past, was that the nickname for Fosters field because of the chemical works that was on there and also The Grove at one time.

Edna I can imagine that attack would have left you wary of dogs for some time too, and fancy the owner legging it - hope they bought you a new school uniform.

What a great reminder of times past, great old photo. I was just thinking, you could set this circus up in Downing Street, it wouldn't be out of place, would it?

I remember the circus used to come to Hindley down Liverpool Rd.near the nursery.We used to go and help them with their stuff.I made friends with one circus lad called Keith and he enjoyed going fishing and knocking around with us while they were in town.Met him for a few years and often wonder what happened to him.One year when we were at the circus field we used to play a game called splits with a knife and one poor lad,Jonnie Lee ,lost on eye.

Edna. I think the William Foster playing field site is that on the Ince side of the canal. The circus I went to was on the Wigan (Clarington Grove) side.

Yes Cyril it did leave me very wary of dogs, also it took my dad ages to find out who the owner was.Incidently it was a bulldog.I do love dogs, and later we had a Labrador. You forget the trauma when you get older. Although two weeks ago, I was attacked once again in Wigan,and it was on a lead.I was standing looking at the time on my phone,and it pounced on my back.It was a Doberman. No damage though,but a sharp pain in my hip.I couldn't believe it.It left me shocked.

We too have had Labradors Edna, and also a Doberman/Terrier cross all of which were very friendly and loved meeting people, it's how their owners bring them up as to how they behave in later life either with people or other dogs, some seem to want their dogs to be very aggressive. Though our last dog a Labrador wouldn't learn not to jump up, he thought everybody loved him and would run and jump and put his front legs on you, a woman walking in the plantations went mad when he with paws full of mud jumped up on her white coat, though she had partly encouraged him with patting her waist whilst saying hello. He did grow out of doing it though - thankfully.

The field was nicknamed chemic because of the chemical factory as was discussed on here in 2007. https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/communicate/mb_message.php?opt=f1&msd=13766&offset=&subject=william%2520foster%2520playing%2520fields

Yes, I do remember going to this, I thought it was 1963 but must have been just before my 14th Birthday. Had a front row seat and recall the lion tamer in his cage with the big cats, acrobats on horses and the trapeze artist. Mesmerized by the whole show.
Don't think animals are allowed these days.