Wigan Album
railways
5 CommentsPhoto: Peter Walsh
Item #: 34902
Fascinating Peter, I assume this Railway Hotel is on Dorning Street opposite Coop's or where Coop's would be?
It looks like this was before King Street West was built?
Another assumption, do you think this was for good's trains with Wallgate Station being for passengers?
I seem to have thrown up more questions than answers!
The hotel looks to be a lot larger on this map Peter.
My wife's late friend wouldn't call the stations by their names, but Old Station meaning Wallgate, and New Station, meaning Wigan North Western, she said these names had just carried on from what her parents and her grandparents had called them, which I presume other folks may have called them that too, rather than the LYR or LNWR.
Colin, I think this map is just after the railway was opened in 1847. Coops came about 25 years later. As you say it is pre. King Street West and the lines appear to cut into the corner of the graveyard. The shaded areas are platforms , hatched being covered and the squares offices.The small square near the hotel being the ticket office. I would say the station was for passengers.
Cyril, I also only ever called the stations Wallgate and North Western and never heard of this one. The remains of the hotel show it as once a fine building and as you mentioned on Phils 1900 map it was the Railway and Commercial Hotel.
My brother spent all is working life with British Railways and assures me this was the station before Wallgate Station opened.
According to its history it states that the first station opened in 1848 and the second opened in 1855 (perhaps both of these were in Dorning Street?). 2nd February 1896 opened as Wigan Station and 2nd June 1924 Renamed Wigan Wallgate.
Again, all quite fascinating. Thank you.
The Railway Hotel became Puffers then Pemps