Wigan Album

What a wonderful group of photos. My father started his working life in Eckersleys Mill in about 1920/1. My Auntie Annie worked there as well.

My Auntie Mary worked at Eckersleys as well, forced to by a lazy brute of a husband who subjected her to mental cruelty. She had to walk it from Ince because she had no bus-fare, but he couldn't break her spirit, and her smile could light up a room. She and the other mill-workers used to "mee-maw" to each other over the clatter of the looms,and they used to set each other's hair with sugar and water. I can still see Auntie Mary with cotton stuck to her hair and clothes.God bless her.

What a shame Irene..at least she knew you loved her...some poor women had a lot to go through then didn't they..god luv' her.

I have seen the film preview and recognised Eckersley's straight away. The picture above shows chimneys to mill one, large and old mill's, weaving sheds attached at ground level. It certainly covered some floorspace! The latter mills demolished in the 60's and now a carpark and small industrial units. It gives you an impression of scale and how many people were needed to maintain this incredible site.

The above description is in the last quarter of the preview! http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=55710

The mill at the front is Eckersley's, the one on the right is Trencherfield and rear left is Taylors Mill.