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Central Park

14 Comments

Central Park 1938
Central Park 1938
Photo: RON HUNT
Views: 3,184
Item #: 29873
Aerial view of Central Park in 1938

Comment by: JJP on 12th November 2017 at 06:44

Not only does this photo show an early Central Park but unless I'm mistaken - Westminster Street also, the birthplace of George Formby at # 3, May 26th 1904. When I was a child in the 1950s my mother would point out which house as we walked by. Thanks Ron, keep um coming !.

Comment by: Veronica on 12th November 2017 at 10:19

Down by the side of Westminster St wasn't there some stone steps leading down by the Douglas? That's the way we went on walks. Are they still there? I remember the railings and the cobbles.

Comment by: marieM on 12th November 2017 at 13:12

Ron - memories

Comment by: JJP on 12th November 2017 at 16:09

Veronica, Westminster Street and its surroundings have long gone, cleared many-many years ago, replaced by River Way but I do remember those steps you mention.

Comment by: Veronica on 12th November 2017 at 17:21

Thanks for that JP I always meant to go down there sometime when I came to Wigan it's over 50 yrs ago the last time I walked along there. Then it must be blocked off now!

Comment by: Owd viewer on 12th November 2017 at 17:46

There's a plaque on the wall in River way where George Formby was born, The photo dose not go so far so is that incorrect?.

Comment by: Carl on 13th November 2017 at 19:14

Veronica the steps you are talking about were at the bottom of River street which is on the lower right of this picture. There were two big houses on the left as you went down to the douggie always had sweet smelling red roses in the front garden possibly the only 2 garden houses around there.

Comment by: Veronica on 13th November 2017 at 19:48

That's right Carl I can't understand how they cannot be there anymore!!! Daft I know!

Comment by: owd wiganer on 14th November 2017 at 16:13

if you look to see the end of tall chimney shadow that is were Formby lived , steps that went down to the river were at the bottom of the next street along on the left,

Comment by: tuddy on 14th November 2017 at 19:05

Dose anybody know what the factory, with the chimney, bottom left is?

Comment by: Carol on 15th November 2017 at 16:20

Tuddy, looking on a 1929 map, the building with the chimney is Water Heyes Cotton Mill

Comment by: Broady on 15th November 2017 at 17:58

There was a company called Water Heyes that specialized in flameproof electrical fittings. By all accounts it was on the left hand side if you turned left at the Little theatre. I think the Mercure Hotel is on the site. There is an old photo of it here on WW.

Comment by: tuddy on 15th November 2017 at 20:52

I remember the Water Heys electrical works, I didn't know they had a cotton mill as well.

Comment by: John on 15th November 2017 at 22:39

The lane itself, from Greenough street along the river to the Little Theatre, was called Water Heyes. Before the area was built on it was the name of the fields there. It was a coincidence that the electrical works was owned by people called Heyes. The name "hey" for a narrow lane is found in Standish (Squires Hey) and Liverpool (Hackins Hey) and no doubt elsewhere.

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