Thanks to this site I have been in contact with fellow Wiganer's all over the world, which got us talking about the Whitesmiths and Wednesday night games at Central Park. Anyone remember the Winter Warmers they used to sell, they would only sell it in half pints from a barrel on the bar, it was rocket fuel. You could go to the game and see all the people who had a couple of Winter Warmers as they were the one carrying their jackets whilst everyone else was rugged up.

I used to use the Whitesmiths Arms in the '70s. Tom and Eve kept it.

Tom & Eva Peet with their daughters Sandra & Pat & son Dave. It was a Smailes House in the 60's, then a Worthington/Bass house later

Remember the rickety ol floors upstairs. We used to go in with a group of people on a Saturday Lunch. The food was great and the atmosphere just as good an' they went and spoiled it all and "Modernised" UUGGHH!!

They did a proper ploughmans lunch in
there in the early 80's

I remember the Winter Ale so well... but v little after it...

It's heartwarming to think you all have such fond memories but it was Tom and Eva Leech who you're thinking of. The rest of the family was my dad Brian, Shirley, Sandra (married to Dave) and Joe.

FLOCKHOUND
WERE THE WINTER WARMERS AT THE WHITESMITHSTHE SAME AS THEY USED TO SELL AT YATES'S (THE OLD SHIP) THEY USED TO BE CALLED "BLOB"

I remember Tom & Eva, Shirley & Sandra. I think I met your dad once or twice,in the early 60's.
Two of us used to come in at lunchtime, in overalls (motor mechanics)& have a "Girder" (Guiness) or two. It was a Swales House then.
More often than not, we ended up staying the afternoon, & Eva would put our tea on in the back room.
I seem to recall, Shirley liked dancing & did Sandra start nursing?

''No you are wrong there, Shirley was the nurse (WriGHTINGTON HOSPITAL THEATRE SISTER) Sandra was the dancer. Not seen them for ages, ahh the good old days

Long time since, 45 years..Not wrong, just mistaken,sorry, two lovely girls. Shirley (the nurse, sorry), was a nurse in training, on my wifes ward for a time. Also a Sister, & on retirement was the longest serving sister (Ward Manager) at Wrightington

I`m looking for any old pictures of whitesmiths in particular the early 1900`s the reason being my ancestors had a business next door but one and would like to see if its on it was a fish and chip shop/resteraunt

Whitesmiths Arms, with Eva Leech's dad stood outside, courtesy of ron hunt

Wow I love it, but can you tell me who eva leach was my gt gt grandad`s name was james wignall he`s at this address on 1901 census

Ste Leech, my cousin Kathleen Rooney used to be your Dads girlfriend a long. time ago

I remember Tom and Eve, and Alf and Joe who helped in the bar. I always thought the bitter was Brakespears.

The winter warmer at the Whitesmiths in the early eighties was Boddingtons. It was also sold at the Turnkey the downstairs pub on King St.

I remember drinking Walkers Falstaff ale at the Bridgewater, Hindley in the early 60s . Falstaff was sold a a winter ale Tommy Abrams had the pub then. Happy days

the only winter warmer I remember was Falstaff's which was brewed in walker's place in warrington.

I remember Shirley and Sandra, they were part a group of us that hung around the area known as the common , in front of Central park Included in the "gang"where Paul Beasley, Dave Norris , Kathleen Conroy ,Dave riley and Ann Dowling. I hope they are all well , vertical and breathing