Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 22nd July, 2014)

It's been a very long time.
...Must confess that I'm lost! Are we looking towards the RAE hospital? I see part o a sign that says M& something- could that be Marks and Spencer?

ellen, picture taken from what was woollies corner, looking down to mesnes st

Yes, the M and S sign is Marks and Spencer. The lady on the right with the purple, pink and white dress is outside what used to be Woolworths.

I can see bubbles.

I wonder whos dropped that litter

The road looks much narrower than it did when I was a child. I expect its been 'pedestrianised' ie the stone setts. Looks a busy event.

The cobbles are still there though. Great photo!

Hi, If I remember correctly, if you took the first left down the bottom of this road Standishgate it took you to Market Square. Can anyone remember what shops used to be there on the either side of the road of that left turning? What shops where on the corners. Just trying to see it again in my failing memory. Any ideas? Thanks Neil for your great photo.

Its just perdestrianised like most towns today, it helps shoppers and its much safer.

Too many shops to mension, Jean.
Look on the WW website, that may help.

Jean, just round the corner of that left turn i.e. Mesnes St, was Oliver Somers Sports Shop (also one on Market St.):-
http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=21330&gallery=Mesnes+Street%2C+Wigan&offset=0

As a sign of past times, I bought a football for the Travellers Rest Pub (Pemberton/just in Orrell) Football Team in about 1972; It cost £30 when a typical working wage was about £23 per week!

Jean, the Street to the left is Mesnes St, Oliver Somers shop was just around the corner,

When you turned left into Mesnes Street, there was Oliver Somers', but I can't recall the others. On the opposite corner, there was Rumbelow's, and further along was Robinson's Sports shop. Again, I can't bring the other shops to mind.

Thank you Alan, I still love WW site, even though it could not help me this time,

Jean,when I was a teenager (Lo these many years ago),I had a Saturday job at a shop on that corner (the corner nearest the camera position).Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the store. As I recall, they sold ladies "smalls". I believe I was on the hosiery stall.

I forgot to mention that would have been in 1955 or'56.

Ellen, I too remember Wigan in the early 1950's. There was a shoe shop along on the right as you turned into Mesnes St. My Mother always went there to buy my shoes...clumpy & black ! They had an X-ray machine for making sure you could wiggle your toes about ! The Little Arcade was on the left & a shop near the Standishgate end sold ballet & tap dancing gear, I got a pair of red leather tap shoes there for my lessons upstairs in a place near the Congregational Church by the bus station...run by Moores ?

The shop on the corner of Mesnes Street was Boardmans house furnishers in the 1960's. In the mid 1970's it was Harris Carpets, further down Mesnes Street on the corner of Marsden Street was the Market (pub), which is still there.

Ellen/Kenee Thankyou for helping to jog my memory. I remember the Market pub, I remember the hippies used go in there a lot. How time flies..

On the far corner of the left turning into Mesnes Street, there was a shop selling stockings and I can remember going in there with Mum to have the ladders in her stockings"invisibly" mended.

On the left hand side of Standishgate near the turning was the photographers Foley and Scott. I had a photo taken there which was in the front window for a while, fame at last!
On the opposite side of Standishgate after the turning, was Mark Williams butcher's shop.On the way home from Dicconson Street School,I remember animals being herded along the street into the back of the premises, presumably to be slaugtered. It was frightening to hear their cries

on the right in mesnes street,baileys cake shop ,sold delicious scotch pancakes and cream cakes

On the corner of the street to the bottom on the left was rumbelows. It's now subway