Photo-a-Day  (Sunday, 13th August, 2017)

GR on the letter box must be an old one

I remember there was a shoe shop along that parade way back. They had an x-ray machine to see where your toes were in new shoes. My new shoes were alaways black & boring.

My first job on leaving school was in one of those buildings. Aspinall's (Painters &Decorators) that's going back! In the eighties I used to buy all my art stuff from there -brilliant shop was sad when that shop closed! More memories!

Helen of Troy.I think the shop was Clarks but that was on Standishgate opposite to what was Mark Williams.

Veronica,I too used to haunt that shop for art stuff..now I go to 'The Range'.

Bailey's Scotch Bakery used to be where the road goes in to the car park now, it closed in the early 70's.

Oh the Scotch Bakery ! I used to love the Parkin they made...& I liked their meat & potato pies, more potato than meat. We used to get off the Ribble bus at the bus staion in the Market Sq, walk around to the bakery, pick up the pies before getting the Corporation bus up to where my Granny lived near Cherry Gdns. Pies for dinner !

I'm mesmerised as to which shop it was Maureen. There are some new shop fronts it's very confusing.

Helen of Troy,
The shoe shop was Scotts I think, and I also remember the X-ray machine, and boring black shoes, Start-Rite I think, was the brand.
Jack, Scotts did, I think, later move into Standishgate. They sold Clarks shoes.

Wasn't there also a Herbalist along that stretch near Smith's Newsagents?

Veronica, was it "Aspinall's Artistic Artisans" who took over all the stock from Tickles. I remember wanting some sewing needles of a special size, to make clock lantern pinions, and Aspinall's had an old box with hundreds of mixed needles in it.I am sure they said it came from Tickles.

Helen B the herbalist was Arrandales Herbalist. I used to go for Slippery Elm Food ...it was disgusting it was for my dad. Brian B I don't know when Aspinall's Artistic Artisans ceased trading as such but it did become an Art supplies shop later. They may have taken over the stock from Tickles.

I too loved the art shop. Wasn't the herbalists Potters? And my daughter worked at Smiths Bookshop before it became British Heart Foundation.

Maureen,don't know if you know there's an art shop come warehouse in blackrod named ken bromleys its a lot cheaper than the range,there also on the Webb and deliver I use them regularly maureen.

Got me thinking how many love letter addressed to me have been posted from that letter box.

Veronica,I'm more than sure it's the one that the man with the blue shirt and the girl/woman with the blonde hair are in front of.
Helen,yes their was a herbalist that was next door..I believe he was a twin..some years ago I had an abscess that disfigured my face so much that I looked just like I'd been kicked by a bull..I went to him,he sold me a bottle..and I believe they were his own concoctions..it worked a treat..it burst through my gums..he was brilliant.

Wasn't there an art and craft shop called 'Times Craft' almost opposite the Mesnes street market hall entrance?

your right helen b there was a herbalists higher up , ive still got a tin of healthcraft protein powder I bought from there , I keep nails in it . think there was a travel agents next door .

Sam H that's where I go for my Art Supplies its very good. They send out a catalogue twice a year. Maureen you will find it on the Internet. It's not far to go. It's far superior to the Range.

I think the art shop,before it closed was owned by Brian Meadows who came from Hindley who was a very good artist

Mick you could probably count them on the fingers on one foot.

Thank you Sam h..that's good to know..tubes of oil paints at The Range are expensive.

I used to love calling in Smith's every time I came to Wigan. A lot of changes occurred over the years it just got better and better. I still went there even after Smiths sold the shop. I remember Peabodies had a cafe at the back for a while. Then it seemed to go downhill that was a shame. Waterstones hasn't got the same 'feel' as the old Smith's had. I suppose because it was family run.

Thank you Veronica..I will have a look at that.

Veronica , Maureen Ken Bromley also have a good discount system the more you spend the more discount you get of your next purchase,I've used them for many years, you can also try there art equipment in store before you buy.

Veronica and Sam h..I've just joined the club,will they send me a catalogue now.
Sam..what medium do you use..and what is your main subject that you paint.

I get a discount because I'm in an art group Maureen. Did you ring up for the catalogue? You should get it anyday. If you have an idea what you want , visit the warehouse and they will advise you as they are very helpful. Or just go along and pick the catalogue up. It's only a tiny shop that the warehouse staff come into when the doorbell rings. I'll guarantee you won't go anywhere else. It's easy to get to in a car. I go by Shanks's Pony!!! It's not far from where the Ridgeway pub is after the steep Tanner's brew.

Veronica,no I didn't ring up,I just sent my details to them..funnily enough we nearly went to Horwich the other day but decided to go to Rivington instead..I'm in Wigan so it isn't that far away...will probably make a trip there shortly..I'm not in any art group but some years ago went to art class at Wigan tech..that's where I painted my first Mona Lisa..it got sold in Gorners cafe on my way home..but I did another one which is stashed away upstairs..am just wondering lately what to paint next..I probably mentioned before but my last one was George Michael..don't you just love painting.lol

Maureen , I do water colour ,pen and ink and pencil with sometimes graphite powder that's if my two little grandaughters don't drag me off to do something.

Maureen ,sorry I do landscape street scenes , and sometimes wild birds.but not portraits .

Veronica, did you ever use them years ago when they were in Bolton think it was down by Bolton school in a old club of some type.

I only found our about them Sam when I joined the group WAG 5 years ago. I go every Monday morning we get an Artist every 3 weeks. I have just done a watercolour of my grandson paddling in the sea. It's not bad I am highly critical of what I do. I like landscapes, flowers can do good likenesses but not with watercolour! I like pastel as well. Can do acrylic and oil but too lazy to get them out! Next time we have an exhibition in our library I will let you and Maureen know- and anybody else for that matter. There are some good painters in our group. Hope you get the catalogue soon Maureen.

Veronica,I'd feel cheeky ringing up for a catalogue..I'll wait until I get chance to pay them a visit..thank you both anyway for the info,I'm very grateful.x

AW and Helen Re Baileys. They also used to do a fabulous "potato" pie which I think some people call butter pie. It was basically potatoes onions and butter in a rich pastry which I think might have had some cheese in it. I am trying to recall the taste of nearly 50 years (where did it go) as I write this. I have often raved about these pies as they were so simple yet so delicious.

Carolaen,butter pie is my favourite of all pies.I love them. mmmm,

Carolean, butter pie sounds just up my street...Yum !

I don't think I have ever had 'butter pie'-Maureen you aren't being cheeky ringing up. It's better to look through the brochure before going then you have an idea what you want.

Helen of Troy, up my street, but unfortunately on my hips, but still yum!

Did not the bakery be spelled Baillies? That's what lingers in my ancient excuse for a brain!

I ordered books from those premises when it had a (shortish) life as a book store, I believe owned by a French man. The wrappers had a logo on of a Le Frog.
I specifically did this, as I wanted local/social history type, so from afar deliberately used that town real booksellers. My own small way of supporting a real book shop of the town where my interest lay. Everything was delivered to me 1-2 days of ordering.
I could have gone my local sellers and ordered titles, or even used Amazon, but I didn't. Towns need real book sellers.
It seemed a shame when he announced on his web site and here on WiganWorld that he had to take the business decision to close.
I am sure he was French, hence stylising logo as a Le Frog.
If they did not have in stock, they were as quick at obtaining and despatching as Foyles were. Pleasure to do business with them.

Hello Sam h..I've been to Ken Bromleys this AM and got my oil paints ..thank you.

Maureen you're welcome , hope it saved a bit.

Sam,I did thank you,and I also got some fast drying oils as well..I didn't know there was such a thing.

Sam,I did thank you,and I also got some fast drying oils as well..I didn't know there was such a thing.