Wigan Album

Magic! I can (almost) see myself coming out of the Singer sewing machine shop loading up the van.

does anyone actually think the millions on development have improved us.

Brilliant set of photos's. Thanks for the pleasure of seeing them.

No Tommy, I preferred Wigan as it was.

What the million's spent on developments have done, is put small shops out of business. I prefer old Wigan than today, it was much better.

Here is a little ditty that I put together, I think it sums up what a lot of people think of the way our town has gone. O Wigan was a grand old town before the Metro came.
They robbed us of our buses, it really was a shame
We still have our coat of arms; I suppose that counts a lot.
But some of their decisions I am sure have “lost the plot”
The open market’s a disgrace, with many an empty stall,
And what about the problems with the present Market Hall?
They said that the old hall was getting past a joke
But what they failed to understand was it suited many folk
We used to have a swimming pool, the envy of many a town
But this wasn’t good enough for our lot so they had to pull it down
They started on a project to revamp Station Road,
I know it needed doing but what could we afford?
“We’ll build a noble edifice, the best the town had seen
We’ll call the project Grand Arcade; it won’t cost us a bean”
Send for Modus properties, we’ve heard that they’re the best
We’ll let them build it for us; we’ll put them to the test.
Modus came and built it, all brick and steel and glass,
And when it was completed it really looked reight class
They filled it up with retail shops, the galleries looked bare,
Cos they’d stripped it of its clients and moved them over there.
They’re still looking to fill it, the spaces are forlorn
The market once had fruit and veg, but nearly all that’s gone
I suppose one day the time will come when things turn alright
We’ll wake up one day and maybe see the future’s looking bright
Let’s hope the planners get it right, no doubt they will some day
For me it can’t come soon enough that’s all I have to say.

On closer inspection of this photo it does look as if my Ford Escort Singer van is outside the shop!

Well Put Fred Very True