Wigan Album

Thanks for these great photos Ron,this piece of Wallgate was familiar to lots of old phogies.Is that the sewing factory ,once a cinema next to The Grapes? I notice the roadsweeper and there would have been Dr.Hall and Dr.Petrie down on the right.

I've never been called an old phogie to my face before Dave,I remember going into the Grapes quite alot but not coming out,funny that??Goood pub, good ale,family and friends,good times.This is the Wallgate I remember the most,more or less!My mother was born in The Queens Hotel yard,behind Dr.Halls surgery,And my Gram further along the Prom; near to The Seven Stars.I thing we were all born very close to a pub.A nice photo Ron, many thanks.

Hello,Harry,I didn't know whether it was spelled with a 'ph' or an 'f' but I thought 'ph' sounded more upmarket.Can you remember who the landlord/landlady of The Grapes was about 1966 as we rented a house from them..happy days .

Timberlakes on the left and the road sweeper too on the right near that blonde lady was Ronnie Heyes Chippy an arch shaped shop front.. Ronnies son also named Ronnie married a lady named Margaret..... anyone know his whereabouts? I worked with him in Peter Pells in 1968

We sed to buy "5 Woodbines for my dad" from one of those little shops as we were about to hike down to Scotsmans with our fishing rods over our shoulders.

Afraid not Dave,I do know that the pub changed hands around that time,and I THINK the outgoing landlord was named Walter,they rehoused most of his customers.It was the darts team and fishing club that kept it going for a while! sum rum buggers in that lot,a good time was had by all.

My Grandma used to go to that little cinema many moons ago,and the local lads used to prop the Grapes wall up whistling at the girls coming from the factory, happy happy days,even though folk were poor.

My husband used to work along there in Sawbridge's Butchers as a young lad. I met him, (still a young lad!), when Sawbridges moved to Commercial Yard.

Another old Wigan community that is still sadly missed. I think the sewing factory was called the Margaret Works, I was told that when it was a picture house the seats were all ordinary kitchen chairs with planks nailed across the back to make them into rows.

D..I can well believe that re the planks instead of seats,I mentioned this before about my Grandma being in the cinema, and according to my Dad they would put messages on the screen if it was important so....everybody at that time learned to swim in the canals..one day it was flashed across the screen..would Mrs McGovern please go home as your son has nearly drownded(exactly as it was printed)hard to believe isn't it?...P.S the above name should have read my above name,not Maur..don't know why that happens.

does anyone rember the howarths ,5 brothers my grandad was thomas howarth they all drank in the grapes hotel as they were from sharp street wallgaate wigan

Its a couple of years since the comments posted on here but I expect the landlord of the grapes pub mentioned above is my Grandad, Walter Fitzsimons. He went on to own a DIY shop in the town center called Walfit.

to Mark Howarth, I lived in Miry Lane and my grandma's name was Mary Howarth, I remember the Howarth's in sharp street, wonder if they were related.

Harry, (Lord Burty)Never knew you enjoyed a drink although we may have been in the Bodega a few times. Remember Wallgate very well on my way home to the Potteries. Lost contact , my email is still the same give me a call. Oscar

My auntie and uncle had the Grapes around 1970-1973ish.
Bill and Greta Marsden.

to Mark Howarth. My great grandfather James Rowe of 1 Sharp St married Elizabeth Rigby of 28 Sharp St in 1904. Their marriage certificate was witnessed by a Joseph Howarth. Is he related to you and do you know of the Rowe or Rigby families?

Hi Ian Moss
My dad Allan Bishop DOB 1934 is trying to connect with Greta Moss (now Marsden). He knew her around 1953/4. Could you possibly email me? It would mean a lot. Thank you.

I remember Wallgate very well through the nineteen fifties and sixties but not the Cinema. it was a hive of activity with people actually walking to work both in and out of town. I can still see girls on a Friday afternoon coming from the factories all dressed up in fancy clothes and bunting etc when they were off with their work mate for a few drinks before getting married the following day and of course Clapper and Maggie Muscle doing the rounds!!!!