Wigan Album

Had a look on Google street for the modern day view and it's almost identicle with the lawn at the front of the houses.
The 1950s neighbours look to have a good sense of community spirit. Good pic John

I remember Forshaw's row and the Forshaw family well. I was brought up just round the corner in the 60s, I used to mate around with two of the Forshaw lads. I can remember that lawnmower being used as well.Smashing photo.

The wall in front of the allotments is still there my wife tells me. She used to live there with her parents and brothers with Maggie Forshaw in the far end house.

S Naylor: Can you remember the names of the lads you played with and where you lived? My wife Pauline Stokes as was and her two brothers Alan and Geoff lived in Newman St until the mid 1950s then moved to Stroud Close, Whelley

The lads who I new were: Michael and Kevin, I lived on the main road across from the garage.

Hello you will be Stephen Naylor then. I married Pauline Stokes and the two lads you refer to are Frank and Shirley Forshaw's sons. Frank was Pauline's mum's Marian Stokes cousin. Frank and Shirley now live in Leyland.

Yes that's me, how did you know who I am? I always knew that street as Forshaw's row because so many of the family lived there. Spent many happy hours playing out in those streets, Newman Street, Beaconfield Street, Derby Street, Lindsey Street, and Ben Turners field.

Stephen, my wife Pauline remembered you and provided the information on the photos.

Thanks John, I can remember someone telling me that Newman Street was originally a normal street and the residents created the lawn. Do you know if that's true? I think that the allotments at the other side of the wall were once a bowling green belonging to the White Lion.

Stephen - Pauline tells me that the lawn/gardens were always there i.e. no road or track, as far as she knows. The allotments as you say belonged to the White Lion and Railway and a bowling green. Not sure how and why the brewery allowed the change? Maybe the Forshaws bought the land. Anyone know?

The street was an unadopted road. The Family decided to make the lawn and garden and looked after it between them.
Mr Forshaw had an allotment on Bradshaw Street but when the allotments were cleared to build the new houses there around early 60's (I think) he must have approached the pub who allowed him to set up an allotment just over the wall. The pub also benefited from some of the produce grown there such as tomatoes veg and beautiful chrysanthemums. All of Mr Forshaw's son's helped out too.

rg, Would Mrs French have been the landlady of the Lion at that time?

Yes I believe she was.

Pauline isn't sure about the road being unadopted. Nellie French was the land lady and Pauline knew her daughter Sandra. George Forshaw did help out but not sure about any of the others.

George was my uncle. He was a really keen gardener and spent lots of time on that allotment. The chrysanthemums he grew were excellent and he won lots of prizes for them and his veg. For a few years we lived at no 2 next door to "auntie Lily" and Albert.

RG, Pauline lived with her mum and dad Marian and Sid Stokes two brothers Alan and Geoff at No 14 with Maggie Forshaw. Lilly was Marian's aunty. What is your name?

Alan, yes I knew that Pauline and family lived with auntie Maggie but we only moved there in the early 60's and by then they had moved. Pauline won't remember me but I knew Frank, Shirley Roy and Leah and their children. I think my uncle visited Sid and Marion quite a bit and sometimes mentioned them. Since my mother died last year I have found a page of a Daily Mirror dated 1958 in which Newman Street and the Forshaw family have a full page spread saying how and why they made the garden. According to the paper it says Sid and Frank suggested making the garden and they all paid towards it. So seems that's when the garden was first started.

Hi all, Im Michael Forshaw as mentioned in these posts, Frank was my Dad, he sadly passed away earlier this year. Would have joined the chat earlier but didn’t know it existed. Frank had three children myself Kevin and Jane, we all moved to
Leyland in 1970, Kevin and I still live in Leyland but Jane is now living back in Wigan.

It's great to see a photo of Wesley Speakman in his younger days! He was my uncle - married my aunt, Betty Halligan - and we shared many a happy time together (along with countless pints: he could sink 'em!) Wes was a huge Wigan Rugby fan, and inevitably the conversation would turn to rugby whenever we met up. He was a great bloke, one of nature's gentlemen, and was taken from us far too soon.

Did Michael foreshaw spend any of his childhood in Salisbury?

Clearly all those neighbours took great pride in the appearance and joy in maintaining the front of their homes, neat well kept lawn and edging and well stocked flower beds. A true spirit of community not much seen in this day and age. Lovely reminder, thankyou.