Wigan Album

Wigan changed so much, in such a very short time, compared to how many years it survived, as a place that people had grown to love, as is borne out, by comments made in the past,by a variety of subscribers'.

plain and simple ,vandalism.

Looking at some of these old photos often saddens me thinking of how Wigan used to be, you knew where to go to get anything in the town. Nowadays it's half empty shops and things you don't want.

Great picture B. I get lost up Wigan these days, and it's still changing day by day. I don't like it either.

I have always said the same as you AW, but Mick always comes on and tells us that you now have a Modern Vibrant town that is better than it's ever been... That is his opinion, it isn't mine...

Completely agree with you Janet, Mick can say what he likes but to me we now have an essentially Victorian Town trying hard to be something else and not succeeding in any way. wigan should have been left alone, not mucked about as it is now.

There is clearly more than one Mick posting on these boards.
I agree with everything that has been said above.

Not one comment about the PARK HOTEL, why ??????

meat and potato pie, sliced picked onions, and piccalilli. All served by waitresses. Or was this my imagination............

The Park did have waitress service for ale, in the Farmers' Room at the front, but can't remember if they served food.
An excellent pint of Draught Bass was to be had there.

a gang of us used to meet up in the park everyday when we were on leave mrs Brown made the best cheese butties and a massive bowl of home made pickled onions Except Mondays we had to make do with a potatopie.Mr brown used to sit inside the back room with his horlicks & brandy Happy days unfortunately they wont come back anybody remember arry lyon {clapper} and all the charactures that were there then 1960s

Old Ma Brown`s. One of my first drinking holes. She was a great Landlady, took no messing and called a spade a spade! Great characters `lived` in there. Market Jimmy who looked like Popeye, Half Pint Billy, Roy Kelly and me used to prop up the `trough` on the left when you went in. Lilian Halliwell was one of the waitresses along with a girl called Liz, who married Don Bibby. Students had the back room and the late Ken Cowap and his gang always had the Darts Room. Those were the days!

Does Lilian still live in Wigan?

went many a time to the park hotel with my dad roy kelly,used to sit in the back with pop and crisps off mrs brown she was great,my dad loved draught bass,i remember liz,and ken kowap who we went on many a holiday with and wembley

Having left Wigan to find work it breaks my heart to see how Wigan has changed. Some people will love the modern Wigan but I prefer to hang onto the memories of the Wigan I knew. I can't believe that I would now get lost in the town I grew up in it has changed so much. So so sad.

I WAS ONE OF THE WAITRESSES AT THE PARK HOTEL, AND I REMEMBER ROY KELLY VERY WELL... BRILLIANT MEMORIES OF THIS PLACE .. DOES ANYONE REMEMBER ME ??

sorry denise but i dont remember you glad you new my dad roy kelly though

Remember Mrs Brown and Tom. She was a dancer from London who married Tom. Used to go in before and during nights at ROOM AT THE TOP. Took mints so Ken wouldn't smell alcohol. Great days.

Zetta Brown was my great grandmother. So great to see this picture of The Park Hotel and read the comments from people who remember her. I have fond memories of her calling last orders.

the time has just gone 10.45 and the bar of this hotel is now closed , all glasses must be emptied by 11.0 o'clock,time ladies and gentlemen ,time please thank you.

I took that photograph not B.Bradshaw

virtually lived in this place in the sixties, all nights started here,always used to be in back room, lads I had there as mates were bob berry, and Terry brown,mrs brown used to call us her three musketeers, also in the back room gang were Andy Barron,john Wilmington,young Brian holden and Linda,dave Makin ,mr brown would always be in the alcove as you entered back room with his horlicks,never saw roseena brown speak to him once, also great service when you rang the bell for a top up, how good was that!!!

what wigan council have done to wigan they should be prosecuted