Wigan Album

I can still recognise Mesnes St from this pic taken in the 1980's...I remember it from an earlier time ! Think the 'yellow' shop front towards the back was the Scotch Bakery & there was a shoe shop in the parade shown...they had a X-ray machine for childrns shoes. My mother always made sure my shoes were very sensible...I hated them.

What as the name of the pub on the left?
I remember having a pint or two in there whilst a student at Wigan Tech.

Market Hotel When Colin Cook was the landlord it was one of the best pints of IPA in Wigan not forgetting the pies...

The Market Hotel on the corner of Marsden Street. I had a few pies and pints in there in the 1960's. I don't remember that traffic island, I think it must have been temporary.

Helen, the yellow shop you refer to would have been Smiths Bookshop even in the early 80s, but it was on the site of what at one time was Baileys Scotch Bakery.

DerekB, that it. Baileys on the corner of a back alley that went through to Dicconson St. I used to get off the bus at the old bus station in the Market Sq, opposite the Congregational Church & walk past Baileys, stopping to buy a parkin on the way home to my Auntie Greta's in Dicconson St. There was a little arcade on the left hand side of the pic where there was a shop Bon Marche where I got my first red tap shoes....

Helen, do you recall the name of that shoe shop? I used to go there and my mum would always choose my shoes, much as yours did! Incidentally that machine you mention was called a pedoscope and I couldn't use it either!

Grannieannie...I'm afraid I don't know the name of the shoe shop....we are talking the 1950's ! Can anyone one else help ?

The baker's shop next to Greenhalgh's was Sarah Lynn's.

I have mentioned this fact previously. The first belisha beacon crossing, in this country, was erected in, Mesnes Street, Wigan, on the 6th, of July, 1935.

The shoe shop was Scotts . We used to take our childeren there for Sartright shoes, Scott's relocated to Standishgate .

Bailie's also had a good, old-fashioned cafe/restaurant upstairs in the 1950s, with waitress service.

Thanks Tom for recalling the name of the shoeshop, I remembered it as soon as I saw your posting. I can stop banging my head in the wall now!

In the late fifties, when Chinese restaurants became a feature in our high streets, there was one on the right, just after you turned into Mesnes Street, from Standishgate. One Saturday night, I was doubled up with another officer, and we got called to this restaurant, which was up a flight of stairs. A large gentleman was disturbing other customers' with the obscene language he was using, as well as having done some damage to furniture, and crockery. He was refusing to vacate the premises, until he had finished his meal, which was half a plateful of noodles, and other concoctions. My colleague suggested that he take the meal out with him. I will not elaborate on the container that was used, but he was very unhappy about the container the remnants of the meal was placed. I can assure each of you, he did leave the premises, not a happy soul.

Sorry. Should have said the restaurant was on the left, not the right, as you entered Mesnes Street from Standishgate.

I remember Bailey's Scotch bakery, the front of the building used to stick out a bit from the rest of the buildings in Mesnes Street and the door was actually in the angle at the right hand side. I too recall the short cut through the alleyway there.

Didn't think there was a Chinese in mesnes st in the 50s, thought the first one was it he happy palace?

Albert, wasn't the Chinese restaurant you refer to in the little arcade that runs from Standishgate into Marsden St. I remember one of the first Chinese being upstairs with it's entrance from this arcade but can't remember one on Mesnes St itself.

DerekB, and Eric. I could have sworn it was in Mesnes Street, on the left from Standishgate, but as it is two recollection to one, I therefore concede to your memories. The premises where definitely upstairs, and it was a Chinese restaurant. As my colleague, and I were leaving, my colleague said to the Chinese proprietor, in his expert Chinese. " What you wantee, is a big chucker outee".

Other shops in menses street in the 50's and 60's were Crawfords wool shop, Turners pram shop and Atkinsons grocery.

Can anyone remember the name of the baby wear shop which was situated on the corner of the Royal Arcade ( Marsden St end) in the 1970s. Montgomeries was the one in Mesnes St but I just can't think of the name of this one

The shoe shop in Mesnes Street was Scotts ...own by Charles the later Harold Scott. They were always known for good quality shoes.

My mum owned Montgomerys for many years. Next door was a carpet shop, a handbag and manicure purse shop, pram shop and wh smiths on corner, market tavern pub opposite, a bakers next door then greenhalghs bakery...olivers cycles and penny sweet shop further down.....takes me back down memory lane

Quite different to today. It is a real shame to see how empty and neglected Mesnes Street is now.

Albert, according to Mollie M, the Chinese restaurant in the Royal Arcade was the Happy Palace, the same one that later was on Market Street, you can read about it Link here: https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/communicate/mb_message.php?opt=f4&msd=250823&page=2&subject=CHINESE

The Chinese restaurant Pacific Ocean on Market Street used electric shock stun guns they'd bought in Hong Kong to quell any trouble makers and to zap non payers that tried to do or did a runner, until they were caught by the police using one on a nonpaying runner on Hallgate, this was in the 1980s before the police even had Tasers

I think the Happy Palace was the first Chinese restaurant in Wigan town centre and yest they did move to Market Street.
I can remember sitting in the window looking out onto Standishgate, accessed up the stairs on the left in the Royal Arcade in the early 1960's with my mates. I tried the exotic dish of Chicken and Cashew Nuts with rice, its still my favourite today.