Wigan Album

There was a Co-op to the on the left of this picture. I thought it was where the shop with Ainscough written above it is shown, but it could have been next door to that.

H. Ainscough must have been one of those wonderful little shops of the time where you could buy almost anything, as there is besides whitewash writing on the window a Bird's Eye frozen food poster in the window and a Brooke Bond Tea advertising board on the wall.

I think that is me leading the banner .Mr ainscough sold anything and everything,it was very much like straights from open all hours .the co open was to the right ,out of shot the house next to it belonged to man I think was called Nat .he was always sat on a chair at the front door .I think one of pole carriers looks like Mr Parkinson his son Kevin was in my class and we both lived in linney st

Im trying to think where this is, would they be walking down towards The Crispin?

They would be walking towards Scholefield Lane. St Catherine's Church is out of shot, but it would be on the right of the picture. The streets with which the procession is aligned are Catherine St with Lorne St in the background.

John that certainly looks like Simieon Whitehouse though I remember Simieon more for leading the Boys Brigade proudly doing his stuff with The Mace,,,he certainly cut a fine figure,,,Pic was probably taken from corner of Holland St and yes the was a co-op but am suer it had a doublw window and a deeper doorway .It woild have been next door to Ainscough,s.Just at the back of the picture in the block after Lorne St is or was Bambers Off Licience as I remember

An interesting feature of this photograph is that the section of Lorne Street in the background could possibly be the highest point in Wigan. When walking around St Catherine's church, one seems to be looking down on the rest of the town, and that part of Lorne Street probably has the highest ground level in the area.

John and Jim: Simeon did indeed proudly carry the mace for the 5th Wigan for many years when I was also in the bugke section, but he had left long before this photo was taken if indeed it was 1968! I saw Simeon last October at the Church celebration service for the straightening of the steeple and underpinning of the foundations. He lives in Atherton now and keeping reasonably well. In the church year book of 1951/52 (I will upload pages from this in due course) there is an advertisement for H Ainscough of 18 Catherine St under Grocers and Provision Merchants. The Co-op did indeed have a double fronted window and if I am not mistaken the manager in the late 50s and early 60s name was Eric who later managed the Co-op supermarket at the bottom of Powell St (corner of Standishgate). Can't remember his last name but I worked Saturdays stacking shelves whilst at Wigan Grammar School, all day for £1. I remember another older lad working there as well but a full time employee whose name escapes me. However I do see him occasionally in Scholes. Was Holland St still standing in 1968?

Eileen: My great grandparents lived at 37 Linney St. Their name was Molyneux. My Great Granddad Henry died in 1911 or 12 but Great Grandma Jane lived until the early 1950s. They had children Joe, Nelly, Florence (my Grandmother), John and Annie. Gt Uncle John lived there until his death in the mid 60s and he had three children, Harry, Marion and Joyce. They lived next to the Cherry family.

Hello John,,,am glad to here that Simeon is well last heard he was offside.Have never not known him if you know what i mean,,he used to live on Birkett Bank when we lived at Clarington Brook,,,we moved in 1955 but i met up with him again when I worked at Gullicks in the 1980,s.I last bumped into him on Lord St in Southport maybe 5 yrs since.Not sure how old you are John,a couple of years younger than me I guess but our paths must have crossed in St Catherines both school and church and then again in WGS.I left St Catherines in 1957.Am loving all the pics you keep up loading they really fetch back fond memories.Thanks

Hi Jim, I will be 66 yrs of age this year and left St Cats in 1960. I went to All Saint's first off then after passing my 13+ transferred to the Grammar School. I still go to St Catharine's church. My brother-in-law worked at Gullicks for a time - Alan Stokes.

Hello John
I used to go to morning service every sunday but got less and less as i got to 17-18,
I know Alan Stokes very well ,he was working at Times Engineering last time I saw him,hope he is well,,give him my regards when you see him next.

Hello john Allan .you probably remember my uncle then.Keith Hough he was in brigade .my maiden name was storey .I was always at Sunday school and church then brownies and guides .I love looking at all the old photographs brings back lots of happy memories .I do remember your family .happy days please keep posting your photos .

Hello Eileen,,,yes i remember your Uncle Keith,,,not only from St Catherines but from Gullicks as well,,,him and Simeion Whitehoiuse were very bets of friends

Hello john .Yes they were indeed .think Barbara Ashcroft was a bridesmaid at their wedding also .I only have to close my eyes and I am back there living in linney st .I wish I had listened to my mum a lot more about all the locals .we're you by any chance involved in scouts ? .

Hi Jim again, Alan had to pack in whilst at Times Engineering due to Rheumatoid Arthritis some years ago and now lives in Shildon Close Whelley. He often talks of the happy times he had working at Gullicks. I will tell him next time I see him. We both have caravans on the same site in North Wales so see a lot of each other.

Hello Eileen, yes I do remember Keith (and Enid) very well, all my life in fact. We were both officers in St Catharine's BB for many years, in fact until he started going to St John's New Springs. Keith also was involved with Wigan RL for many years and I was Chairman of Wigan RL Supporters Association for many years so we also saw each other at matches as well. It was a sad day when he passed away. My wife and I went to his funeral as did many of friends from church and Wigan RL. Keith was a nice guy. I do know the Storey family. Ernie from Swinley was Enid's brother I think?

Jim, I mentioned you to Alan and he does remember you very well. He's not been too well lately.

my mum vivien ashurst then lived with her mum and dad henry and allice ashurst in a shop down catherine street in the 1930s eny info ho rememberd them

my mother named vivian lived in catherine street in the 1930s her mum and dad allice and henry had a shop eny memaries of them would be welcome