Wigan Album

Seems a potentially expensive way of measuring for headroom. Using real heads i mean.

Where is this location?. Is it the railway bridge near to Britannia Bridge?.

Albert, it is indeed the bridge near he canal at Britannia Bridge.

Thanks Alan. H. On the pub side of the bridge was the boundary between Wigan Borough, and Ince-in- Makerfield. The mortuary was further along on the opposite side from the pub.

My Grandad and his mate's spent many an afternoon in vault in Shep Arm's looking out for any Germam Paratrooper's trying to get to Spring View. ( That's what he told my Grandma ) .

Just for clarity, Albert: St Mary's Parish boundary used to follow the Wigan/ Ince-in-Makerfield boundary, as drawn before the canal went through. The boundary followed the course of the Clarington Brook as it was then - Boundary Street, on the other side of the bridge from the Shep, but on that side of the road, marks where it was to the east of Warrington Road (which changed to Warrington Lane, Wigan at that point). The line then went across at a 45 degree angle southwards, running across the road and through the pub on the west side of the road - the Britannia Inn, later Heaton's Bakery - meaning that one end of the bar was under Wigan's licensing laws, and the other under Lancashire's - meaning half an hour more drinking time on Saturday nights in Lancashire (I think it was that way round). The boundary then ran through a row of cottages on the canal bank. A 1974 photo of the area shows that the houses on the Ince side had been demolished, whilst those on the Wigan side were still standing.
There would have been a bridge carrying Warrington Road/ Lane over the Clarington Brook at some time in its history (I think its waters are now culverted northwards through the former council and the last works sites into the Douglas). It may have been this bridge which originally carried the name Britannia Bridge, which was taken over by the canal bridge in 1816... but some may know better.

Thank you Reverend. I only mentioned it, because that was where completed checking property, on the Borough side.

Why the heck didn't they just use a tape-measure.

May be the answer is on a black & White striped pole with a red triangle
Stating 14' 9" mind you the bridge could have dropped over time.

Forgot to add on last comment : Or the road surface increased I've never drove a wagon under a bridge or a bus so I can understand them not taking any chance's

How can the bridge drop with railway lines on top of it, come on!!!

Garry: The engineers of old did a very good job, they built solid structures for the railways like underground tunnels and bridges and viaducts, and although engineers of today measure by electronic technology and are very good at it to make things safe the thing they can't control is Mother Earth moving from time to time like subsidence or heave. Some times a bridge may be lower at one end more than the other, it may not be much but enough to make traffic like a bus going under to have a problem.
That's why if it becomes a problem construction of the bridge takes place, today's bridges are on pin rollers to allow for expansion and contraction you can see these on the motorways I helped construct a few of them.

When the bus is full of passengers, it will be even lower!!
so more clearance.

Re the railway bridge to the left of the height sign is Bridge street we and my brother Ray lived their for over 20 years just in a two up and two down terraced Railwayhouse (dad worked on railway) we shared a outsid toilet
with a family of 8 but these were very happy days with none of the violence that’s around now days

Hi
Re some of the lighthearted comments over the bridge height. In the days of the photo the roads were well looked after and with the re tarmac going on the height to road distance was altered thus the checks. What a difference to now days with all the country wide pot holes I well remember the sovereign road depot of Wigan borough inthe 1950/60 having a team of men who’s sole job was to go out with their Bedford /Austin lorries 5days a week just to fill in pot holes around the Wigan areas and for anyone who thinks thiis isn’t true just ask your grandparents.
Regards
Bill parr