Wigan Album

Would have made a great record sleeve picture for Deep Purple.

They seem impervious to the dizzy heights, as none of them are using their hands for support ... except, of course, for the camera-shy toddler. It must have been a well-adjusted crew.

Carl and Gary sharples are on both photos .spent many hours on that wall train spotting .its still standing yet

Happy days with my friends.

Is it near the tunnel that led to the Kays Houses? I was there last week collecting blackberries

It might be a good idea to get the wall cleaned-up, and then give it a Blue Plaque which bears the inscription "This is where imagination was fired".

I also thought I recognised the wall - so went down there this afternoon - and it is still there, though with different graffiti. Pie Maker might like to revisit - there are loads more blackberries to be had on the bank opposite.
The purpose of the wall is a bit of a mystery - it's only a bit longer than what you can see here, and looks 19th century. It's part way down the slope from the end of James Street, towards the Devil's Bridge underpass, but is unconnected to it. Looking at old maps, there was an underpass at about this spot in the 19th century - but it went under the railway line at an angle of about 30 degrees, heading north from this point, carrying a mineral line from Preston's Pit, east of Warrington Road, on the site of the former Britannia Bridge School, down to the canal at what became the wharf for the power station. This bit of wall may have been associated with that underpass.
The present underpass is set more or less at 90 degrees to the railway, on a line from Richard Street parallel with Kays Houses, the gable end of which can be seen on the left in this pic.
It's a bit of a puzzle.

Rev yes that is where I got my blackberries from without to much trouble. I'll have to go back and get some more. Have you seen the price of a small plastic tub of Blackberries?

Is it still possible to get through the devil's tunnel,I was a paper lad in the 60s and in winter morning's going through the tunnel was scary.

You can still use the tunnel and still get to pool stock on the canal .and get to west wood cemetery1ylok