Wigan Album

I used to live in the Crispin Arms, seen here at the very top, near the middle, at the meeting point of Darlington Road East, Birkett Bank and Manchester Road. The pub was re-built while I lived there, we left in February 1956, just before it was all completed. The photo indicates it is finished, so the earliest I estimate for this interesting photo is the 1950's. Thanks for posting Ron.

Has to be mid 1950s or later, Ron. The 'new' Crispin pub can be seen on Birkett Bank. It was rebuilt 1955/1956, I believe.

Did Gullick Dobson once operate from this site? Or at least part of it? Can anyone confirm please? Thanks

One of the shops on the right is Jack'Tomorrow's' Chemist. Not sure exactly which one now though. The houses on the l/h side have stood the test of time as have the ones on Darlington St... Built to last.

Veronica. Jack (I'll have tomorrow) Melling's chemist shop is easily seen in the photo. If you find the Crispin Arms, its the next small row of shops to the right. If you look closely you will see that the very end shop in that group on the corner appears to have a white "awning". I believe that was Jack's shop.

Veronica, you reminded me of Jack Tomorrows shop, it was a chemist shop, we knew him as Jonny Tomorrow's due to the fact he could never find anything you asked for but would say "come back tomorrow - it'll be ready for you" and it always was. John's shop was so cluttered with stuff its a wonder he could find his way to the kettle. John Melling was his name, lived on Haigh Road, Aspull. Back in the early 1960s his shop was my first delivery so I would often pick him up at the bus stop and take him to his shop so that I didn't have to wait for him, his punctuality was somewhat doubtful. Jack always had the answer to any problem you had, he could give better advice than any doctor, marvellous fellow he was.

Tim, although I lived in the Crispin Arms for 6 years it was only after I left and our family moved to Beech Hill (the Wellfield Hotel), that I got a job (all of 6 months) at Gullicks, my first ever job. Strangely, the offices were across the road from my "old home", the Crispin, well 2 roads in fact, Birkett Bank and Darlington Street East, a matter of some 50 yards or so.

Wigginlad, to the right of "Jack To-Morrow's" shop on the photo, is an open piece of land. I can't confirm the exact location of Jack's shop but I and my friend Eric Long, (whose mother Lilian, ran a shop very close indeed to Jack's), would use this piece of land to practise our "cricketing skills" for hours on end. We referred to the land as "the hollow" since it was (and probably still is) some 40 feet or so below the height of the road. The Clarington brook became culverted at this point ran under these houses and continued for quite a distance underground, certainly as far as Clarington Grove where my grandmother lived. We often invited Jack to join us in our cricket practice, to our great joy he managed to do so on one occasion. I remember him as a very nice, affable man who always seemed cheerful. He was certainly a person you could never take exception to, even if your photos from Gratispool were never there to be collected on the promised day but always true to his word they were there the next day. Jack, an unforgettable character in that district.

I remember Jack Tomorrow's, always a very busy shop.I know what you mean about houses being built to last but I have always thought Darlington Street is a very miserable looking street.

I thought it might be in the first block with an awning over the window Carolaen. I always thought Jack looked like a nutty professor Wiganlad It was organised chaos when you went in there, I'm sure he only said "Come back tomorrow" because he couldn't find what you wanted ! ;o))

Veronica, my aunt lived in Gordon St (immediately opposite the Wigan and Leigh Workshops for the Blind on Darlington St.)and when we used to visit we used to wonder how they lived with the continuous thumping/booming sound which came from Bulldog Tools. Incidentally, vis a vis your remarks re the houses lasting so long, the last time I went past Gordon St the terraced houses on the right as you looked down from Darlington St. had been demolished.

Yes, that side of Gordon St were demolished Derek B, ex neighbours of ours went to live in Gordon St after Scholes was re developed. Very different these days.

I agree with Veronica,Jack Melling chemist was in the first row of shops.Gullick Dobson offices were in Kirklees St ,the white building with the bowling green.