Wigan Album
Whelley
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Photo: Rev David Long
Item #: 32520
Now a Tesco store. The original pub here was called the Von Blucher - after the Prussian General who saved the day for Wellington at Waterloo. The name was changed in WW1 - and, if it hadn't, it would have been changed in WW2 - one of Germany's major battleships was called the Blucher. Fortunately, it didn't do much in the war, being sunk during the invasion of Norway in 1940.
Also long known as the hole in the wall. There was an a actual hole through which beer would be passed to those outside.
Although my grandad fought in WW1 and awarded the Military Medal plus serving in the Home Guard in WW2, he persisted in calling it the Blucher.
He always pronounced it Bloocher.
In the sixties, the Wigan Borough Police boundary was just beyond the Alexandra, then it was Lancashire Constabulary.
Many people may not be aware that Whelley was on a railway line that left the main line near Springs Branch, went through Hindley and Higher Ince, going under Whelley main road here, through the plantations rejoining the main line at Standish. It finished about 1972.
Was this near the roundhouse are
I remember the Alexander pit on the opposite side to the pub
Was there also a school close by the Alexandra in the early sixties?, or am I mistaken?.