Wigan Album

Blimey ! This brings back memories . The Famous Army Stores as well . There was a fishing tackle shop somewhere here if I remember correctly . Thanks for the post Frank . Boots as well across the road which had a side entrance in the Big Arcade .

Is the car at the front, a little Austin seven?.

Albert. Peter says it's an Austin A30.

The car in front is a Austin A35, Albert.S

Our left-back bought a dinky Austin 'van' just weeks after passing his test in the The Sixties. It took some of the team to Goose Green for what turned out to be our 3-0 Cup-Final success. The funny thing - apart from the van's nose - is that we'd celebrated further afield, in fact, in Rainford North End Club, with the Cup in the centre of a domino table. We hadn't been club-members, nor old enough to drink, but were allowed a pint each before leaving. Wigan, and then back down to Rainford?

In the fifties/sixties, further along from where the cars are parked was an entrance to the Palais-de- Dance, part of the Empress Ballroom.

The vehicle at the front is an Austin A30. The Austin A35 had a similar
radiator grill with a chrome embellishment around the outer edge.

The front car is a Austin A35 two door estate .

At least I was part right. It is an Austin.

The car at the rear is Austin A55.

The name plate on the wall. Does it read, ‘Cold Yard’ ?.

Is it not Ship Yard, Albert?

Is it not Ship Yard, Albert? The Ship pub was there.

Could well be Irene. Old historians’ of Wigan will know the answer.

It is Ship Yard

car at the back could be a sunbeamalpine ?

Xpat, it was Ashcroft's fishing tackle you remember, just out of shot on the left.

There is much referring to motor cars. Just a question. Was a Jowett Javelin a British made motor car?. The only one that I recollect, was one owned by Dr Duffy, of Platt Bridge.

Thanks A.W . I only remember those two , Pennington’s and a chip pie somewhere . What other shops there was further up left no imprint on my memory .
I often think I was living in the Twilight Zone when I lived in Wigan as I don’t remember half the stuff shown on WW . Cheers.

The vehicle is An Austin A35 van not a car that was in production from 1955, and continued in van form with limited production until 1968 long after the A40 and Mini replacements were introduced (BMC was known for keeping older cars and vans in production in small numbers and sold at a much lower price than their replacement models). The A35 car differs from the same shape earlier A30 in having a bigger rear window. Incidentally last week a black one new in 1958 was parked in Library Street that I have never seen before with London registration UYR162.
I don't remember the Salvation Army church building, and there was Ship Yard, an alleyway that went down to the Empress later Wigan Casino building. There was also Tom Whalley's pet shop nearby, don't know when that opened.

XPat. Regarding the shops. Further up from Ashcrofts fishing tackle there was also a cafe everyone called Slow Joes (decent food at a decent price, but took ages dishing it up) and Mrs Jolleys shop. She sold all sorts of stuff, but mainly electrical kit like old wireless valves etc.

Mr X the Austin A35 is an estate car, Side Windows.

Arthur/ Mr X. Seeing that you both appear to be well versed in the make, and models of vehicles. Have you got an answer to the question that I have previously asked?.

Quite ironic the Salvation Army being there in Millgate with all the wayward souls falling out of the ship. I presume they moved to Scholes crossing when the butchering of Scholes was finished.

Albert S, I'll try and answer your question.
The Jowett Javelin was a British made executive car of Idle near Bradford, west Yorkshire. The bodies were made by Briggs motor bodies in Doncaster and designed by Gerald Palmer in 1947 until production ended in 1953. So I hope I've answered your question Albert.

I've no idea albert, sorry.

W.N.1. Standisher.
One weekend night, in the very early sixties, Freddy Dyke, and I had a right battle opposite The Ship, in Millgate.
Freddie was attempting to arrest one chap, I believe his name was Farrell, and I the other, named Gallagher. We were both on the floor. He was biting through my little finger. I could see the bone appearing. I had to put his head against the wall, and hit him in the eye with my knee, to get my finger free. The doctor said there is only one thing worse than being bitten by a human, that is, being bitten by a camel. Punishment. Fined £5.00.

Thank you Garry. It would appear from the short duration of its manufacture, there was no future for this motor car.

Ironic you should tell that story Albert, my father in Law was an officer in the Specials in Wigan for 17 years in the 60's/70's, and due to his experiences in the RAF air traffic control in Egypt in the 50's, had a hatred of camels. ( dirty bloody things 0 he called them. Strangely years later, when on holiday with the family, he was offered camels for his Daughter, my Wife. This time he enquired how many ;)

It would appear the car was too expensive at that time, Albert.

WN1 Standisher.
Did she get the hump?.

She sure did. He didn't get the camels though :)

I owned an A35 van in the early 70's. Brilliant little van. I had the deluxe version - it had a heater and fold down rear bench seats. Spent many a night sleeping full length in the back on visits to the Lake District and Cornwall.

nightchap - the A35 vans were great. My dad had one in the 1960s. I learned to drive in it. You could go up to Burscough in those days and go on the old airfield runway and drive on it as it was "off road". It had the same engine that they used in the midget with a little stubby "Sports car" gear lever. If you had no load in the van it was quite a nippy vehicle.

When did the Salvation Army leave Millgate Wigan pls?

I cannot recall what was there before The Salvation Army building but do remember the old building being demolished or the new one built which must have been around 1953 or 54.
I would be five or six being brought home from St Johns School in the dark with my older brother and his mates. They threw stones over the fence at the workmen than ran off leaving me to it. The workmen played merry hell with me and bursting out crying a woman intervened telling them off, one said he knew my parents and then ran me hone in a waggon. It turned out he was a neighbour! I think his name was Billy Worrall.