Wigan Album

Early 50s. I lived in Dicconson Terrace and remember the construction of the college. I started at the Thomas Linacre in 1955 and we used to have our German class over there. Good photo.

This picture looks to be the junction of Market Street, New Market Street and Parsons Walk.

If memory serves me right, the original Wigan College building was opened in 1954 by the Queen.

This picture looks more to be 1960s than 1950s, judging by the volume of cars on the market car park, so I am assuming the building work is the construction of the second phase of the college complex where the big wheel stood for many years.

CJ

I would say approx 1967 as the rugby ground floodlights are visible. I think they were erected circa 1967. Nice photo.

About 1969. Flood lights erected at Central Park. They were 1968 I think. Crane in background, building Boyswell House. Same was completed 1970. Crompton House already built.

This site is what has become Wigan and Leigh College, an extension of what was John McCurdy Hall which itself was built in the early 50's alongside Thomas Linacre School. JMH was opened by the Queen in 1954.

approx 1970 the building is the tech extension that used to have the pit wheel in front of it

I had forgotten just how many cars could park on the Market Square. In hindsight it's the memories of Whit Monday that stands out for me. 5 Parishes walked so it does show how crushed the crowds really were. Not to mention the pipe bands and other bands of musicians. Plus all the dignitaries and room for all those banners and statues. Marvellous! Something lacking today is the rallying point we had in those days. When the Queen came in 1977 she was stood on a dias in the middle of the road in Wallgate. That would not have happened if the Market Square had still been in existence.

The large building on the left of the picture still has its original name
near the top...O & C Rushton AD 1900. The front of the building facing
the Market Square was often referred to as The Gas Showrooms.

Veronica - the market square was there until at least 1985.

This picture was taken in February 1969 from a roof overlooking the excavations for the new Wigan Technical College. It's in my "Wigan In Times Gone By" book. I've not submitted any pictures recently because I'm in the middle of a new book mainly concerned with the 1960s but because of Covid restrictions I've not been able to do any research for information about the pictures at the Museum of Wigan Life. I will submit some images when I've been able to get information. Probably a good while off yet.

Could tell it was one of yours Frank, I think the clarity gives it away. Good photo. Tony G, nice to hear from you mate, hope you're keeping well :)

I hadn't realised that Tony L. You are right as the Supermarket was built on it in the mid 80's. How strange it wasn't used for when the Queen came , as she did last time. Blocking the main Rd up too. Thanks for telling me. I should have known, but i haven't lived in Wigan since the late 60's, even though I have never missed coming to Wigan at least once a week.

Where the buses are, is that the beginning of Parson’s Walk, or did Parson’s Walk begin lower down. Wasn’t the the first street lower down Parson’s Terrace, that led into Bridgeman Terrace?. It is such a long time ago that I was in Wigan.

It probably wasn't fit to use when the Queen came in 1977, Veronica. For the last twenty years or so of its existence, it was in very poor condition, full of potholes and and very uneven areas.

Great picture.

I can see a Ford Transit, the first of these vans came out in 1965.

Looks like St Catharine's at the top (back.)
Scholefield Lane is a high point. I remember standing at the top of Belvoir St and being amazed at what could be seen for miles after the old terraces had been demolished. No wonder it was named Belvoir St - beautiful view/vista. Spent many hours roller skating down Belvoir St.

Probably the late 1960s as the flats in lower Scholes, Crompton, Mannion, Derby, Brook an Woodcock Houses are built. A crane is constructing Boyswell House in higher Scholes that is not yet built. The Park Hotel and Warburtons furniture shop can be seen. The car outside Battyes is possibly a Ford Corsair or Vauxhall Victor FD. As for the corporation buses the nearest one is a front entrance long Leyland PD3 with Northern Counties body and St Helens fibre glass front, so I guess that to be HJP5-11. The other is a rear entrance 1956-58 short PD2, also with Northern Counties body, CEK837-841, DEK108-113, DJP754-759. And in the bus station a Leyland Tiger Cub single decker, probably 1957 DEK534 or 535 likely to be on the 333 Wrightington route always a single decker because of the low railway bridge in Mill Lane, Appley Bridge. What was the building next to the Park Hotel that was demolished and Barclays bank built on the site?

Photo after 1967. Wigan’s first floodlit game was against Bradford Northern. Georgie Fame presented the match ball. At some point in the match the lights failed. Hope this sheds light on the date !!

Hi Mr X...The Leyland bus on the left of the picture is a 64 seat front
loader, same length as the 61 seat bus. Cheers, Ray.

The building between the Park Hotel and Marsden St was Conroy Brothers and was a store for fruit and vegetables, they later moved to Wheatlea Park at Marus Bridge. There was also two shops at the side on Marsden Street with a pet shop and a saddle makers down an alley between them and the back of the Market Hotel.

ALBERT.S
Yes that is the start of Parsons Walk.

ALBERT.S.
The first 'street' in Parsons Walk was Mesnes Terrace, it was that which led to Bridgeman Terrace.

IS !! Mesnes Terrace,

Roy - it's actually Mesnes Park Terrace running between Parsons Walk and Bridgeman Terrace.
Mesnes Terrace used to run from Hope Street, across Mesnes Street to Back Mesnes Street, and towards Dicconson Street.

So it is Tony, sorry about the mistake, it's my 80 year old brain malfunctioning.

For the times they are a changing ....
Not if I can help it!!

Has that always been New Market Street from the junction with Market Street to the commencement of Frog Lane?.

I walked past there today Albert ( 30th ), and the street sign just above the Battye & Sons signage is still there and says New Market Street. If you came back and had a look around Wigan, you would be shocked at what you saw.

The two primitive pile-driving derricks must have taken ages to cover the site - with the weight having to be re-wound by the donkey engine after every drop. Nowadays a self-propelled hydraulic machine simply hammers the piles down and swiftly moves on to the next.

I do not know if this true but my eldest brother recalls that in the early 1950’s this plot of land on the corner of New Market Street and Parsons Walk was surrounded by a wall behind which sheep used to graze. It might very well have been part of Wigan Hall or Bull Hay.

Colin there is a photograph of the walled area you mention, on the site Somewhere?