Wigan Album

I wonder if the Bonnie Prince used it! That is a fascinating piece of history. It’s amazing what is being discovered in Wigan. I wouldn’t be surprised if anything else is found with all the digging going on.

How interesting Ron,I love finds like that,the mind boggles doesn't it.
I once read a book( wish I had it now) and it told th reader all bout the hiding places in the Parish church, it was so interesting that I took the little 'un to see where the possible hiding places would have been.. around the back of the church are the doorways and steps down to the cellars where the Catholics would hide..Veronica..we were doomed .

We always were Maureen I blame that ‘enery the eighth I do.

See our JOLLEY friend from Spain has copied the image for his site Wigan Nostalgia AGAIN As he does for all the images on here AND then claims he found it.. What a TOSSPOT

Yes I noticed owd codger. He’s quick off the mark! I don’t visit that much. I am on an Art Group page on F/B so I do get notifications.

Alan Jolley is bang out of order. Up to his old tricks of pinching photos from other sites and not giving acknowledgement to the source. He constantly does it from this site. I spent 3 months writing a story and Ron enhanced a photo for me. Jolley brazenly stole it and took all the credit. I messaged him over it and his reply was to ban me from Wigan Nostalgia. He has banned Ron Hunt as well. The man is a charlatan. I urge everyone to boycott Wigan Nostalgia. He runs the site from Spain and just pinches stuff.

It was well organised by Peter from the Wigan Building Preservation Trust.

I had never heard or read any reference to a medieval toilet in the church tower. The restoration of the church in the 1840's changed the floor level which is now lower by perhaps 4 feet.

Thanks Ron for that very interesting piece of information and the picture. There's no sign of a Medieval toilet brush, I hope that whoever used it last gave it a good cleaning?
From what I have just read I find those reports on THAT Alan Jolly person quite shocking. I have never been on that site and have no intention of doing so. Anyone who does should bring him to account for his blatant plagiarism.

Not all of the folk on there use photos from here. It’s just the one chap. The photos move along it’s not a site like this one where the photos stay archived. (As far as I know) plus there’s not much informed discussion as with this site I have to say. Mr Whelan always says where his photos come from and credits them.

Ron / Andy, those tours by the Wigan Building Preservation Trust sound very interesting. Do you have to be a member to get on one?

Some of these comments really put a smile on my face. A ‘medieval toilet’ in a church built in the 19th century?

Dek - you should read carefully, before making snide comments.
Ron said it was in the TOWER. The rest of the church was restored/rebuilt in the mid 19th century, but much of the fabric of the tower dates to between the 13th and 16th century.

Dek as the old proverb states IT IS BETTER TO BE THOUGHT AN IDIOT THAN TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND PROVE IT...
I suggest you swat up on your Wigan History.. before making any further comments..

A photo sent by Eddie/Oz of himself with Father Christmas has been posted on Wigan Nostalgia by the photo snatcher! Item 27097

Hi Colin,

We are a small concern with five trustees and two volunteers. We do bits & pieces but touring places etc is hardly a regular thing. At the moment our energy is going in to the disused chapels at Ince.

When we have something considerable, we'll open up communications with the social media networks and let folk know what's going on and potentially expand.

Cheers.

Should have mentioned that the tour was organised by the Wigan Building Preservation trust"?

Andy did you smash the door down to get in ?

Andy, thanks for the information apart from WW I don't indulge in Social Media but would welcome an email regarding the next event.
Those disused chapels in Ince are in a sad and sorry state I do not know what will become of them. if you take any interior pictures please post them.
I have a recent picture through the Keyhole of Grimes Arcade that also is a sorry sight to see and of the interior of the now closed off former Bank Chambers arcade in Wallgate lower down than the old General Post Office. There is still a sign on one of the doors for Ackerley Heaton & Pigot Solicitors!
I remember that arcade allowed access through to The Prince's Cinema and to the right of the Prince's there is an alleyway with a fine building in complete disrepair. I cannot find out the name of this alleyway but to the left of the dilapidated Cinema is the Clarence Yard.

Colin would that be BANKS CHAMBERS?

Ron, Bank Chambers or Banks Chambers is my recollection, I asked in few of the adjacent properties but no one seemed to know.
Confusingly I think the old bank building at the top of Library Street / Wallgate opposite Spoons is also referred to as Bank Chambers!

Bank Chambers is the correct name for the passageway next to the old GPO, which leads down past the Princes to King St West.
As I recall, there was a notice over the passage when you entered from the Wallgate end, stating it was not a public right of way.
A shame to see the fine buildings down there in such a terrible state.

We identified the 'toilet' last year when we were carrying out a survey of the Tower for Peter Layland last Winter (Peter is researching the origins of the Church and Tower, hoping to complete his report early next year). We reported our activities in our Newsletters between February and May https://www.wiganarchsoc.co.uk/content/News_Letters/news257.htm https://www.wiganarchsoc.co.uk/content/News_Letters/news260.htm