Wigan Album

i remember walking past this pub when i was a little girl on my way home from the baths, and also the sweet shop next door, dont remember the bridge although heard lots of stories about it and central station, excellent photo should be more on like this!!

There also used to be a watchmaker's/jewellers in the row of shops obscured by the 'bus. Was it Davenport's?

The large window under the bridge on the right as you look at it. Did that used to be a motorcycle shop?

was there a pawn shop maybe behind the bus was it something like lygoes

FANTASTIC ! ! ! Keep 'em coming

This is a fabulous photo John. I keep going back to it to take another look. I would love to know the year. I would guess early 60's perhaps?

The car going under the railway bridge is a Ford Cortina which only went into production September 1962, which is as good a guess as to when the photo was taken. The Central Railway Station was closed in 1964, but no doubt the bridge would have been there long after

fairpaul you are correct Fosters Motorcycle Shop is on the right

Nice newish looking Honda "Dream" motorcycle on the left. One of the first Japanese "invaders", and the begining of the end for the British motorcycle industry.

Thanks Evelyn. The number 14 bus was the New Springs bus that we used to use to come into town, living 'up Whelley' The other one we used was the number 24 Bottling Wood? but more often than not we would walk down past all those shops. Sweet shops, toy shops, news-agents, chemist, two motorcycle shops, green grocers , etc., and the shop where you could sit in and have a drink of sarsaparilla. How things have changed- great memories though.

Further up the hill on the right was Millers motorcycles. My Dad bought his Velocette Venom Clubman new from there in 1961 - I seem to remember him saying that Fosters under the bridge used to only sell lightweights + Scooters?

i think there were 157 corporation buses

This is oldest bus I have seen on the 14 New Springs route...thank you!...now renumbered to fall in line with GMPTE Manchester network as 614.

hidden behind the bus would be palatines where i think they produced pop .

yes mick it was indeed davenports

this bus is the new springs bus on route to wigan

Wigan Corporation Buses were numbered up to No 166 which was a Massey bodied Leyland Atlantean but I dont think there were that many as the numbering system was a little
erratic to say the least as when buses were withdrawn they were not replaced and others were just re-numbered as and when it was required.

As a girl from scholes these brought lovely memories flooding back. I worked in the powder works in worlsley mesnes, makind explosives for the mines & pits, This was down Carr Lane then. I used to love cycling to work all the way down scholes from Scolfield lane. But dreaded the ride home again very hard going. Loved going to the local baths, while on school holidays. But I went 3 times a day then. The woman at the door used to say havent I seen you once today. I used to deny it changing my cossy,each time. My husband was a biker and would also visit the bike shop. Lovely times

Congratulations for posting John. This is one of the best photos I've ever seen of this part of Wigan - very nostalgic.