Wigan Album
Mesnes St
37 CommentsPhoto: Frank Orrell
Item #: 27111
Fantastic photographs Frank , thank you these pictures are invaluable . I can spot Tom Warburton in his shop obviously showing a costomer a selection of carpets . On the opposite side of Mesnes Street a Cyril Lord carpet shop. Further down Roy Turners Pram Shop. We bought the pram for our baby from there in 1968.
I'll tell you what Frank, that's a GREAT shot. It's as though I'm there back in time, it looks live. That's how Wigan we loved should look today. Everybody going about in freedom and happiness doing their own business. Thanks Frank for these GREAT memories.
If you walk down this street today, you'll be lucky to spot three people at the bus stop. What a contrast to how busy it was on this evocative photograph...
Another brilliant photo, Frank! I don't think we really appreciate how warm and welcoming a place is until it's gone! Disappointed not to see the Michelin Man though!
The great contrast of what was, and now is. PROGRESS. Very debatable.
Brilliant photo. A real flavour of Wigan's yesteryear - fantastic, congratulations Frank.
What a wonderful photo.....I feel as if I could catch the bus into Wigan now and it would be like that, but of course it won't; but what a fantastic photo that can give someone that strange, unreal feeling. Thankyou so much for posting.
and free parking right at the shops front door.
cracking pic. proper shops selling proper stuff .
A wonderful photo, Frank.
The Cyril Lord carpet shop probably dates it to between 1965 and 1968.
Has this photo been took from upstairs on a double decker bus
Not a yellow line in sight.
Interesting that all the vehicles appear to British made as well. If you look closely at the end of the road you can also see the Pendelburys sign,especially if you click on the picture to make it bigger.
Tom, Marjorie the daughter of Roy who worked in the shop is still going strong, she's now in her eighties.
Frank was you hanging out of the window in Hope Street church.
this is the best picture yet of Mesnes St. I worked in Aspinalls Decorators in1961. ( out of the picture). I was always being sent on errands and had to go to the shop near the entry. it was a very quaint shop selling hats and gloves and all kinds of accessories for the more discerning lady. In other words it was quite 'posh' intact I felt very self conscious going in there! I would have appreciated it in later years however! It may have been Emily Fox,'s shop which can just be made out overhead.
Great picture Frank
great photo I worked as apprentice painter at Aspinwall,s Artistic Artisan,s in the 60's
This is Wigan as I like to remember it, Turner's toy and pram shop where I would spend my 10 bob birthday money. Which retailer would be rash enough to have prams outside nowadays?
The Wigan we all knew and loved gone now. Been to Wigan today, the Market Hall was dead, so many stalls closed down, so sad.
I would agree with Mick about the date being 1967, Hardy & Co on the corner of Standishgate took over from Boardmans about then.
AW, there may even have been babies in those prams.....people used to leave babies outside whist they went into shops; no-one thought anything of it way back then, and I never heard of one being taken.
Aspinalls shop later became an Art supplies shop. I spent many an hour in there. I was really sad when that went -you could buy anything you needed. I must have spent a fortune and still have stuff I bought there in the eighties and nineties.
Vb..I used to spend a lot of time in the art supplies shop..I was in a world of my own in there..and really missed it when it closed down...why!!I will never know.
I couldn't understand either Maureen. Anyway if you need art supplies Ken Bromley's Art Supplies at Horwich is the place to go. he has the widest selection you can find anywhere.
VB..I've been going to 'The Range' in Chapel Lane..so far I've found everything I need..I gather from your Copperas post that you paint in Watercolours..I've always used oils,but just started painting in Acrylics and am enjoying it.
Going off the thread and I apologise. It's a great hobby !
Very sorry to interrupt Frank..it doesn't take away the fact that your photo's are enjoyed by a lot of people..thank you.
Great photograph, Frank. You almost feel that you could walk into it. If only we could!! Thanks for posting it.
Look closely at this Standard 10 car a the bottom right, it's sills on the body are corroded through. You were lucky in those day to have a car over 10 years old.
Garry, the car is not a Standard. It is an Austin A40 or A50. They were made between 1954 and 1957 when they were succeeded by the A55. The A40/50s and they were identical from the exterior but had different engines.
Its defo not an A40 Derick. The Austin A40 looked like an Hatchback.
Alex, the A40/A50 model designations were dropped when an updated model known as the A55 was introduced in 1957. You are right in saying that the designation A40 was re-introduced and given to a completely new and additional model to the Austin range in 1958 which was a two door hatchback model.
Derek and Alex, the car looks very much like the Austin A40 Cambridge.
Gary, never a Standard 10.
HELLO FRANK WHAT A BELTING PHOTO, A FRIEND ON W.W. ASKED ME TO LOOK FOR THIS SHOT, FOR I WAS ASKING WAS THERE A TOY SHOP SOMEWHERE IN MESNES ST.? WAS WANDERING COULD YOU HELP AGAIN THANKS FOR BRINGING SUPERB MEMORIES BACK FOR ME GREAT!
The car in question was an Austin A50 (CJP 137).I bought it for £60 paid £60 to have the cills replaced and then sold it for £60. Not the best buy for a naive 19 year old!