Wigan Album

Good photo. An independent local family firm, unlike many of the others that belonged to shoe chain stores.

Quite true John, there is only mc'nultys and clarks that have decent shoes in Wigan, shoe zone are not really good for adults shoes but ok for school children who wear them out and grow out of them quickly, good pic Veronica b.

We should still be able to go to a shoe shop. It wouldn't be any use ordering shoes on the internet. People need to try them on and walk up and down in the shop. There's nothing worse than badly fitting shoes. Just as important to have shoe shops as much as food shops.

Best place to buy shoes now in Wigan are the charity shops.
Some people pull there face when I tell them this, but if I explain that the shoes I buy are vintage and are being recycled.

The same thing happens with fungus of the toe nails and verrucas - they are very good at re-cycling.

The traditional shoe shop does seem like a thing of the past.

It was almost like a 'tailor' shop where the staff ensured the customer were sold footwear that complimented their feet. Their stock was generally a high standard of quality shoe, and the shoes could potentially last a long time if they were well looked after.

As someone has said - we now live in an age of the wholesaler shoe shop. Someone mentioned Shoe Zone, but I think you can add Wynsors to that list. They do sell alot of cheap disposable tatt! I suppose Wynsors, is aimed at a competitive market where customers on limited budgets can purchase cheap shoes.

Wynsors and Shoe Zone seem to focus on childrens 'plastic' footwear - a child may only wear a pair of shoes for a few months before their feet grow, and their stock seems to be purposely designed to only last a few months anyway.

I am glad that McNulty's still going strong on Library Street, although given what is happening with the deterioration of the town centre, I suspect they may call it a day in the near future. Who's to know?