Wigan Album

Lovely, Cyril. It looks like a scene from the film "The Blue Lamp". I love the gas-lamps. Very atmospheric.

And what a rarity seeing a Bobbie on his rounds! A regular PC Plod strolling as if he's got all day!

To be replaced by absolutely nothing!

True Andrew, I remember some years ago there was a window supplier in a shed type of building on the land though it always seemed to be empty with the land overgrown with scrub.

The sign above the first shop has two words that are unclear and next what appears to be Repair Specialist, so what they did specialise in repairing does anyone know?

Hi Cyril, great photo the window shop you are referring to would have been slaters, he put my windows in a house off frog lane in 80s, sadly after he died the shop was left abandoned for some time.

There could be a black high heel shoe in the window Cyril

First shop was Archie Browns shoe repairs

The shop on the corner as you turn into Prescott street was Mr Swains news agents, I was one of his delivery boys in the early 50's. I think one of the shops in the picture was a veg shop.

photographer would have been stood at the front of the newsagents at the corner with Prescott st. Perhaps the policeman had just been for a comfort stop at the gents urinal near the bridge.

A police man patrolling the streets was a regular sight in those days. Irene thanks for being concerned. X I'm fine.

Following on from a previous photo ,where i stated i worked for the O/Survey , but prior to me becoming a surveyor's assistant , my very first job on leaving school ,in December 1961 was a wee bit further along Frog Lane just past the Guardian's Pub and before Walker's /Walmsley's.
The Butcher's were ,J.MORRIS & SONS ,OF 136 FROG LANE . Strange isn't it how one's life is panned out ? .....

Glad to know you're okay Garry. I have missed your comments.

A W , on that same row was. Brennan's paper shop ,Post Office, Martin's electrical . and Hewson's pawnbroker maybe a little earlier than 61 what happened to all the local shops

Missed you Garry xx

Dave, Slaters windows does seem familiar.

Peter, you've got good eyesight to see a shoe, I can't recall any of those shops, but as Orrellite mentions there was an assortment of local businesses, which I'd assume to have been essential and around there to also have been quite busy.

Cyril, the shoe is under the first leg of the letter M.

My sister in law lived in Prescott St. She married Bill Bootle.Did anyone know him.He passed away some years ago.RIP.

By the way Garry, missed you as well.Like Irene and Julie. Good to see you back.

Yes Cyril, I remembered his first name now it was joe, Alan I remember the meat company of Brian Morris and his son john, had many a pint with them both in Guardians, frog lane was very busy back then in good old days.

Thank you Ladies, I've had a rough time lately, but I'm fine now, old age is catching up I'm afraid. X

One thing is for sure is the arch railway bridge is still there.

AW on the same row was Bartons Grocery a chipie and "outdoor".

One of the shops was a shoe shop. We referred to it as Johns shoe shop. He also did repairs.

Orrellite / Sad to say that what you are referring to have all gone ,for example from 136 my old butcher's they are now new house's not to my taste and where the old walker's/walmsley's engineering factory was ,now it's springing up into a small estate , all round there including Field Street . Also all the way down on that side are new homes as faar as entrance to Boston House Medical Centre . But going back under the bridge you had The Colliers Arms ,a couple of shop's then there was a superb Chippie on the corner ,across from that The Peartree Inn ,then house 's all way up to New Market ST , which top half now look derelict .

Glad to hear you're ok Garry, never mind, old age is catching up with us all now.Just have a sherry!!

Yes still have my sherry Edna, and thankfully have a coal fire and now burn plenty wood that I chop up. Very cosy on these now cold nights that are approaching. X

Edna,my Mams stepmother lived at the bottom of Prescott St..she was married to Billy Rowe Helen Rowes brother,like your relatives they passed away some years ago.

Maureen, Bill and my husbands sister Joan, lived in the next to last house,the one's that are still standing in Prescott St.Coming in from Frog Lane end.They saw many lorries stuck under that bridge.

Edna,the last time I was down that way there was a lorry that was stuck..I know there a warning further up but I'm sure it would be a lot safer if the warning was written in large white letters directly over the bridge.

I knew Joan and Bill Bootle My husband Ron Davies worked on the railway at the same time and we live close by, is Joan still living in Newtown?

Garry,nice to hear from you again,

Ann, no Joan has not lived in Newtown for a long time.She is now in a residential care home, in Platt Bridge.I remember her speaking of Ron,a long time ago.

Hi. I am looking for a photo of gthe laying of the foundation stone at Frog lane for the "new cleansing depot, in May 1937. Does anyone have a photo of the ceremony please? thank you.