Wigan Album

Where are the toilets?
My earliest memory of this particular area had those toilets on the bridge, which was a cast metal framing, possibly iron.
Additionally, the first shop, where the two men are walking, I think was a newsagents.

Oops! I have just noticed the toilets.
I had forgotten that they were not directly on the bridge.

Brilliant photo, Veronica. I looked through the Timepix photos of Ince and Scholes yesterday and they are fascinating but I don't recall this one. As I have said before, I wish I had known Scholes better but I DID used to go to Central Park with my friend and her Dad in the mid-sixties so this is vaguely familiar. Were there some rather pongy men's toilets somewhere near here?

I have picked quite a few of these photos up they are brilliant Irene. I just thought I would post the opposite side of the Duggie. I couldn’t recall the ‘white’ bridge at all. I’ll drip feed them.
Yes you can only just see the stinky urinals Ian.
Ps they were ‘green’.

Irene, if you look closely you can just notice the toilets: they are where the man (walking) with the long coat is and just before the brick building. I also didn't notice them at first, because I thought (from memory) they where actually on the bridge. Additionally, due to the photograph being, as to say, black and white, the tones of grey sometimes does not make objects stand out as much.
I think, the toilets were painted green or red. Therefore, if this had been a coloured photograph, the toilets would stand out.
By the way, I like black and white photographs and feel that they look more period.

I see you sorted it out for yourself Veebs ….
…. Way to go , … as they tend to say across the pond .

I shan’t step on your toes Ozy . I did look on there ages ago but was told they couldn’t be posted on here. But perhaps things have changed..no doubt the jolly swagman will be on to them.
Ps I noticed one where two ladies are out walking on the other side of the Duggy I was wondering if it’s the same two as on t’other side..

Veronica and Irene, I must admit, as a young kid, I sometimes used them. But, they weren't always "stinky", because they were cleaned at times. I can remember that the toilets were sometimes completely wet from being cleaned, so I think that somebody hosed down the whole place.
For me, it is a shame that they weren't kept as part of our old Wigan. They could have been cleaned, the two entrance ways blocked off and the whole toilet block moved to Market Place with a small map showing where they had originally stood and with a small plaque giving details about the history of them.
They were, I believe, cast iron and I remember that they were quite ornamental - and, probably of good quality and possibly built by a local firm.
By the way, I also remember the toilets next to the other bridge (Crompton Street), but they were brick and not of ornamental value at all!
Please take into account, I remember more things about Wigan than just toilets. :-)

Ian, toilets are important and some older people or people with bladder problems won't go on days out because it's getting more and more difficult to find public toilets. Debenhams had them but that's gone now and people tend to use the ones in Wetherspoons because you aren't challenged or expected to buy a drink. Trouble is, they're usually up two flights of stairs!!

The Timepix site clearly states that the images are free to share … providing the watermark hasn’t been tampered with that is .
I know nothing about copyright law , but as far as I can see , we aren’t contravening any regulations … But …
If we both end up sharing the same cell , you may safely assume that I was mistaken ….
And I’ll end up getting three free meals a day without having to go to the trouble of firing up the AGA .
…..Every cloud etc. ……

Ian, you remember correctly as those urinals were of an ornamental cast iron, there were a couple of bus shelters in the same style and also painted green, but obviously they were covered and a lot longer. I suppose they were for workers at the local factories, the two I do remember were: the one on the corner of Poolstock and Pool Street, and also the one at The Bird crossroads opposite St Peter's Hindley.

Here's a link to a photo of the urinals on Millgate which Ron posted, they too are of an ornamental cast iron. https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=33006&gallery=Millgate&page=85

And so will the Jolly Swagman Ozy it will be a tight squeeze with the three of us! ;o))

When I went to Central Park from Hindley I either got off the bus and walked down Greenough St or caught the train to Wigan Central walked down Station Rd passed WLT down the side of the Duggie and across down by this bridge hoping to get players autographs.Happy days.

First shop was Tickles (printers), then Dickinson newsagent; or “ paper shop”.rheel

Cyril, I remember the bus shelter near The Bird at Hindley. It was quite smelly! As a small child I used to go to Hindley Market with my Mam every Friday and we would catch the bus home to Ince from there. I used to run round the bus shelter shouting because it echoed! It was also my bus-stop when I was at Hindley Grammar School in the 1960s and I hated school so much I used to go home to Ince for my dinner! Luckily we had an hour and a half so I could just manage it. But the grammar school was quite a long way from The Bird and I made four journeys between Ince and the school Monday to Friday.....no wonder I was slim back then! LOL.

Speaking of old men with bladder problems being reluctant to go out on trips owing to the sparsity of public toilets

That’s where a long gabardine mac and an empty plastic Comfort conditioner bottle comes in handy Irene .

I’ve got a gabardine mac that I’m looking to sell if any male members are considering going on a coach trip to “ World of Woks “ in Oswaldtwistle.

Or alternatively , get a pair of those rubber trousers like the ones Billy Connolly used to wear on stage .

Problem solved .

Gaberdine macs only remind me of Bogey in his trilby saying goodbye to Elsa
( Ingrid Bergman)in Casablanca. I hear the music of Time Goes By with a lump in my throat whenever I see a gaberdine mac. So don’t put me off Ozy….
Ps I bet a large Comfort bottle wouldn’t be big enough.

For the short time we lived at 3 Greenhough Street I walked down and turned right before the bridge, then over the white bridge on the left, past Central Park entrance and up to the rear entrance to St. St.Mary's school playground. Thanks for the memories Veronica. We had eight different addresses in Wigan and I remember them all so well.

Peter and Ian you can both find these photos on the above time pix and look at them to your heart’s content. I know people who don’t go on face book on here that’s why I have down loaded quite a few. I will post them all as I go along.

There are colored versions of this urinal Nos 1167 and 13319 under Album. Places, Greenhough Street which show a public call box at the side of it. You could spend a penny, then go in the phone box and do the same. Bizzare ?

Thanks for introducing me to the Timepix site, Veronica - hours of wasted time to be enjoyed there.

I’m sure you will find some Reverend for your interest when you have the time to look. Don’t forget to post any you come across that are a ‘rarity’.