Wigan Album

The streets in these old photos always look clean. The buildings look really good as well -sturdy and solid. I love the archways over the doors on the left. I recognise Greenough St as if it was yesterday.

Thank you Keith for bringing these scenes alive ,
Incidentally the public house was ' The Princess of Wales , quite unusual.

Fantastic photo and beautifully brought to life with colourisation. I would love to walk down that street with my friends Veronica and Thomas (Tom).

Hi Thomas, in his book, “Making Memories” that details 150 years of Wigan RL history, Phil Wilkinson mentions when Wigan played their first game at Central Park, 6th September 1902, there were no changing rooms, the players and officials got changed in "The Prince of Wales" pub in Greenhough Street. This is also repeated in another Wigan RL book written by Dave Swanton. I think this is a case of a mistake perpetuating itself. The only other pub in Scholes named 'Prince of Wales’ is on Wellington St. Item #: 34561 which I believe you provided for Ron to post. Although this photo is not crystal clear I believe you can make out the name Princess and it also makes sense since it is so close to the ground and is listed in “Scholes Pubs” in Greenhouse Street on this Album.

You would have loved Scholes and Greenough St Irene. In my dreams I can still walk down there and turn down the side of the Duggy past the iron urinal and away to the bluebell woods. You can come with me if you like and roly-poly down the Camel’s hump whilst we’re at it! What fun we had…. ;o))

Ace picture

I love pictures of old Scholes, Veronica....all I knew of it was walking down Greenough Street to Central Park in the 1960s with my schoolfriend and her Dad, and I remember visiting a friend's Auntie once and seeing The Royal George Lodging House and being told what it was, but old Scholes fascinates me, and I love Tom Walsh's memories of it, especially the May Queen one. Yes, I'd love to have a roly-poly in your childhood haunts but if I get down on the floor these days, I can't get up!

Same with me Irene. The last time I went sprawling after slipping on wet leaves it took me ages to get up! I rolled onto my stomach and ‘spritzed’ myself up! I don’t think I could do that at the moment as I have a ‘ frozen shoulder’ which I have had for weeks!

If the photographer had in 1905, by coincidence, taken this snap of Greenhough Street, at the same time the players were making their way down from the Princess of Wales pub changing rooms, in full kit, to Central Park, it would have made one of rugby’s more unusual photos. The dressing rooms (and baths) at Central Park were only completed in 1909.

the pub was the princess of wales the pub at the top greeny the windmill was called the top long pull.