Wigan Album

I've just been viewing the 1921 Census. My paternal Grandfather who lived on Miry Lane then, and married with four children was then 'on the dole'. He had been laid off from West Leigh pits.

What a photo,the children don’t look too unhappy but the dad looks dejected..on the news the other week it was stating that children just starting at nursery on being given children’s books didn’t know what to do with them and were swipe each page as they just thought they were I.pads.. but it does make you realise just how poor people were years ago on looking at this photo..it’s very sad.

The good old days eh?

Pete..my late mother in laws maiden name was Barker,and I’m sure she originated from Miry Lane.

Aye, the good old days John.I wonder what the bloke would would make of what we have today compared to his life.

I remember Greenough Row it was at the top of Hardybutts but led onto Scholes behind the houses on Wellington St. sometimes I would go that way to go to Pie Joe’s.
I remember being told my grandfather went to Doncaster for work at the same time the miners were out of work in the early twenties. I wonder if the children went to St Pat’s school. They look healthy enough. They wouldn’t know any difference. Maureen some children go to school these days and they aren’t even toilet trained. This is what teachers are up against. Also now they are being given breakfast paid by the tax payer.

Greenhough Row was located at 31 Hardybutts.

Dad you've been drinking again, mam will go mad.

I know this photo was posed especially for Picture Post and I imagine the children were supposed to look as dejected as the man but were probably very excited at having their photo taken. They look quite bonny and healthy to me and were dressed quite warmly and well for "playing out". Best clothes were kept for Sundays and special occasions back then. Fifteen years later, in the mid 1950s, I had clogs exactly like the little girl is wearing, made by Barlow's Cloggers in Ince, and clothes that were passed on from neighbours or from the Jumble Sale! New clothes were bought for Easter and kept for "best".

I used to have clogs like the little girl's. I was dead jealous of my brother who had clogs with irons, because he could make sparks and I couldn't.

If that mon was unemployed he wasn't a miner, he was just unemployed. He looks like he's been amongst it, doing a bit on-the-side for cash-in-hand on a local building site, doing a bit of mixing and carrying for a two-and-one-gang.

Come to think of it the man’s clogs do look like they have dried cement on them instead of coal dust.

Maureen, my Grandmother's maiden name was Langton. The sister of the famous England footballer, Bobby Langton. I never met her, as she died before I was born. At that time, they lived at 86, Miry lane in 3 rooms, according to the census.

No,sorry Pete…I’m afraid I don’t recognise those names at all.

I remember the Langtons when they lived at number 2, Gas Street.