Login   |   Register   |   
Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Album Contents
Album Contents

Wigan Album

Millgate

17 Comments

Millgate - Well's House
Millgate - Well's House
Photo: Keith
Views: 3,397
Item #: 25835
With apologies to Ron Hunt who first posted this superb photo of Well’s House, Millgate quite a while ago, I've tried to "improve" it. It’s a photograph by John Cooper. I think we Wiganers owe a debt of gratitude to. Mr Cooper in 1859 was listed in the Wigan Directory as Landlord of the Royal Oak in Standishgate and photographer. He is responsible for some of the earliest views of the town, many of which have been shown on this site. The only pity is that he failed to put dates on most of them but some we can assume date from the 1850’s when photography was in its infancy. The buildings here look as if they could date from the 17th century, if you ignore the gas lamp post.
Back

Comment by: Carl on 5th January 2015 at 22:15

Where about would this be in Millgate Keith?

Comment by: Keith on 5th January 2015 at 23:01

I'm afraid Carl any position for this in Millgate by me would be a complete guess but my "feeling" is that it might be heading towards the Ship Hotel, facing the Wiend area but I've no real idea.

Comment by: John on 5th January 2015 at 23:22

It must have been on the same side as the ship (facing roughly south) judging off the shadow of the lamp post

Comment by: Aubrey on 6th January 2015 at 09:15

Great photo. By the position of the shadow I think Wells House was on the Rodney Street side of Millgate, probably where the baths now are.

Comment by: Ken on 6th January 2015 at 11:27

Don't know if this helps regards position but a good 1850's map of the area is posted on "Places" - "Wigan Map circa 1850" - around the time this photo was taken.

Comment by: Keith on 6th January 2015 at 11:53

Academic research found that in the area between Millgate and the Douglas were a number of wells and springs - a 800 year old deed refers to them - I wonder if this is the origin of the name for this house. Exploratory investigations in1982 in the Wiend/Millgate site found a well, one of the few medieval features at the site.

Comment by: Alex on 6th January 2015 at 15:50

And people say the good old days ???

Comment by: Alan on 6th January 2015 at 17:54

Aubrey, I tend to agree with you after looking at the 1850 map

Comment by: John on 6th January 2015 at 20:33

Aubrey, Alan - I think you're right. My mistake, I had pictured the Wiend running east-west but checking the map it's not far off north-south. Been away from Wigan too long.

Comment by: Sandra on 7th January 2015 at 09:59

What a great photo.If this building had been in York it would have been preserved as would a few quaint (hovels?).Historic Wigan survives in very few buildings.Shame lot of the character of Wigan has gone,in the push for progress.Brocal House! Progress? A carbuncle!

Comment by: Frank on 7th January 2015 at 13:59

Sandra I could not agree more, having just returned form a brief stay in York I know exactly what you mean. Just imagine Wigan - the York of the North West, ah well we can dream.

Comment by: shoulders on 9th January 2015 at 16:37

last time scholes malc got a round in this pub

Comment by: Frank on 9th January 2015 at 21:46

It's not a pub, shoulders.

Comment by: Colin Traynor on 29th October 2023 at 13:10

Love this picture, wish the exact location was known. Clearly on a road that slopes so could be at the bottom of Millgate where the public baths would be built.

Comment by: Colin Traynor on 30th October 2023 at 11:58

Noticing that there is a gas street lamp, it makes me wonder when gas lamps were first installed in Wigan.

Leave a comment?

* Enter the 5 digit code to the right of the input box. Don't worry if you make a mistake, you will get another chance. Your comments won't be lost.