Wigan Album

I remember The Derby Arms, though I can't recall The Brewer's Arms. Art posted this on a thread about these pubs and The Shakespeare.

Posted by: ©art© (6154)5,000+ Report abuse

Derby Arms was on the opposite side of Chapel Lane to the Brewers,(the one replaced by Brocol House) which was next door to the Palace Cinema, which was next door to the Hippodrome,which was next door to the Shakespeare..

Replied: 1st Feb 2012 at 00:48

Here: http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/communicate/mb_message.php?opt=f2&opt2=&msd=773910&offset=1000&subject=Pub%20where%20Brocol%20House%20is%20today

There's a photo on the Album of the regulars of The Brewers Arms, apparently it was hung on the wall of the vault. Link below.

http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/communicate/mb_message.php?opt=f2&opt2=&msd=773910&offset=1000&subject=Pub%20where%20Brocol%20House%20is%20today

Fascinating yet curiously nondescript . Why would anyone take this photo ?

How drab and dirty Wigan used to be: an image of pure desolation. Drink is certainly the scourge of the working classes...

Both Magee pubs. Handy if one of them ran out of B.B.

You can't sit and enjoy a drink these days without there being a dozen CCTV cameras recording you. Same goes for everywhere be it a swimming pool, gym, shop, church, public toilet, pretty much everywhere is surveillance 24/7. Orwell certainly knew what was to come in 1984.

The site of The Brewers Arms in this photo became the site of the Council's rates offices which, from what I remember of their design, would have been built in the 1930s. They were demolished some years ago.

Had my first illegal pint in the "Brewers" long time ago.

DerekB.The rates office was opposite The Brewers on the corner next to the Fire Sation.

KenR, you are quite right. I had misinterpreted this photo thinking the two pubs were opposite each other but not on the same side of Chapel Lane i.e. going toward the railway bridge.

Gosh! I only remember the Palace with the gates in front,The Hippodrome and Chapel Lane but not those pubs. I do remember the Rates Office though and going inside with my mother to pay the rates!

Ken. I believe the fire station was in the other section of Chapel Lane, on the opposite side of the road, and opposite the pawnbroker’s, and church.. Just into Darlington Street, a little Down from one of the pubs, was the Wigan Borough Police Garrage.

Further along from the Palace Cinema was the Magistrates Clerks Office, then a passageway that led to ticket office, where the entrance was for the upper circle, (The Gods). I remember the coroner being Mr Hopwood Sayer, but I cannot remember the name of the Magistrates Clerk, in the fifties, and sixties.

Albert that's right. The rates office was on the corner, with the Police Station next door in Darlington St and the Fire Station next door in Chapel Lane . Which as you say ran across Darlington St.

Having thought about it, I believe he magistrates’ clark’s was Mr Horsman.

Albert - Basil Horsman was still Clerk to the Magistrates in the mid/late 1980s.

MickLD. Mick. He must have been a good age, in the eighties.

I think he may have gone on beyond retirement age, Albert.