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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Market Hall

16 Comments

Pot fair early 1970's.
Pot fair early 1970's.
Photo: Keith Beckett
Views: 3,610
Item #: 33151
A look of concentration or bewilderment.

Comment by: Edna on 22nd May 2021 at 19:09

This is a blast from the past Keith.Never to be seen again I suspect. They are all looking in anticipation of a bargain coming their way, as we all did when visiting The Pot Fair.Good photo.

Comment by: Helen of Troy on 23rd May 2021 at 07:36

I remember the Pot Stalls at Wigan Fair, it was pure entertainment to watch a whole dinner service being 'chucked ' into a wicker basket ! Great photo.

Comment by: A.W. on 23rd May 2021 at 08:39

Used to be a good place for buying Lino as well, those of a certain age will know what Lino is, and who remembers the man selling toy monkey's and toy birds on a stick?

Comment by: john fell on 23rd May 2021 at 10:27

Can see my Mam and Mrs Prior on this photo

Comment by: Veronica on 23rd May 2021 at 11:27

People would gather round for a time, then lose interest if there was nothing being 'given away'. They would walk off and be replaced again with another trickle of folk waiting expectantly for when the seller would reinvigorate his sales patter. So it went on ... it amazed me how the China didn't chip when it was being juggled. I never bought anything, I thought everything must have been seconds and if you did buy anything there would be something wrong with it when you got home. You couldn't take anything back because they would be gone!

Comment by: RON HUNT on 23rd May 2021 at 13:01

I can remember the guy selling, on the photo. I remember him as a young man just starting , and saw him a few years later obviously older, I think he came from the Stoke area?

Comment by: Irene Roberts on 23rd May 2021 at 13:53

I once bought a capo-di-monte rose for my daughter-in-law from Bolton market. You just chose the colour off the display ones and the man handed you a boxed one. I opened it on the bus and it was a wreck! As you say, Veronica. it was too late to do anything about it. But I learned my lesson!

Comment by: Albert.S. on 23rd May 2021 at 14:12

It was a well established occasion for many years, Wigan fair. Apart from a circus, do any travelling fair grounds still visit provincial towns?. I believe one visits Fleetwood, but not on the scale of what was Wigan fair. Is there any record as to when the travelling fair became an annual event in Wigan?.

Comment by: Irene Roberts on 23rd May 2021 at 15:39

Silcock's Fair still comes to Hindley, Albert, and I think to Wigan too,, down near Robin Park, but no longer to Ince, Abram, Ashton, Platt Bridge etc, (smaller villages). It used to visit them all at one time.

Comment by: Thomas(Tom)Walsh. on 23rd May 2021 at 21:07

Everyone enjoyed the 'Pot Fair ' run in conjunction with main event ,this took place away from the main show-ground on the other side of The Market Hall . It was almost like a show, the patter of the auctioneers fascinating on lookers , they all seemed to have cockney accents with an ability to throw dinner plates in the air as good as any juggler , then balance 6 plates along his arm as he invited bids , I watched spellbound and would try to imitate him when I got home to my Mams amusement, until I broke 2 plates ! The spiel exciting would be buyers into a possibly an unintended purchase , going home with a 21 or 18 piece tea set , earlier in the evening they hadn't realised they need . Many of these impromptu buys would finish up as weddings presents ,as would the eiderdowns and blankets bought in an equal moment of madness , we're all suckers for what appears to be a bargain !

Comment by: Thomas(Tom)Walsh. on 23rd May 2021 at 23:26

Everyone enjoyed the 'Pot Fair ' run in conjunction with main event ,this took place away from the main show-ground on the other side of The Market Hall . It was almost like a show, the patter of the auctioneers fascinating on lookers , they all seemed to have cockney accents with an ability to throw dinner plates in the air as good as any juggler , then balance 6 plates along his arm as he invited bids , I watched spellbound and would try to imitate him when I got home to my Mams amusement, until I broke 2 plates ! The spiel exciting would be buyers into a possibly an unintended purchase , going home with a 21 or 18 piece tea set , earlier in the evening they hadn't realised they need . Many of these impromptu buys would finish up as weddings presents ,as would the eiderdowns and blankets bought in an equal moment of madness , we're all suckers for what appears to be a bargain !

Comment by: Kenee on 24th May 2021 at 17:53

Irene: Silcocks fair still comes to Ashton, it's been here the last two weekends.

Comment by: Mrs < on 25th May 2021 at 04:50

Been to a few pot fairs with my grandmother and mother. I always look at the photos, especially of the 70s, in hopes I might see them. Sadly gone many years now.

Comment by: Irene Roberts on 25th May 2021 at 09:15

Thankyou Kenee; I hadn't realised that.

Comment by: Owd viewer on 25th May 2021 at 11:55

Irene, there was a fair on Warmsley Park Ince last week,

Comment by: Irene Roberts on 25th May 2021 at 13:35

Owd Viewer, I DID see an advert for something that was happening on Walmesley Park recently but hadn't read it properly....I hadn't realised it was the fair. Thankyou.

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