Wigan Album

I never would have thought that building was once The Halifax, do you know what year this was Ron?

Bought my first record player from there, when it was Broadmeads.

I remember going for a job interview there about 1979 or 1980,but the photo looks older somehow.

I would guess this photo to date from the 1980's, Dunn & Co Gent's Outfitters shop is visible on the left of the photo, Dunn's shop was on Wallgate opposite the post office till the late 70's or early 80's.

Spent a few hours here on point duty, late fifties, early sixties. The police telephone post was were the boy, or girl is stood. No traffic lights then, just an overhead light to illuminate the bobby on point, and that was a late addition. After an hour on point, you must have breathed in a ton of exhaust fumes.

I remember it being the Halifax in mid 1980's as I used to pay the mortgage there. There was also one in Crompton Street. Then I think for a spell the Market Place branch in the photo became a electric / gas showroom. Unless Ive dreamt it! Can anyone confirm that?

Don't think it was ever a Gas or Electricity showrooms, Ian. From the late 50s it was Broadmeads selling electrical goods such as radiograms, record players and radios etc. As Jack recalls, in an earlier posting, buying his first record player there. I bought my first Pye transistor radio there. Don't think they ever sold white goods. Prior to Broadmeads I seem to remember it was a bank branch .

I think it was an electrical shop before it was the Halifax.

Derek B. I can only recollect the Gas & Electricity showrooms in Standishgate, further along from Mesnes Street.

Jack, snap, me too.

Albert, the building in Standishgate was the electricity showrooms only. The Gas showrooms were originally in Library Street, moving to Rushtons Building in New Market St. when Pendleburys moved out to their post fire rebuilt store. The final Gas Showrooms were a smaller premises in Standishgate opposite what was C&A and now Primark, though you might not be familiar with these stores which were roughly where Mark Williams butchers shop was.

I remember the Gas Showrooms opposite C&A. I bought a lovely fire from there for my last house with a wooden fire surround, which would have been in the late 80's early 90's. Excellent quality, - I miss being able to go in a showroom to buy those items.

Thank you DerekB. The time that I am referring to, the gas, and the electricity would have been two separate companies. I hadn’t considered that.

My mother bought an H M V reel to reel tape recorder from Broadmeads in the sixties And It still works.

I worked at the Halifax Building Society for 7 years when it was in Crompton Street, from 1972 until 1979. I was a Glaister then later to be married to Alan Sharples.