Wigan Album
Abbey Lakes
15 CommentsPhoto: RON HUNT
Item #: 33292
Abbey Lakes Pleasure Ground was opened in Victorian times and remained open until the 1930's. It was the custom of the Liverpool Orange Lodges to spend Orange Day at Abbey Lakes, they would march en masse from Orrell Station to the pleasure ground. After imbibing a bit of Dutch courage at the Abbey Lakes Hotel the more militant element would proceed to St Joseph's Priest Training College in UpHolland and cause trouble.
The Abbey Lakes Hotel has always been in Orrell, not Upholland.
Surprised to find that lager was on sale then. Thought it was a drink not available, locally at least, until the early 60s
are the lakes still there? if they are how do you get to them?
I THINK THE LAKES ARE STILL THERE UNLESS THEY HAVE BECOME OVERGROWN AND SILTED UP? I USED TO FISH IN THEM WHEN I WAS A LAD, BACK IN THE 60's. THEY ARE THE LAKES BELONGING TO THE ABBEY. SO THEY ARE QUITE OLD
Just checked and the lake is now a Fishery.
https://www.facebook.com/AbbeyLakesUK/
Ron. Any idea as to the date of this advert?.
ALBERT I THINK ITS ABOUT THE 1890'S
I see Bruce is stating the obvious again.
Albert and Ron - I think the 1890s will be about right. An old Wigan Licensing Register shows JH Smith as the licensee up to 1901 (no exact dates of his tenancy given).
Bruce, you are correct in saying that the Abbey lakes Hotel is in Orrell though most of the lake and what was the pleasure grounds are actually in Up Holland. Some years ago an elderly Lady who lived near Abbey Lakes all her life told me when she was a child they always gave their address as Up Holland even though it would now be considered in
Orrell.
A.W., the dividing line between Orrell and Upholland is Dean Brook and it's never changed. The road name changes from Orrell Road to School Lane where the road passes over the brook and the signs are there, one says "welcome to Upholland, please drive catefully". The other says "welcome to WIGAN borough, orrell, proud supporters of Britain in Bloom North West, awarded silver gilt 2018" - and you then know you've just entered the most 'up their own arse council' area in the UK.
When I lived on Cambridge road, near the Old Engine pub, Orrell as a youngster in the early/mid 1960's. We used to mooch around Abbey lakes. There was always bullrushes growing .
Derek. B. Derek. The first lager to be brewed in the U.K. was brewed in Wrexham 129 years ago. The brewery was closed down in 2000, by Carlsberg. The brewery has recently started production again, by the previous head brewer there.
Bruce, I was merely repeating what I was told many years ago, if you look at the map you will see that everything west of the brook is in Up Holland and most of the lake. The water mill and land belonging to it were on School Lane in Up Holland though reckoned as part of the Abbey Lakes Pleasure Grounds complex.