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Wigan Album

Commercial Yard

20 Comments

Back of Commercial Hall
Back of Commercial Hall
Photo: RON HUNT
Views: 2,656
Item #: 33359
View taken from the Commercial Yard showing a dilapidated view of the old Commercial Hall. Another Historic Building demolished.
Thanks to the Wigan Archives for the image

Comment by: Albert.S. on 9th October 2021 at 16:43

I presume Ron that that would have been the rear of the Conservative Club.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 9th October 2021 at 19:05

Albert Yes, probably it was the Conservative club later. I remember climbing the stairs when I went there for a Business Mens lunch. Back in the 1960's I think it was 3 courses for about 3/-

Comment by: Veronica on 9th October 2021 at 20:52

I remember that scene very well. I used to go to Latimer's on Market St that way.

Comment by: Albert.S. on 10th October 2021 at 10:19

The Commercial hotel was always full, and had a good atmosphere. Enjoyed a pint, or two in there with my mates, before going off to the Emp. to dance the night away.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 10th October 2021 at 10:21

If you look at previous photos of the Commercial Yard you will see that the building then, i.e. when it was the Conservative Club, is a different building than the one shown here.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 10th October 2021 at 13:32

Albert back in the 60's I cant remember any 'BAD PUBS' in Wigan centrre. Top of the list for me, in no specific order. COMMERCIAL. PARK. MARKET. MINORCA. CLARENCE.

Comment by: Albert.S. on 10th October 2021 at 17:40

You are correct Ron. Just spasms of individual incidents.
Got called off point a couple of times, to go into the Red Lion?. Each time I was wearing the thick winter rubber long coat, and each time, on trying to enter I got jammed in their revolving entrance door. Happy days.

Comment by: john staveley on 11th October 2021 at 11:09

Hi Ron and Albert,
Am i right in thinking that one of the entrances to the yard was on the opposite side of Market Street to the Crofters Arms?
If so i recall my father taking me up those steps to the relocated Moot Hall gents barbers and ladies hairdressers owned by the Whittle family., Even in circa 1955 it gave me the impression of being old but not as grim as in photo. Ron was the consrvative club there bofore this or located on the front of the building?

Comment by: RON HUNT on 11th October 2021 at 14:12

John if you,look at the other photos of the Commercial Yard you will see the facade of the Conservative club with steps going up to the entrance. You could also access the club from Market street. I remember once going to MOOT HALL barbers when I had just left school around 1963-64 I asked for a NERO style hair cut. The barber said to me "YOU HAVE TO BE AN HERO TO HAVE IT CUT LIKE THAT"

Comment by: Veronica on 11th October 2021 at 14:37

Just realised it's definitely not the exact scene I remember. This one is far more decrepit! It must be a very old picture. The walk down there seems the same though. I remember McGregor's Wallpaper and Paint shop where I used to go when I worked at Aspinall's Decorators in my first job to pick stuff up. I always seemed to be running errands! It was like home from home... I suppose young ones would feel used these days if they had to do that! ;~)

Comment by: Keith on 15th October 2021 at 10:51

Thanks for posting Ron. I also remember climbing those steps in the late 40’s. My grandmother was employed as a cleaner there and we visited her, so this is the first time I’ve seen the steps since.

Comment by: wuz on 15th October 2021 at 14:33

This is the inner yard, Commercial yard had two the one in which the Commercial pub sat and this one. To the right of this photo was an entry below the stairs to the conservative club which was cobbled and had the back door to Wm Latimers shop. In the sixties there was a gallery at first floor level around the whole of the yard, Looking at the lower part of the building in the sixties was a sewing and garment making shop cum sewing works ran by a jewish gentleman from Manchester, who used to drive a Vauxhall Victor estate car white with a red roof, He used to get quite angry when Latimers received a delivery of bacon by Heaps haulage from Hull docks and he couldn't get passed until it was moved out of the entry. Behind were the photographer would have been stood and to the right was the rear of Meesons sweet and tobacco shop Market Street and to the left the rear of a shop that used to roast its own coffee beans whose front was at the corner of the Arcade.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 16th October 2021 at 21:53

wuz you have got the orientation wrong. This image it taken looking at what became the Conservative club The entrance to the Commercial yard, from Market street, would be on the left of the photographer..

Comment by: ex-WGS on 19th October 2021 at 17:03

Was the front of Commercial Hall on Woodcock Street then?

Are there any photos of the front?

Comment by: RON HUNT on 19th October 2021 at 17:20

I believe the Commercial Hall did reach to Woodcock street . (It was written on the reverse of this photograph) but I don't think there was an entrance to it from there? I'm thinking it would have been above the shops on Woodcock street? With an entrance from the Commercial Yard.

Comment by: wuz on 21st October 2021 at 14:55

Hi Ron I'm going back a way to 1964 when I worked in commercial yard, The conservative club was above on the first floor with a stair case coming down to the right. In the corner was Boltons Iron Mongery Warehouse, they had a shop at the top of the arcade, the owner had a Wolesley or a Riley red in colour and a bedford pick up truck. Next was Latimers bottom warehouse, then Davis's fish shop whose owners drove the early e type jaguar sports car, then the stairs to the first floor of the moot hall hairdressers, then latimers top warehouse. Next was the store yard of McGrgors Painting and decorating business with the shop in front then the tobacconist and a barbers shop then Market Place. On the opposite side was a building again belonging to Mcgregors then the Commercial pub, then the side of a building were Mr Latimer and the owner of Boltons wouldl park their cars, then the opening that led onto Market Street with a petshop on the left, no pets but grain of all types to feed pets and on the opposite side a door leading to the Conservative Club I can't recall seeing it in use, then the rest was the side of Latimers Shop the rear entrance into the inner commercial yard and back to the stairs leading from the first floor entrance to the Conservative Club. I dont know if this helps you Ron.

Comment by: wuz on 21st October 2021 at 14:57

Hi Ron I'm going back a way to 1964 when I worked in commercial yard, The conservative club was above on the first floor with a stair case coming down to the right. In the corner was Boltons Iron Mongery Warehouse, they had a shop at the top of the arcade, the owner had a Wolesley or a Riley red in colour and a bedford pick up truck. Next was Latimers bottom warehouse, then Davis's fish shop whose owners drove the early e type jaguar sports car, then the stairs to the first floor of the moot hall hairdressers, then latimers top warehouse. Next was the store yard of McGrgors Painting and decorating business with the shop in front then the tobacconist and a barbers shop then Market Place. On the opposite side was a building again belonging to Mcgregors then the Commercial pub, then the side of a building were Mr Latimer and the owner of Boltons wouldl park their cars, then the opening that led onto Market Street with a petshop on the left, no pets but grain of all types to feed pets and on the opposite side a door leading to the Conservative Club I can't recall seeing it in use, then the rest was the side of Latimers Shop the rear entrance into the inner commercial yard and back to the stairs leading from the first floor entrance to the Conservative Club. I dont know if this helps you Ron.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 21st October 2021 at 15:46

Just checked the original photo and written on the back it says
"BACK VIEW COMMERCIAL HALL ON MARKET STREET AND WOODCOCK STREET."

Comment by: Andy Lomax on 20th November 2021 at 01:03

Looks like a scene from "A Taste of Honey" from 1961. Brilliant.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 20th November 2021 at 09:11

It reminded me of the place Fagin lived in in the musical OLIVER.

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