Wigan Album

Smiths diary in the background too.

Another great photo reminding us of yesteryear Ron. I delivered this place quite often in the 1960s, top of Bell Green Lane I think, unusual smell if I remember rightly. See the milk man has been, three bottles of Sterilized and a dozen eggs outside canteen door. The little invalid car is also a reminder of the way things were, looks like it has a 1965-C registration plate awful things, they blew over in strong winds.

I remember the dairy; it was such a well-known Ince landmark.

This photo was taken on Pennington Lane, half way up Belle Green Lane., to the left of the photo was the Belle Green pub.

I remember Smith's Dairy too. You could spot the building and its chimney from quite a way away, all around the district.

I always wondered why it was that a dairy (with thoughts of healthy pints of milk, or pots of tasty cream) looked like such enormous, tall, red-brick "dark satanic mill", complete with tall factory chimney.

I remember the invalid cars always seemed to be light blue in colour and had handlebars for steering, like riding a motorbike. Probably powered by a Villiers 2 stroke engine. There was a lady who lived near us in the 60's owned one.

Did a stint of four weeks working at Smith’s Dairy in August, 1949, then went back to the Maypole Colliery. Missed the pit’s camaraderie.

English Electric, I believe it was a brewery before it was a dairy!

Many years ago when very few people had a fridge, lots of them bought
sterilised milk that would keep drinkable for a several days after delivery.
Toward the end of each day, the unsold pasteurised milk was boiled to a
very high temperature and put into and sealed in " Sterry Bottles "
The milk would have been boiled in an enormous container, with the heat for boiling coming from a large coal fire beneath. That will be the
reason for the tall chimney.

My dad worked there, brought the tripe van home sometimes

The architecture certainly looks like that of a brewery.

The best tripe I have had is pigs belly.Used to buy it from the stall in Wigan market but when I asked the women on the stall a few weeks ago she said she can no longer get it.

From my own local knowledge, the Belle Green Pub was closed quite a few years ago and when I last went up Higher Ince it had been turned into a local convenience shop.

Part of the site next door still exists - certainly the front wall and adjacent out buildings are still there (or they were recently), but the factory building is long gone.

I always thought this site had something to do with Wigan Council in more recent years. I am sure I drove past once, and was able to see through the gates and much of it is wasteground now.

I think this is the Pennington Lane entrance to the site

CJ Alan. Was it the Belle Green pub that had a cone shaped cap on the roof, at one of its corners?. There was a cobbler’s shop further along, across the railway crossing, same side. At one period of time I served with their son in the R.A.F. (1953). Used to call in for a chat with his dad, from time to time.

I think Garry said all that at 9.32 on the 26 Oct.

Albert, yes it was The Belle Green with the cone-shaped turret. I always thought it gave the building a foreign look.

I believe Smiths Dairy was originally Lawrence brewery.

I checked Google Street view and the entrance where the factory was has a sign that says 'Belle Green Industrial'. I believe the site is still used as some sort of industrial estate with a couple of repair businesses still working from here. Much of the site is made up of waste ground which I assume is where the factory building once stood.

I had cousins’ that lived at the top of Belle Green Lane. Aileen & Stella Jackson, and Eileen, Vera, and Marjorie Porter.

Albert.S. your right about the cobblers shop but it wasn't beyond the railway line it was virtually opposite the pub just a bit further up on the opposite side. I loved going in as a child the smell of the leather and i always remember the gentleman that had it he always wore a Bowler Hat.

Dave. Definitely on the other side of the level crossing, and before the railway bridge. The shop was on the left hand side as you walked up Belle Green Lane. July to September, 1953. His son was posted to Wahn, Germany, in September, 1953.

Albert.S
You are right regarding the cobblers just before the railway bridge
i was referring to the one across from the Belle Green Pub on the opposite side.The one you are talking about was opposite Battersby street i lived in West Street used to pass the one you talking about on my way to Belle Green Infants School Happy Days.

Thank you Dave. So long ago. 68 years.

i lived at the top of belle green lane 9 tank st in the 50s and 60s we lived next door to the porters. we moved to pinewood crescent when our row was pulled down in 1966 i would have been about 15 or 16 had a great childhood living up the lane .

I can confirm that entrance to the tripe works was opposite No 18 Pennington Lane, a three storey building with coal cellar, gas lighting and one outside toilet, this was the view every time we left the house or looked out the Window. I lived their until 1959 when it was sold for £300. I still have the solicitors letter.

Hi P fisher my family lived at 14 pennington Lane we were all born and bred there my mam and dad's name was Jimmy and lily Heaton our family lived there since 1911 with great grandparents and grandparentd Kevin heaton

Sorry about the spelling mistake (grandparents) do you remember the fatty smell and the flys in the summer months is your first name peter our family lived there number 14 till 1969 , Kevin heaton

I Iived in the terraced row (121 Belle Green Lane) opposite the Oak Tree pub. We moved to the new build council estate at Falkirk Drive in the late 70's but I can't quite remember the exact year.

Hi Neil did you live near John's shop I remember your mum & dad , kevin

Hi Kevin,
Did you know my dad's family who lived at no 12?

Hi Margaret yes I do they lived next door we lived at number 14 myself and all my family were born there then we moved to 48.pennington lane we have over 100 years in the street my mam and dad liked them .regards kevin

My grandparents lived at 33 Pennington lane until the early 1960s.Attended a wedding evening event at the belle green pub in the late 50s

Hi yes my family remembers them we also lived across from the belle green pub at number 14 also 48 pennington lane regards kevin