Wigan Album

Ian. It would appear that the garage supplied Esso petrol, by the distinct shape of the oval mount, on top of the pumps.

Ian, that was my Dad’s garage, I think from the early 50’s. Dad, John Massa, sold Regent petrol and I sold many a gallon to customers. Brought many happy memories looking at that picture.

Ian, fantastic old photo --- "All Our Yesterdays",
1940s or very early 1950s perhaps. Photo's like this should be preserved for ever. If you have anymore please post them I'm sure like me, there are thousands out there who love looking at them, thanks for posting.

Albert, indeed it did. Then, when the garage had a facelift it switched to selling Texaco petrol. It traded for years until it closed and was demolished to make way for an apartment block.

I believe the current site is known as Highgrove House that is a 'gated' private apartment block. The petrol station closed and was demolished to make way the apartments around 20 years ago. If memory serves me right, it was a Texaco garage at the end of it's time.

There was also another filling station on Wigan Lane (top of Walter Scott Avenue) that closed around the same time. Initially a Fina franchise, but it was an Elf when it closed.

The one at the top of Walter Scott Avenue is still a derelict site. I believe there is an impasse about what the land can be used for due to a covenant that is in place. And, as residential dwellings aren't on the list, it may be like that for a while yet. Maybe they should build an electric vehicle charging station ?.

Linma, I think your dad must have bought the garage off my dad as he only sold it in the early 50s. When we bought the garage it was Shell, BP and Power petrol. Dad changed it to Esso and then later to Regent. I used to get a farthing a gallon for serving petrol after school and on Saturdays and Sundays. It was good money then because there was no motorway and they had contracts with all the big coach and lorry firms. It was especially good when it was Blackpool illuminations! CJAlan the other garage at the top of Walter Scott Avenue was owned by Jack Bretherton and my friend John Bretherton who I went to school with at Gidlow. Happy days.

Standisher - we certainly need more EV charging stations - but the houses in the area around that site have ample space for off-road chargers on their houses. They need to be within easy range of areas of terraced housing - or near to motorways to catch the passing trade.

Relative to petrol retailers. I wonder if that was a commercial success, when Esso started to issue metal discs depicting England’s Football World Cup Squad, in 1966.
Then discs all of the teams that had won the F.A. Cup.
Then discs of all of the emblems of all of the football clubs.
I was always fully occupied as the collecting agent for my two sons’.
Was only allowed to use Esso petrol.

You’re right Ian my Dad did buy Prospect from your Dad. I too can remember the heavy traffic on Wigan Road. You certainly got more than me for selling petrol, I got nowt. But Dad did give me 10s 0d for cleaning the shop windows inside and taking out all the display and cleaning it.

Did you live in the house on the forecourt Linma? You can't see it on the photo. We lived in it and my mum ran the shop as a toffee shop until she got done for selling sweets without ration coupons so my dad changed it back to selling car spares.

Yes we did Ian. Wracking my brains to remember your sisters name but age has caught up with me. It was about 1954 when my Dad bought the garage. I was always in the garage with the two mechanics, I would have loved to be a mechanic but sadly it never happened. I should have been a boy, at the back of the house there was a brilliant tree which I loved to climb. Do you remember the old air raid shelter at the back of the garage?

Did this garage sell land rovers just before it shut?

I do remember the air raid shelter Linma my dad used to keep oil in it. My sisters name is Phyllis, she's 78 now but we don't keep in touch. I'm 80 now and live in Ireland - have been trying to return to Wigan for some years now but covid has been conspiring against us! - fancy you remembering my sister!

Ian - no. My family also owned Cherrycroft garage on Wigan Lane Wigan and sold Triumph cars.