Wigan Album

Bring back André Barnards! The whole floor over the card shop.

Its ironic that other parts of Wigan town centre in 2022 (such as Standishgate and Mesnes Street) are now starting to resemble how Station Road looked in this picture.

Such a shame, I loved going in Oxleys..and I could spend a bit of time just looking in the Catholic shop that was nearly facing the Ritz cinema...I worked at Wilbrooks credit place just further down when I was a teenager...and would go in the Empress cafe for my toast butties ...memories.

Walking past the glass fronted Andre Bernards one day, I was unlucky enough to see a customer in a hurry coming down the stairs. They led directly to the glass fronted doorway. She obviously was confused as she assumed the door to be open but collided with it, sadly leaving a facial imprint on the door itself, while she was propelled backwards onto the floor.

There used to be a cafe in that area, I can't think of the name of it. Somebody will remember it. It was very popular.

Veronica it was called New Way but everybody called it Sams.

The cafe was more of a coffee bar for teenagers, a bit before my time.

Thanks Dave, that did pop in my head but I thought -- no that can't be it!

The New-Way was still a busy coffee bar in 1969/70,can remember the juke box with 'games people play' by Joe South on it !

Use to go in new way 1964 remember Dave Clark 5 being on the juke box ,bits and pieces

Like you say Maureen,( Memories) all come rushing back, when you see these photo's. I loved Oxley's, and took my first son to father Christmas there, and could spend time in the Catholic shop.

Edna,I loved looking at rosary beads,I got mine from Lathams at the bottom of Caroline St. when I was at School..and then that little shop facing the Ritz Cinema was great..I have a thing for rosary beads,but there's nowhere now to look is there.

Maureen, there used to be one in Bolton, as you walked up to the market from the train station, on you left. Although I have not been since the first lockdown.My great aunt gave me some rosary beads, that had been blessed by Pope John Paul ll.

Next door to the Catholic shop was a bookies, Bill Davies from Huyton. Lost more than a few bob in there!

i remember a cafe called jokers on that road we would call in before going to casino.

It's strange when you think about it, every time you walk down the Grand Arcade you're walking where these buildings where situated. I remember sitting in the upstairs cafe in Marks and seeing these shops being demolished. Soon after the cafe was removed so that the doors opened into the Grand Arcade, it was only a small cafe then. That's when I started going into the new Debenham's Cafe.

Edna,I have my Grandmas rosary beads which she had as a child in County Clare,which were blessed by the Pope at the time..my friend also brought me some from Lourdes,but I would love to find some that I had as a child from Lathams ..there was pink ones and baby blue ...they're beautiful.