Wigan Album

Lovely to see this, so much detail in it as well.
The road is a lot narrower for a start and the slope up to the station is quite steep.

Love it Ron.

1820's? The railway wasn't built until the 1840's. This is a mock-up painting and bears no resemblance to Wigan whatsoever.

Jarvo, I've pointed the facts out numerous times, but the admin don't want to know the truth. "Well, it's Wiggin world, and we only post what we think is true on here.

Just checked the info. and it would seem that the station was relocated to this position in 1838
Wikipedia:-
31 October 1838 The North Union Railway opened between Wigan and Preston and connected with the line from Parkside.
Wigan station was relocated to its present position.
Appears that the date of the painting isn't correct but no reason to believe that this isn't an image of the station how it was then? Its quite easy to misread a 2 for an 8 ?
The original painting is in the Archives.

Archivists do excellent work, but I have also found when researching Walker Bros that they make typos like the rest of us, which causes a lot consternation.

got to say its a damn sight prettier than the present station

I don't think anybody posts on Wiganworld as a point of fact. Actually, questioning it creates debate in the comments and hopefully we all come away better off in the end.

My own opinion is it's not Wigan, if it was there has been much artistic license. The biggest giveaway for me are the Greek/Italian columns serving as Wallgate Bridge, totally out of character.

That's how you create conversation James.

A painting is just that, a painting. No need for the shirty comments. Carry on Ron.

Does anybody remember the two iron bollards outside Robinsons saddlers?

Definitely Wigan.... Just checked the 1869 Directory :-
92 Wallgate W.Baldwin. SWAN AND RAILWAY INN . nameplate on painting shows an E? BALDWIN
94 Wallgate Edward Howard. Boot and Shoe Maker Nameplate on painting shows HOWARD

The artist may have painted it from his imagination as to how it could possibly look in due course. He may have had wind about the planned work. Just my opinion.

Andy, check out this image You will see the columns of the bridge are the same.
https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=31361&gallery=Wallgate&page=5

How chic the bridge looked and would still do now if those Corinthian columns had been kept to support the bridge, though some idiot would have crashed a vehicle into them or a council from a time past would have objected to them.

I can see Pooles< pie shop on the right, North Western railmay. left up the alley. An imaginary picture. possibly from memory-

Jean, Pooles pie shop??? That shop was 100 yards towards Wigan some 100 years after this was painted.. The shops shown were the shops that where there at the time this was painted and show the original shopkeepers names above the windows. It was painted around the 1820's and is an image of how it was then i.e. the Railway Station was on level with the track, and the shops shown, are the shops at the time. I have seen the original painting but cant remember the exact date? But it was in the 1820's

That is my memory of later years. I appreciate your historical comments.

ThanK You

E. Baldwin owned the shop at the front right of the painting, his son William Baldwin applied to have it converted to a pub in 1863, this was granted in 1864, he also used the next shop to the right (not shown) to create the first Swan & Railway Hotel. Following the death of William Baldwin in 1868, his wife Mary ran the pub until 1877 when it was sold to Charles Oldfield (of Oldfield Brewery fame). The position of the station entrance ramp and the shop names would seem to indicate that this was painted between 1838 and 1863.

Perhaps the scene is out of the artist imagination and a little naive in style but a glimpse into the past.
Were the two columns at each side, I don’t know but sufficiently wide enough for a horse and carriage, not today’s traffic. Must have been widened and strengthened at some point.
Love the little open top engine with the driver exposed to the elements on the bridge pulling coal wagons.