Wigan Album

Such an upperclass residential area. Always remember this area from the Whit Walks… the trees were more well grown then.

Without speaking out of turn - does anyone else think the bottom end of Swinley around Upper Dicconson Street is looking really shabby and run down these days in comparison to how it once was?

CJ

CJ, we'd lived in the area and on Swinley Road for some time but moved around twenty or so years ago as it wasn't the same even then, we'd been burgled twice and also had attempted break-ins and others were being burgled and there were muggings too. Houses were being bought to be made into flats and then had druggies living in them, there was even a young lad openly selling drugs on Wigan Lane, and there were armed police raids on the flats on Duke Street and Upper Dicconson Street because of drug dealing and firearms in the flats.

The shops along Wigan Lane which had been there for years selling an assortment of products would be closing and then fast food businesses would buy them, when driving through there now I do agree with you in saying there is now no comparison to how it once was.

I agree with your last sentence, Cyril.
Also, I think that parts of the area look neglected and so I certainly cannot disagree with your words, CJAlan.
It is sad to see areas of our town suffering neglect and being changed in a way which most of us feel is not for the better.

It’s very sad that such lovely big houses that were built for large families have in some areas become run down.
You were somebody if you lived in them. There’s still some beautiful ones though…. I sometimes walk up there to get to St Mary’s but I do remember how it was with the lovely trees lining the pavements. I am sure there’s still some very well cared for houses around there. Good solid property.

I do recall walking up Upper Dicconson Street as a child in the 1980s. My Grandmother (long since gone) had a routine medical appointment at the Infirmary and we walked from the town centre bus station up through Swinley. It felt like miles to a youngster!!!!

I recall Upper Dicconson Street had a handful of B&Bs and guest houses along the right hand side of the road. There was a real elegance about that part of Swinley as the houses were quite grand and prestigious looking.

Sadly in 2023, the area looks awful. A lot of the larger properties have been converted into bedsit flats, bringing with them problem tenants and other undesirables, while the properties themselves have become neglected over the years by the greedy landlords who won’t spend money on them.

CJ

Walked up-and-down Upper Dicconson Street so many times and seen the changes over the years.
Quite sad to see a once elegant street slowly deteriorate. One wonders why and how such quality can be lost so easily, especially when one considers today's price of a nice house - and, Upper Dicconson Street has a lot of property which could easily look elegant once again.

It would be about thirty odd years ago I decided to visit a friend that I used to work with neither of us had a phone then,so the visit was pretty unannounced..when I got to her house at the very top on the left hand side,the removal van was there,my friend apologised and told me that she couldn't stay another night in that street ..drug taking and dealing every night...it did as everyone says used to be so elite,even Lord Leverhulme used to live just further down on the right hand side.

Walked along this street yesterday and found where my Father, when he moved up to Wigan in March 1926 found lodgings at No.57. which is at the top of the street on the RHS. It was owned by a Mrs. Mary Dickinson.
Father also, for a short time, in 1926 lodged at No. 2 Dicconson Crescent which was owned by Mrs. Martha Dickinson. Late 1926, it was then owned by Mr/Mrs Millar. I now wonder whether the 2 landlady's were related and Father transferred to No. 57 in the spring after the General Strike.

I hadn't realised the area had deteriorated so much, Upper Dicconson Street was a well to-do middle class area when I was young,
I Remember two of the teachers at Thomas More in the 1960's living there, Mr Clayton who's wife I believe died tragically and another who's name escapes me (Think it started with D), I think his mother took in guests. He was excellent and taught sports encouraging the likes of Kevin O'Loughlin at Rugby.
My cousin Leah Causey lived in Scarisbrick Street, she was a spinster and a Clippy on the buses, again in the 1960's. Lovely lady.
Mrs Sharkey of Jimmy Young fame lived in Acton Terrace.