Wigan Album

I'm a bit lost here, Ron. This photo says Wigan 1955, and yet the photo you posted earlier shows Pendlebury's , ( which was a large store, and would have taken quite some time to build), up and running, and also says it is 1955. I am aware that Pendlebury's burned down and traded temporarily from the old Rushton's building, (which I still think of as The Gas Showrooms!), whilst the new store was being built, but surely the above photo and the one put on earlier can't be the same year? My apologies if I have misunderstood re the dates; I am not criticising, just puzzled. These photos are absolutely fascinating and I hope you have some more!

Great photo this I haven’t seen it before. I would have been 9 yrs old then but for the life of me can’t recall the shops.

My dad worked for Pendleburys from the forties until the late sixties.
He was the furniture buyer. I remember standing with him near Nymans corner watching the fire. He lost many personal belongings from his office. We lived in Dicconson Terrace at the time 1953.

My brother remembers a chemists in central Wigan that used to have paintings in the windows along with the normal things chemists sold. Anyone have any ideas where that may have been ?

Yet again I agree with Irene as the style of the lady's clothes look more 1950's than earlier in the century, that building slightly to the left with the mock Tudor timber vaguely familiar but cannot place it. Wish I could make out some of the signs on the wall. Could it be the building that used to stand on the corner of Standishgate and Powel Street next to Pendlebury's/Debenhams, I think it was pulled down in the late 1960's early 70's, that plot of land was vacant and boarded off for a number years before that more modern building on the corner was constructed. There must be photo's somewhere of that building?
Peter, I remember Nymans Jewellers very well on the corner of Mesnes Street and Standishgate, where Subway now is, I saved up with them every week to by my mother a pearl in necklace in 1959. Must have been good quality as it cost me all of two shilling and sixpence!

Further to me previous message, I am 100% sure that I am correct in the location. The timber building to the right is on the corner of Standishgate and Powel Street and the hoarding's to the right is where the New Debenhams store was to be built.
I Googled Standishgate Wigan from my phone and came across an old photograph showing the impressive timbered building on the corner quite clearly, the plot of land where BHS build was to be built is still a vacant plot. It does say Wigan World Album for the photo but cannot find this from my laptop?????? Can anyone locate it as it is a great picture of historical importance.
Those two building to the right or one at least I am sure were eventually incorporated into incorporated into Debenhams with the frontages changed and possibly plastered over, there was a entrance knocked through into the main store.
I recall one of the lady's fashion brands being in there and then perhaps Shoe Studio

Colin, the mock- tudor building would appear to be Maltby's Wine and Spirits Shop, as you can see the same sign sticking out from the wall on the earlier photo of Pendlebury's new store. I don't recall Nyman's jewellers but what a lovely story of you saving up for your Mother's necklace! I only remember that shop being Rumbelow's Electrical shop.

Colin the road is Crompton St....As Irene pointed out, the building to the left was MALTBYS. wine merchants. Powell street was a continuation of Greenough St..

Yes I agree Crompton St is to the left. Powel St is/was further down Standishgate Colin it was a continuation of Greenough St as Ron says. The old Co-Op was there. Time does play trick with our eyes. It was a shame though that the mock Tudor building was demolished. I do remember the buildings being knocked down although I can’t remember the shops. Very strange.

Thanks Ron of course you are right, Crompton Street, silly me.
Maltbys, couldn't think of the name, I think I am right though in identifying what these building are/where.
Irene, regarding the necklace, come to think of it, although very nice, I think the lady got sick of me coming in every week the a few penny's and got rid of me by letting me have it for two shillings!

The new Pendlebury's store opened in early 1957. I can clearly remember being in the first month of National Service and being sent a copy of The Wigan Observer featuring the opening .

Was the new build for Pendleburys/Debenhams named Crawford House? If so I can now see why. Or eas Crawford House elsewhere in town?

Helen of Troy. Chemist was probably Hunters. Was located between (now boarded up The Galleries entrance) and Makinsons Arcade on Market Place.