Wigan Album

  THE OWD ARCADE.
 The Market Arcade , with its uneven Yorkshire Stone Flag floor . Known to all as 'the little arcade' or ' the old arcade',  alive with its many stalls and characters  - Bob Rudd with his scales, who would shout "try your weight friends " to passers by.  Sid Smith's  newsagents , Sid and his son Trevor were  an institution in Wigan they seemed to know everyone of their customers  and had a cheery word for for all. The smell from Gorner's Cafe wafting through the thoroughfare; it was a real treat to dine there ,white tablecloths waitresses in nippy type uniforms. My favourite was steak pudding and chips or it may have been mash, I can't be absolutely certain about the accompaniment  but the pudding was better than my Mam's homemade and that's saying something !
 
In the early 1960s ,Mrs Gormley sold the cafe, that had been her family for well over half a century , to Brenda and Gino Berritia who ran the business until the sad  demise of one of Wigan's most loved landmarks.   I'm sure if it had been in York or Chester there would have been a preservation order on it . Mr and Mrs Berritta went on to open The Lindley Hotel in Parbold ; they also opened  Roberto' s Restaurant off King Street .
 
Halfway along the walkthrough was Forshaw's Toy Stall and Dolls Hospital , I remember going with my Mam and sister along with her doll 'Dinah', to have its legs reattached , I think it was Mr Forshaw who performed the operation, he had a sort of hook that stretched the thick elastic band inside Dinah and out on the opposite hip , hey presto ! Dinah was complete again . More difficult procedures, eyes , 'Mama' sounds'   the doll had to be admitted and collected at a later date . Many a child would be seen making a fuss at having to leave their beloved doll at the causality department. The operations were not always successful, for instance my cousin left her doll with voice and eye  problems  at one  hospital - there was another inside the Market Hall , the eyes were made to blink but  the unfortunate doll never uttered ' Mama ' again!  
 
 
In the arcade there  were stalls  of every kind  - Aly Khan's knitwear , Margaret Razaks stocking bar, Evelyn's 'Catholic Shop' always busy when religious events took place, Confirmations  ,First Holy Communions etc.   Umpteen  other interesting stalls ,including a hardware shop where you could buy anything from a pin to a tin bath.  One shop in particular used to sell fireworks  leading up to bonfire night,  they were displayed in a case with a glass top . One  year I wanted to spend my coppers on ' penny bangers '  my Mam thought otherwise , I left with a packet of sparklers and 2 ' Roman Candles ' !  
 
When not being used for fireworks the glass case was used to display cake decorations - Bride and Groom images to go  on the top wedding  cakes and so forth. I remember clearly  my Auntie Maggie buying a fancy ruff type sash to go round the Christmas cake along with a little snowman and robin from this shop . They were used for many years , nothing thrown away that could be used again in those days !      
 
 
Another strange fact concerning ' Th' Owd Arcade ' was the pub at each end ' The Legs of Man ' known to all as ' Top Legs ' and ' Bottom Legs ' ,it was in fact one pub, it had the same licensee ' the last one was Mr Rimmer it closed its doors in 1970 ;  it was said it was the longest pub in the country !  Another interesting fact Wigan Rugby Club  in its short time at Prescott Street 1877 -1889 the team changed in '  The Bottom Legs ' and transported to the ground in a waggon. I imagine bath time would be in a tin bath in front of the fire on arriving home !
 

I remember all those stalls mentioned by Tom, and it's hard these days to imagine being able to buy loose fireworks from a case with a glass top situated outside a shop, but it's true! They should have preserved The Old Arcade; The Makinson Arcade is beautiful but it hasn't got the character that The Old Arcade had. My daughter worked for Smiths bookshop, "Smiths of Wigan", for a time before moving to Cheshire and then to Lewis....it was a brilliant shop for books and stationery and I miss it still.

Thanks for the memory Tom, I cannot recall when I last saw a Book Token for Sale or Exchange.
I remember winning one when at St John's School in a Brooke Bond Painting Competition and exchanged it at a bookshop at the top of Wallgate opposite Library Street. You were left with a little certificate that you could stick in your chosen book. Totally forgotten about that until this picture with the sign jogged my memory.

When going to the TLS. Every month for 5 years. I would buy my "CHARLIE BUCHAN'S FOOTBALL MONTHLY" magazine from here. Later moved onto "WORLD FOOTBALL" magazine. Not forgetting the F.A. Cup Final programmes. You could buy a couple of days before the final.

Colin, I have just returned from Leigh Tesco and there were National Book Tokens for sale at the checkout, alongside the usual gift-cards for Boots, John Lewis etc.

Referring to Colin’s comment. There were 2 “similar “ shops selling amongst other items books at the top of Wallgate. I think one was called Stars. They were opposite each other. Does anyone recall their location or names?

Thanks Irene, good to know.
I do still buy books but even with reading glasses struggle or fall asleep!
Every night in bed though the 'Old Dutch' and I listen to an Apple Book with a cup of tea, very relaxing!

Philip. they were Starr's and Wildings. In the 1960s, Wildings was on the right-hand side of Wallgate near to Joan Barrie's clothes shop as you walked down towards the Post Office, and Starr's was on the left-hand side, just before Wigan North Western Station. However, I have had arguments in the past with people who say Starr's was on the right.....I think it might have been at one time, and then Wildings moved in and Starr's moved across the road, but in the 1960s they were definitely where I have described....I went in both shops regularly. Colin, my son always buys me book tokens for birthdays and Mothering Sunday and I bought a book in Waterstone's only last week with a book token. They are in plastic card form now, however, not paper.

Thank you Irene. Yes Wildings was the other one. I don’t recall that Starrs was near the NW Station. I thought it was higher up, more or less opposite Wildings

I do remember Starrs Printers but not the location.
Could they have been opposite NW Station? I ask this as there are a set of two iron gates to an alleyway between Norman & Philips and the Dubai Restaurant & Shisha Bar (formerly Poole's Pies) which if you look closely states 'Print Works'.
I have a picture of these Gates but for the moment technology (or my stupidity) seems to get in the way of Uploading it!!!!!!!!

Just found an old posting from Ron Hunt #671 from 2007 of a 1937 photo.
On this I have asked the location thinking it might have been in Dorning Street, so it may pop up as Recently Viewed..
There was a printers located there, I remember a former school mate Dennis Berry working there in the 1960's at the same time I was at Wigan Printing.

Colin. Point of interest. I think I know the gates you are referring to. I have a book bound by my Grandad, Joseph Cunliffe ,of Shakespeare’s plays. I was told by my Dad, Norman, that he made this while unemployed in the Men’s Club in Brown’s yard.
. If you look on Royal visits to Wigan it must have been 1932 when the Prince of Wales met unemployed people at theMen’s club through the gates.

Philip, if you drop me an email I will send the pictures to you.

Philip, did you receive the pictures I sent?

Colin there was a printers on Dorning Street, Platts, I think worked there in the 60’s I was a shorthand typist. At one time there was a shop at the front which they closed.

EVERY PUBLICATION YOU COULD WISH FOR...IF THEY HADN'T GOT IT? THEY WOLD ORDER IT FOR YOU.