Wigan Album

Strange how the colourisation process has somehow distorted some of the faces - and making them look as though wearing joke shop comical masks or false noses etc., and a lad at the front looks to be wearing a See You Jimmy hat with tufts of ginger hair showing.
There was always crowds in Market Place whenever they were filming like as here and the film with the steam engine, they must have advertised that they would be in town, and they all looked to have enjoyed themselves and having a good time being filmed.

Good photo Ron and i think it is right to take stills and bring so many of these people back to life. As you say they are our ancestors and every frame of the video has something of interest, probably never noticed before. In a video the detail is missed. Looking at each individual in turn i find fascinating. The little man in the centre with the bowler hat and beard and the man in the black cloak and gown like Dracula towards Laces, so many characters and hundreds in the video.

Cyril the distortion to the faces it due to it being a still from the film If you open the link and watch the film you don't notice it. The film was made 122 years ago....When cine film was in its infancy.

Peter, your comment about the man in Top Hat and Cloak reminded me of the man who had a stall on the open market, he always wore a Top Hat and flowing Cloak, you never see characters like that anymore, though there is no market to talk of.

The cloak worn by the man is actually an Ulster coat - an overcoat with attached cape protecting the shoulders and upper body.
These were often worn by drivers and carters who were exposed to the weather.

Bob T. That could be Sherlock Holmes disappearing into the crowd!