Wigan Album

Nice clear picture Ron.
In the background, that looks to be the old electric showroom with its mock Tudor frontage on Standishgate.
There was a men’s public urinals further up on the left now bricked up but clearly visible in the side wall of the Ukrainian Pub, formally The Whitesmiths.

Not a street I ever went down and I didn’t realise there was stone property in that area although if I’m correct there was some near to St George’s Church.

that would be the rear of the drill hall were these lads are playing and the co" op shop at top

"Pops" on sets would need a lot of skill!!

I think this alleyway was opposite where the row of shops containing the Barnado's Charity shop is now, just near Primark. In fact, I think it's still there.

tom The Drill Hall backed onto Church St. This is MARSH LANE the next street along Standishgate The White Horse pub is at the top.

That’s right Ron. It had me wondering when Tom said the Drill Hall backed on to the street above. I walked up Church St many times at the side of the Co-op. There was a pub on the left hand corner but can’t remember the name . All long gone.
( apart from the cobbles.)

The pub was the Dog’ Ith Thatch.

Marsh Lane is very much still there off Standishgate, although few would notice it unless you were walking down to Water Street multi story car park. The side of Bryan House would be on the left, The Ukulele pub on the right.
Stupid I know but for some reason on my previous posting it translated in Ukrainian Pub! Got to laugh at that!!!

My late friend Margaret Wall, RIP, used to talk about Marsh Lane.Her mother Carrie was born there,and attended St.Mary's RC Church and school.x

PS, I don’t think George Formby ever played a Ukrainian!

Are they playing pops or is it pitch and toss?

Dave, I remember "pitch and toss" which involved a lot of men standing around in a circle. They used to play on the field between miry lane and the cut.

As kids , we used to call this game “ murps “ …
“Pops “ must have been its Wiggin name I’m thinking .

I’m not from Wiggin you see , I’m from somewhere out in the sticks originally , from a place where wolves and bison still roam free and unmolested under the broad skies of the vast Downall Green plain .

But the most interesting feature in this shot is the wall on the right .

Aside from being an alien interloper , I have no credentials in the field of construction either , but it appears to have been built using some kind of igneous rock or summat similar .

I don’t suppose it could have been built using dressed blocks of slag from Kirkless by any chance could it ? … it’s possible I guess , but then , probably not …

Either way … the bond …
( as the builder has actually managed to form a bond of sorts ) , appears to be a haphazard random kind of bond , and one that is unfamiliar to me .

Fair play to the guys that erected the building though , as they managed to avoid any vertical joints … just about …

So with any luck , someone who’s spent a lifetime in the building trade and who reads this tripe may possibly be able to provide their take on the subject
…………
But what’s the chances of that happening eh ?…
I’m going with remote .

Playing Merps - ah those were the days !