Wigan Album

Never seen this before thanks alot. I have just posted an approximate location using google street view in 2024.

I am by no means an expert on this area but by looking at old maps I notice that there is a Pottery Street, a Pottery Terrace and a Pottery Road. If and it’s a sizeable if, I am right, then this photo was taken on Pottery Terrace, and we are looking at Pottery Street going off to the left and possibly Pottery Road at the top end of the photo. If correct then Western Mills and Swan Meadow Cotton Mills are over the wall on the right.

Keith, spot on. And you say your not an expert ;-)

That’s a kind comment Andy, all I’d say is that perhaps my map reading skills are better than I thought. I do have a single strong memory from a very long time ago of somewhere in this area. As an infant I was wheeled in a pram to the Melverley Street area (I learned this decades years later) by my mother. It was war time and my father was working at the Central Tramway Depot which, if I’m correct, had been converted into preparing vehicles for Army use. My mother had taken him some lunch, a mere 80 odd years ago. He later spent 2 years abroad in the R.E.M.E.

Some links to photos that are on the Album of the streets around here, the potteries,
Andy I've also put them on your photo of how it looks now.

Pottery Street, same as Robert's, but clearer:
https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=10182&gallery=Pottery+Street&offset=0

another of Pottery Street: https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=4&id=9127&gallery=Pottery+Street&offset=0

Letterewe Street with the subsidence: https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=4&id=33442&gallery=Letterewe+Street&page=5

Was there really fourteen meadows near Fourteen Meadows Road?

Yes, in 1750 there was Bill & Sally Meadows along with sons Fred, Bob, Bert Ben, Joe and Jeff and daughters Edie, Elsie, Betty, Rene, Joanie and Jean.

Ooooooh, Carly, did they not have a telly?

fourteen meadows rd runs from swan meadow rd to pottery terrace following the rver douglas

Writing on behalf of my gran who was brought up on pottery street no 16.
The Clarkes lived in letterewe street in the bottom house, and the Flemings lived in the bottom street back to back with the Clarkes, the Flemming brothers she remembers where rugby players.
The Matthew’s shop for general hardware was at the top of pottery street, on the corner, opposite it was the wall for the mill.
On the corner of pottery road was a small cafe for the bus depot staff, but people from the local streets could buy dinners from there too, you could take a plate and get a dinner.
On the opposite side was the swan meadow public house.

Patricia That information i PRICELESS I don't' think the younger people today will have such fond memories of their neighborhoods when they get old. No corner shops or well frequented local pubs, Youth CLubs. etc etc.