Wigan Album

Brindle Fred 21 Yrs Woodhouse Lane 06-May 1931 S 434 C of E
Brindle Esther 57 Yrs Woodhouse Lane 06-Jun 1931 S 434
It appears Fred's Mother was buried exactly 1 month after Fred . A broken heart?

Another beautiful colourised photo Keith with outstanding quality, the inset photo is brilliant with the large one.
Top man.

William Brindle in 1921
1921 Census Of England & Wales
255, Woodhouse Lane, Wigan, Lancashire, England William Brindle Head Male 1872 49 Wigan, Coremaker (Iron Foundry) Walker Bros Engineer Works Owners
Esther Brindle Wife Female 1873 47 Wigan Home Duties -
Jack Brindle Son Female 1900 21 Wigan, Coal Getter Below Ground (Out Of Work Pits ) (Coal Tene Owner), Douglas Bank Colliery Co.
Nellie Brindle Daughter Female 1902 18 Wigan, Cotton Reeler Cotton & Spinner Mill (Owner), Eckersley Ltd, (On Silk).
Bessie Brindle Daughter Female 1905 16 Wigan, Battery Filler For Cotton Weaver Eckersley Ltd Cotton Mill.
Dora Brindle Daughter Female 1907 14 Wigan, Cotton Weaver Weaving Sheds Eckersley Ltd Cotton Spinning (On Strike) Mill (Owners)
Fred Brindle Son Male 1910 11 Wigan, School
Jennie Brindle Daughter Female 1916 5 Wigan, School
John Hilton Son-in-law Male 1895 25 Wigan, Journeyman Clogger M Sutton (Employer)
Annie Hilton Daughter Female 1896 25 Wigan, Lancashire, England Home Duties

Thank you Colin, I appreciate it. Thomas, thank you for those details. I completely agree with your speculation, he looks full of life in the photo, a mere 2 years before his death. His mother would have been, as you say, heartbroken.

I remember men in the late 1950s and early 1960s and probably of the age I am now, when they were going out even to the corner shop, they'd be dressed in a suit and /or an overcoat and a white muffler scarf, they were never seen out and about in scruffy clothes, even these men doing their very dusty coal bagging rounds are wearing suits and mufflers.
I've been reading an article on the web that mufflers and scarves were worn to stop dust and dirt falling down past the neck, (folks now have what are called neck gaiters) supposedly it then meant just having a good wash in the sink when they got home, rather than getting out the tin bath and heating a lot of water, that was only on Friday's, or in some cases the first day of a new month, and this water for the whole family eldest downwards, and whether a bath was needed or not.

So in 1921 the family were living in Woodhouse Lane (thank you ‘winnie') at number 255. In these terraced houses next door at 251 and 253, they faced directly opposite the Douglas Bank Methodist Church (which is still there) on the opposite side. The Brindle family lived next door in 255, but no houses exist here on the opposite side of the road to the church. Behind the church were ‘Kennels’ and Woodhouse Lane Stadium with its Greyhound Racing Track, complete with a ‘Totaliser’ and Stand. Beyond that a Football Ground. The family house would, after looking on google maps, be placed just where the 'would be' entrance to the Army Reserve Centre is on Woodhouse Lane, (its railings replete with barbed wire), except you are directed to a side entrance instead in Canal Street.

William moved to Kendrick St where he died, see grave details -

Brindle William 70 Yrs Kendrick St 20-Jun 1942

Looks as if the family didn’t stray far from their origins Tom. I left Wigan in 1967 and looking at google maps I was heartened to see how many new houses have been built in and off Frog Lane, no doubt revitalising the area.