Wigan Album

Crawford’s Wool Shop was my favourite. I spent hours looking at patterns and buying wool. Still do but it’s online now. The shop wasn’t in Mesnes St when I discovered knitting. It was down the Alleyway where you could see Wallpaper Supplies and the shop is still there but not for wool sadly.
You could find anything in those days but not now unfortunately.

I like F&H Jolley , 'Dealers in all kinds of scientific and electrical goods ' .
I bet one looked like 'the doc ' in 'Back to the Future ' .
You would just have to go in wouldn't you .

I remember Crawford's Wool Shop being in an alleyway, Veronica. Was it Rowbottom Square?

You’re correct Irene down that cobbled alley on the right hand side.
I can never remember the name of it.

Veronica & Irene, it was down Bretherton Row, there was also a textile warehouse opposite, was it Flax Mill? Shirley and I would call on Saturday's when she was into knitting and dressmaking.
Is there still an Indian Restaurant called The Spice Lounge where Crawford's Wool Shop was? I've never been, though folks who have did enjoy their meal and say it is a superb restaurant.

It was Valmar Fabrics when I used to go in Cyril. I went in there quite regularly. Very uneven floors..

Flax Mill may have been the one in Mesnes Street then Veronica, (between the Market Hotel and Michison's Florist,) it too had an uneven stone flagged floor as though it had once been a yard or maybe the pub stables. I got dragged around all the fabric and yarn shops, though it was the going into Debenhams I didn't like much, as I could hardly breathe after having breathed in lungfuls of assorted perfumes, it was like walking through fog going past the perfume counter with loads of women and girls covering themselves all over from the free samplers, all ready for a Saturday night out.

I missed out there Cyril don’t remember that shop but I do remember the Florist shop.

Crawford Wool Shop was synonymous with Wigan for it would seem generations.
I consulted with an expert on these matters (my wife) and Crawfords was down that alleyway along with Valmar Fabrics which was on the left. Was that Brethertons Row?

I remember going for a job at Flax Mill when it was in the alley off Wallgate, (Bretherton Row?), in 1992. I had done evening bar work in a friend's pub for many years whilst my children were growing up but now both were at High School I wanted a daytime job; they were old enough by now to come home from school and let themselves in for an hour before their Dad got home. The man who interviewed me was very off-hand and snapped questions at me asking me to add up so many yards of material at so-much a yard; I'm afraid I'm not good at adding up in my head and his attitude didn't help, and I failed miserably! However, I got on at Boots which was in the new Galleries and used to walk round the market in my dinner hour looking at the many stalls which had colourful striped awnings on back then, and the colourful hanging baskets, and thanked my lucky stars I hadn't got the job in gloomy Flax Mill! But who would have believed back then what would eventually happen to The Galleries?!

I don’t think you missed out Irene. That wouldn’t have been a job I would have liked as well as lifting the heavy rolls of fabric it wasn’t a nice building to work in.
I would have loved working in Crawford’s Wool shop though. Anyway you wouldn’t have had to reckon up in your head. When I worked at Greenhalgh’s when the kids went to school - we wrote every item on the paper bags! Never got that wrong. Mind you that was stopped when they brought the electronic tills in.

So Flax Mill was on Bretherton Row, I've asked about the fabric shop that was on Mesnes Street, but no one can remember the name. We did have cushion covers made up from a particular fabric we'd bought there and they also did made to measure sofa and chair covers and curtains as well as ready made covers, curtains and voiles - I can see the frontage in my mind, but not the name.

Cyril I remember the curtain fabrics shop on Mesnes St on the left hand side near the little jewellers on the rounded corner. I had my curtains made there. They had a small sewing place opposite the Brocket. I can’t remember the name though. It was only a small shop so I had to walk past the park to where they had more fabric to look at. I still have the curtains from about 15 years ago. Extremely good quality.

I think I recall the fabric shop, Cyril, but not its name. Was it on the left hand side of Mesnes Street at the Standishgate end, next to a little sweet shop? Before you got to Marsden Street and the Market Tavern?

Veronica and Irene, that will be the shop I'm thinking of as it was only a small shop, in my mind it was after the Market Hotel, but thinking back there was only Mitchinson's florist and then it was Warburtons furniture store

At the side of Timpsons,there was a passage which led to the rear entrance of BHS. Half way along, on the left ( obviously ) there was a yard and , if I remember rightly, a wooden staircase leading to a fabric warehouse. Anyone remember the name?

At the side of Timpsons,there was a passage which led to the rear entrance of BHS. Half way along, on the left ( obviously ) there was a yard and , if I remember rightly, a wooden staircase leading to a fabric warehouse. Anyone remember the name?

Liz Elastic?

https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=1275

Veronica . The shop you mention was Peter Lee.
Hope you're keeping well.

Yes, Liz Elastics.

I would never have remembered that name Tom my memory is akin to a goldfish these days.
I’m ok and hope you are.
What I do remember is when they were delivering my new curtains the chap used the new fangled
‘sat nav’ in his
car and ended up going down the road to Haigh Hall! I thought that was hilarious when he did finally find my house! .