Chapel Lane

Does anyone know whether the present Chapel Lane where it crosses the canal is in the same position as the old Chapel Lane. I am trying to locate where the Bridge Inn would have been. My father in law was the licensee from about 1955

I would say it is. The Bridge Inn was almost opposite the electric sub-station on the corner of Green St. If my memory serves me right. It doesn't always.

its been straightened with the new road, before it was like a broken dogs back leg

Thanks marken and danni

Swintonian

The Bears Paw was in the location you refer to on the corner of Bridge Street. In the 60's it was raided as a counterfeit notes production unit. Jack Watson's bike shop was on the corner of the next street towards Wigan.



1911 census

The only Chapel Lane pub listed.

Brewers Arms 61 Chapel Lane Wigan

1869 directory:

Smethurst Christopher, Bridge Inn, 143 Chapel lane, Wigan

Wasn't there a pub called The Fox on the opposite side of the street also on a corner.

Thanks Cindy for reminding me - the Fox was on the opposite corner of Bridge Street. The landlord in the late 50's/early 60's was Jimmy Morris (I think). The landlord of the Bridge was Harold Ashton.

I think The Fox was a Tetley house, & The Bridge was a Walkers,The Brewers & The Bears Paw were Magees.

Was that Jimmy Morris who later had the Honeysuckle?

The bears paw wasn't on the corner of bridge st. the bridge inn was on the corner nearest the canal and the fox tavern was on the other, yes danni jimmy took the suckle after the fox and it is said the suckle is now haunted by his ghost.

The Bears Paw Pub was in Chapel Lane and on the corner of James Street. There was a butchers shop on the opposite corner of James Street.
Further Info: At 4-o-clock on 29th May 1968. Forty-police raided the old disused pub with guns and dogs. A Police Land Rover fitted with a battering-ram was used to smash down the pub doors. A gang of counterfeiters were arrested printing U.S $100 dollar notes. Wigan's Detective Sergeant Harold Pendlebury was in the Land-rover. The Bears Paw Pub is the subject of a book about to be published concerning the counterfeiters and the biggest ever ram-raid in Wigan.

If my memory serves me right,The Bridge and The Fox were on the corners of Bridge St.The Bears Paw was on the corner of Caroline St.Linneys pie shop was on the corner of James St.I remember the name of the landlord of the Fox Jimmy Morris,same name as my dad(R.I.P.).

They wasn’t print $100 notes,they were printing £5 notes.
David Foursythe, Albert Newton, and other villains from Liverpool.

They wasn’t print $100 notes,they were printing £5 notes.
David Foursythe, Albert Newton, and other villains from Liverpool.

They wasn’t printing $100 notes,they were printing £5 notes.
David Foursythe, Albert Newton, and other villains from Liverpool.