Wigan World

What do/did you like about the World of Wigan?

I love the history of my town, especially the Roman connection.

I also like the times in the 1950's/60's when I worked in the old market hall.

The people of Wigan have been expressed as very friendly...embarrassingly so. I have a cut out of an old Lancashire Life Magazine that says this. We are all proud to be friendly Wiganers.

The very rich history of Wigan and it's surrounding towns and villages, also my roots go back many years, one branch I have traced back to 1600's particularly around Orrell.

I loved catching the train down to London every few weeks

I like the amazement of people having being misled for years about the place, e.g. last summer friends brought a friend of theirs to visit and she was surprised at the size of the town centre. Bigger and more interesting than expected.
How long will it remain interesting?

It's lovely when people find long relatives..ancestry etc,it's also lovely to get
to know people even though you'll probably never meet them,having said
that I now meet up with people that I got to know through WW..long may it
survive.

Well said, Mo...

I have found long lost relatives and very dear friends on here.

It takes a lot of stick from the critics but I actually like Wigan Market.

"I love the history of my town" - said Fred.

"The very rich history of Wigan" - said Beryl.

But, you wouldn't think Wigan had any history worth bothering about when the 'History of Wigan' board has had just ONE POST this year!

Ah, Thanks for that, Tonks, Ould mate...

Guess the interest must be elsewhere...

Nostalgia rules in Wigan. But that's the same as history init.

Spot on, i-spy...

I believe there are lots of comments out there regarding nostalgia....and our history.....!!!!

In about an hour I will be having more feedback from friends of friends who will have spent the morning viewing the delights of Wigan. These are Londoners so won't expect them to be surprised at the size of the place but I will expect them to be hungry and ready for "lunch".

The closeness and the peace and beauty of the local countryside, Dean Wood, Porters Wood, Gathurst as well as Haigh Hall and many other areas nearby.

You don't have to travel far for lovely countryside.

born and bred in Scholes. But lived the last 45 years in Sydney. Always a St Pats lad.

Fred I remember nearly every winter when we went ice skating on the pond at the bottom of greenwood ave and when we used to go cutting branches in Kings Wood with saws and axes for bonfire night. What would Health and Safety think of that today.

I hate to think, Marie. Those days were so simple and therefore precious.

I lived at 37 Montrose Avenue in the early 50's, (Aged 5-6) and was scared to death when some cows came down Greenwood Ave and walked right past our house. I vividly remember hiding behind our front brick wall until they had passed.

Oh, the memories.

They still terrify me fred - I'm off like a shot if there are any in the field when I'm walking the dog

I heard that they tend to attack a person with a dog, i-spy. My neighbour has a friend who was attacked some years ago and is now in a wheelchair.

Some years ago when my hubby was alive we were getting ready for bed when we became convinced there was an attempted break in downstairs. We crept down, hubby said "When I switch the light on you draw the curtains fast." I did so and stood almost nose to nose with a big brown cow. It and several others had broken through and were happily sampling fallen apples. Took us and the farmer all night to persuade them to leave.

Fred

We used to be able to play Rounders and Hopscotch in the road in Montrose Avenue when we were little because there were hardly any cars then. Happy days.

Marie

Yes, Marie...and football as well, ....and...our neighbours never complained either.

What freedom we had back then.

Did anyone play French cricket and statues? Again played in streets without traffic.

Never heard of those games, Anne...do tell...

Why it was called French cricket remains a mystery to me and no doubt others. One person stood inside a chalked circle about the size of a manhole cover (a convenient one was used on occasions) The "in" person was equiped with a tennis racquet and had to defend legs below the knees from other players throwing a ball from any direction without stepping outside the circle. Any number of people could play. The next one "in" was the thrower to hit the defender below the knees or forced the defender to put even a toe outside the circle. As can be imagined there were numerous disputes, some quite serious.
Statues was played from one side of the street to the other. One person called the blind man turning his/her back to the others on one side of the street whilst the others attempted to reach the kerb of the blind man Without warning the blind man would suddenly turn at which every one froze in position thus becoming a statue. Anyone caught moving would be "out" the winner of course would be the one to reach the blind mans kerb and become the blind man. There are most likely other local names for these games.

i use Wigan World every day for my family research

I bet this book will appeal to you, Anne.

You could be right priscus.... maybe even encourage my second childhood. How we all loved those and other street games.

I was a matchbox rugby man and scored more tries than Billy Boston

Just seen some old photos of Pem in 1967...Wow...what memories of times past.

Gods place

French cricket is so called after the French cut in cricket, a bad cut shot which can allow to get the other batsman out.

Oh and it's mocking the French too because they didn't or don't play cricket, not sure if they do now.

They Like chucking balls about

Boules!

Or petanque even.

Snail racing could be the future

Well frog racing is out!

Fred - where are you

Been busy, but some smashing comments above.

Just to add that I have lived in many places both abroad and in Britain and always said that there is no better place to be than Lancashire.

Good to hear from you

It is a very true comment when people say wiganers are ,warm,friendly and as straight as a dye. As for myself a few years back i thought that my time on earth was over ,but i pulled thro with the help of family and friends and when i was able to get back on the WW site i was completely humbled to the nice and sincere comment from what i regard now as my friends i cannot tell you how it made me feel, i too have had the privilege to travel abroad but the most endearing feeling is that when i return to
GOOD OWD WIGAN may it be like that for ever .G.B

I don't live there. I never have lived there. Very much like most people on here. Bizarre!