Login   |   Register   |   

Places   (Help with places, streets and buildings in Wigan.)

Started by: ShevvyChic (1)

I realise this thread about the cottage in Mill Dam/Elnup Wood in Shevington dates back to 2007 but I’m new to Wigan World and it was my interest in this cottage that led to my registration today. I grew up in Shevington and played in this wood often throughout the early 70s. It was a very different time, when parents were very comfortable with their children disappearing unsupervised until returning home at tea time, tired and dirty. There was a short period when we would visit this cottage in the wood. It was split into two dwellings at that time (I think!!) although looking back at the old photograph someone has provided in this thread, it was built as one, and has in fact been renovated and restored to a single dwelling in more recent times. The lady referred to as Mrs Houghton in an earlier thread, is I think, the lady we visited. We always understood her to be Miss Houghton though. I don’t think there was ever a Mr Houghton. She had white hair, loosely clipped back into a bun. She lived there as it’s been said, with no electricity and her toilet was a “privvy” in a little shed outside. It’s such a shame that people referred to her as a witch. I guess it was just a local myth that was fuelled by children telling stories. She certainly had a very different existence to the rest of us in the locality and unfortunately was considered “strange” in that respect. My memory of her was very far from witch-like. We were curious, chatty children and somehow got talking to her one day. She invited us inside and made us tea with sterilised milk in china cups. Parents today would be horrified to think their children had been invited into a stranger’s home but anyone reading this will just have to accept that it was very different back then. She was very sweet and I think she enjoyed our company. Unfortunately we didn’t keep up our visits for very long. We will have found some aspect of our visits to the wood more exciting and adventurous than visiting an old lady for cups of tea. I hope she didn’t wait for us to visit again....

Replied: 1st May 2021 at 13:28

Report Abuse

Only use this form to report abuse about the post displayed above. If you have a query or wish to make a comment, do not use this form.

Your IP No. (52.207.218.95) will be logged.

* Enter the 5 digit code to the right of the input box. Don't worry if you make a mistake, you will get another chance. Your comments won't be lost.