Photo-a-Day  (Sunday, 23rd January, 2011)

Mill where my father started his working life.

There is just something about mill buildings I love..near where my son lives there are still quite a few, now used for other purposes. Their names are emblazioned at the top in white bricks.

It's good to see photos of old Wigan.I remember taking this same view years ago when they were making a TV drama there.Anyone remember what it was called.It was about a Northern factory.

Your bringing back memeories for an ex- emill girl I was one of thousands
that worked in there. Some mills have been reburbished to make homes, and they are out of this world. Lovely high ceilings, and huge windows. Can almost smell the oil & hear the mill noises.

Dave it was Clocking off.H.

The TV programme was called Clocking Off.

Thank's,Harry and Louise,it was a good series.

Clocking Off was filmed at Trencherfield Mill. I know some people who were working there at the time.

My mum (Irene Callaghan) worked here in the 1940's. She worked at May Mill as well a bit later on

My Auntie Mary worked here in , I think, the 50s and maybe early 60s. She was forced to by a callous lazy swine of a husband, and had to walk it from Ince as she had no bus-fare. She told me of the mill-workers setting each other's hair with sugar and water. She had cotton stuck to her hair and clothes, and a smile that could light up a room, refusing to let her evil husband break her spirit.God Bless, Auntie Mary.

Irene, what a sad tale of an obviously very brave lady.
No such thing as the 'Good old Days' for your Auntie.

Was Eckersley mill the one overlooking mesnes park? remember seeing all the girls coming from the "menes park"one in the evenings and their hair all covered in wool etc.
Irene what a sad tale of your auntie mary ....as tricia said no "good old days" then .

Derek, just wondered if you worked at Wigan Printing Company in the 60's

Thanks for your comments Tricia and Jean. Jean, I think the Mill by Mesnes Park was Rylands Mill. Eckersleys was down near the pier.

Yes Geoff I did, my mum was only on about you last week when we came up (we live in the Midlands now) am on Facebook if you want my e-mail address

Hello Irene,
Yes ,of course it was Rylands.As soon as you said it ...I remembered !!Thankyou Irene.

Not sure if you went in Brian, but the roller rink is a busy and enjoyable now as it was in the 80's. It must be a huge weigh off the shoulders of local police now at weekends too as it attracts roughly 350-400 teenagers per night fridays and saturdays - anti-social behaviour reports must have dropped dramatically!

Helen you are right about mill buildings, whenever i see them i wonder what stories they could tell, happy and sad no doubt.I'm so glad that some of them have been made into shopping complexes. I would hate to see them vanish for good