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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

Photo-a-Day  (Saturday, 31st January, 2015)

Arcade Street


Arcade Street
Wigan Town Centre

Photo: Mick Byrne  (Sony HDR)
Views: 4,342

Comment by: Dennis Miller on 31st January 2015 at 00:21

I like that one Mick... one for the archives.

You know... in most other towns they would not allow a listed building like that to fall into decay. They would have gone out of their way to make sure it was put to better use, with maybe a cafe and bar... specialist shops.. etc.

Comment by: Ken R on 31st January 2015 at 00:26

Had to scratch my head a bit for Grimes Arcade, it's been a long time since I saw that.

Comment by: Derek Platt on 31st January 2015 at 03:01

Interesting photo, however can't place it. Was BHS to the left of the arcade at one time

Comment by: joe graney on 31st January 2015 at 07:38

good picture the barracks bar is that the officers club,?.those cobbles should be protected priceless heritage.

Comment by: Helen on 31st January 2015 at 08:13

It is disgraceful. I think the mentality behind the idea is if you let it get really bad it becomes ' unstable' and then to can knock it down, simples ! Wigan Council seem to be good at that...

Comment by: irene roberts on 31st January 2015 at 08:38

Dennis, I think that's a lovely idea, but I think it would have to be shuttered off at night, especially weekends, from King Street. It would soon be ruined! But what a shame to see it like this. A good photo, but a sad one.

Comment by: Aubrey on 31st January 2015 at 08:47

The Arcade was always a pleasant place to pass through, especially with the organ music from Grimes'. Isn't this now an eyesore? All due to the local authority granting far too many licences for pubs and clubs in King Street. Thanks Mick for the interesting photo, but it will surprise our ex-pats viewers.

Comment by: Neil Cain on 31st January 2015 at 09:13

Think you are right Dennis. This could be made a nice little asset to the town. Love the stone quoins at the corner of the bricking, and the setts.

Comment by: kath on 31st January 2015 at 09:18

interesting! many people have taken short cuts down that alley over the generations. I suppose now they have to walk around the block

Comment by: Mick on 31st January 2015 at 09:48

This is what the council said on Monday 14th March, 2011,,,,
Officers will be assisting building owners to carry out repairs to their properties and to restore historical features through grant assistance. As part of the bidding process to the Heritage Lottery Fund, three buildings were identified as priority projects. These are Tower Buildings on Wallgate, 7-9 King Street and Grimes Arcade on King Street. Owners will be encouraged to repair existing properties and to reinstate original features on properties, such as traditional shop fronts, chimneys and other architectural details.

So who owns the Tower Buildings on Wallgate, 7-9 King Street and Grimes Arcade on King Street, thats the question.

Comment by: Roy on 31st January 2015 at 09:52

No Derek, this arcade joins Library St and King St. This is the Library St side of it, it is on the right going down the street just before you reach what was, Wigan Mining and Technical College which is now Wigan Town Hall.

Comment by: Garry on 31st January 2015 at 09:55

What's the reason the Arcade is boarded up. Little has changed there in 100 years.

Comment by: Colin Harlow on 31st January 2015 at 10:24

Spot on Dennis Miller, not much has changed around there. On the right is Rowbottom Square which takes you through to Wallgate and the town centre. The Wigan Observer was printed and published there from 1853 to 1966. I'm sure if the paper were still based there, they'd have given the Council a real headache over the state of the buildings...and it would have been justified!

Comment by: Jim Tomney on 31st January 2015 at 10:52

Worked at grimes tv shop Mr toubkin was the boss fond memories criminal shame interesting photo

Comment by: Giovanni on 31st January 2015 at 11:51

I remember like yesterday buying Whiter Shade of Pale from Grimes in MAY 1967!! Such a shame the council allowing such buildings to deteriorate.

Comment by: Ernest Pyke on 31st January 2015 at 12:27

I pass this when walking from Wigan Wallgate railway station to Wigan library.
Had my haircut in the barber`s in Arcade Street last Tuesday.
Wallpaper Supplies are to the left and was H H Timberlakes years ago.

Comment by: Roy on 31st January 2015 at 12:32

JOE GRANEY, it is the BARBERS BAR that you can see, a gents hairdressers, the Officers Club is much higher up the hill towards Wallgate. GARRY, it was being used as a urinal, no more nor less, it stunk to high heaven.

Comment by: jim lane on 31st January 2015 at 12:58

Little the council could do,they don't own them and it's not within their powers to force repairs unless the structures become dangerous.

Comment by: irene roberts on 31st January 2015 at 13:08

I have good reason the remember A Whiter Sade of Pale, Giovanni, but better not go off the subject! I remember Grimes' TV shop; had forgotten it until it was mentioned here.

Comment by: Alex on 31st January 2015 at 13:46

The Council CAN do a great deal, they CAN put pressure on the owners.

Comment by: Alan on 31st January 2015 at 14:03

Very sad, no one cares. Yes good idea...and the rest of the clan, Lets think of the up-loaders and genuine posters who care about the subject covered by the photo.
Communicate sounds good.

Comment by: Colin Harlow on 31st January 2015 at 14:06

It has to start with the Council, they put things in motion

Comment by: Ernest Pyke on 31st January 2015 at 14:33

For earlier photo`s, see :-
Album, Places, Arcade Street and Album, Wigan Streets, Arcade Street.

Comment by: Garry on 31st January 2015 at 16:11

Roy, isn't all the shops and door ways used as a toilet on Friday and Saturday nights.

Comment by: Alan on 31st January 2015 at 16:43

Irene, it was actually called Grimes Arcade.

Comment by: Julie on 31st January 2015 at 16:58

Great picture Mick, your point is very relevant as to who the owners are but also within the Council letter it states the owners will be 'encouraged' to, not forced to. Alex, can the council apply pressure? Maybe. This is not as straight forward as listed buildings. As the Rev pointed out mick , removing the mirror from the church recently. As always the devil is within the detail.

Comment by: Roy on 31st January 2015 at 17:20

Yes Garry a lot of them are, but they cant close the shops. I'm all for it being brought back to life and agree with most of the comments made about the subject.

Comment by: irene roberts on 31st January 2015 at 17:51

Yes, I know it was called Grimes Arcade, Alan, but was the music shop inside it not called Grimes as well? Isn't that how the arcade got its name?

Comment by: Derek Platt on 31st January 2015 at 18:23

Thanks Roy for your informative comments, and for the later ones too. Now I do remember Grimes Arcade. Mind you I'm still unclear if this was the arcade where the Bodega pub entrance was.

Comment by: Maureen on 31st January 2015 at 19:02

Does anyone remember the beautiful pianos on the main floor of the shop.

Comment by: Alan on 31st January 2015 at 20:02

Yes irene, that's how it got it's name.

Comment by: sanibelfred on 31st January 2015 at 20:07

my dad bought his 78 rpm records at grimes. they had booths where you could play the record to see if you liked it enough to want to purchase it. my dad had a large collection of hmv Caruso and gigli records. another brand of record was Columbia. I think a 12 inch double sided record cost about half a crown in 1930. this is when a pitman in ince was lucky to earn a pound a week. I suspect that I am your oldest contributor. ernie may be the next.

Comment by: Aubrey on 31st January 2015 at 20:19

Derek,
The Bodega entrance was in King street nearer to the Court Cinema and the side entrance in the next alley further down King Street that also linked with Library Street, I have forgotten the name of the alley, or street.

Comment by: Garry on 31st January 2015 at 20:24

Look at item number 25815,in search.

Comment by: Aubrey on 31st January 2015 at 20:26

Derek, further to my last comment I think the street is College Avenue.

Comment by: Alan H on 31st January 2015 at 20:40

Derek Platt, the bodega was further down King Street towards the Court Cinema in an alley between King Street and Library Street

Comment by: Jimmy G on 31st January 2015 at 20:50

You are right Irene,it was Grimes
music shop.You could buy pianos and
guitars etc on the main floor ,and if
went downstairs you would be in the
record department.If you bought a
record they would ask you if you would
like to listen it in one of the music
booths ---- Happy days.

Comment by: irene roberts on 31st January 2015 at 21:10

Thankyou, Jimmy G.

Comment by: phred on 1st February 2015 at 05:28

I watched Her Majesties coronation on TV in a shop window there with my parents,I was about five years old!

Comment by: Garry on 1st February 2015 at 08:35

Bodega club was nest to Wigan Examiner offices.

Comment by: Alan on 1st February 2015 at 08:47

The music shop WAS called Grimes!
THAT'S how it got it's name, the Grimes Arcade!!

Comment by: Alan H on 1st February 2015 at 11:58

THe shop was taken over by Dawson's a Warrington based firm.

Comment by: johnb on 1st February 2015 at 13:30

I remember it as dawsons when i was at Wigan college in the late eighties - i bought a nice black telecaster from downstairs!

Comment by: Anne on 11th February 2015 at 20:42

if you search Wigan Planning you can locate who applied or permission and it looks like Grimes arcade had planned submitted quite recently

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