Photo-a-Day  (Saturday, 6th October, 2018)

Hardly any change to Darlington St ( apart from the trees) I am always reminded of the Whit Walks going along here further down. The pavements packed with people.

Darlington Street East, to be pedantic. Nice pic though.

Veronica, last time I went down there I noticed that the Wigan and Leigh Workshops for The Blind opposite Gordon St. had gone and Gordon St itself, where two of my aunts and cousins once lived, now only has houses on one side.

You are right Derek - I had forgotten about the 'blind shop' but the 'blind steps'are still there - now renamed Woodcock Way. I remember the shades covering the windows of the shop - you could never see inside. We used to play on the steps- for some reason we were always attracted to steps!

The blind steps were used as a cover photo for the beat combo called Oasis or summat as word got round the area was flooded by highly excited young people ,so much so,the area had to be cordoned off.

Veronica, I had never heard of them being referred to as the blind steps before - certainly wouldn't be regarded as a politically correct description nowadays!! When I think of myself as a 10 year old walking down them on dark winter nights on my way from where I lived in Whelley to my aunt's in Gordon St. with never a thought of feeling scared and not safe and compare it to today when, even with better lighting, I would imagine it being a mugger's paradise.

I only knew them as 'the blind steps' Derek. Perhaps it was to differentiate them from some other steps on Birkett Bank which led from Holland St. And of course they were next to the 'blind shop' as well. I wouldn't be surprised if they are still called the 'blind steps' even though the shop is no longer there. Mind you it's nearly 50 years or more since I trod those steps!

My grandparents lived just off Darlington St east in Harper St