Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 19th December, 2019)

Great picture Brian, do I see evidence of some homeless persons just to the left of the pic looks like a sleeping bag or two. Is there another reason perhaps ?

Groan... Not another attempt to drag Wigan into a frenzied, futuristic flop! Looks like a Penny Arcade for fruit machines. Can't see Wiganers flocking to come here.....my prophesy is it will remain empty, despite the fancy notions of a 'fire within'....sorry to say. I'll plant fog if it does take off.

The apparent homeless person evidence is probably art. Remember the unmade bed? I thought the banana was the ultimate. I am certain this kind of thing won't attract me into the town centre.

Beam ne up, Scottie!

Another piece of arty farty rubbish.

What a waste of money.

Not for me but I hope the Galleries turns itself round,it is a good space that has good potential.

Good photo Brian, but not for me..old school see.

I agree with everyone....it looks like The Starship Enterprise.

Rebuild the old market hall.!!!!!

Looks like the bin beside the counter on the left has empty bottles in & the fabric does look suspiciously like a sleeping bag.
Perhaps its the night watchman ?

Veronica, Whilst you are planting fog,
I will be knitting tramlines.

more tax payers money rubbish

I think it's a good idea, making use of empty retail units. Other towns are doing something similar, St Helens has filled one with ping pong tables.

Whilst they're at it - how about making the Grand Arcade into a skating rink, yesterday's photo reminds me of one, as sure as eggs are eggs there will be no shops left! As the Galleries are uphill they could build a toboggan run on fake snow to match!

Where you getting your sherry from now that Morrison' s and M&S have shut Garry? Chuck another shovelful of coal on that roaring fire mate,.. There's loads more where that came from.

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All the blinkin' blimey best pal.

I'll be knitting treacle.What a waste of space and money.

And I'll be eating a backless bacon butty.

Why not just go and have a look and judge for yourselves?

All the best ozy.

That's very arty Ozy - a coal wagon for Garry!

Probably commissioned by the “Councillor with special responsibility to waste as much cash as possible in the shortest time available”

Ha Veronica, I didn't realise at the time, I don't think I can lift a 100cw bag of coal nowadays. At that time you had to have a real sturdy and strong back. Great times but hard work. I need a sherry..cheers.

Very cleaver Ozy.

Whenever I walk through The Galleries I have never seen anybody looking at these exhibitions.

Hello,

The cushions are large bean bags that are used for families and children when Leigh Film Society screen family films in the space. Head to The Galleries and take a look at the exhibition space. Six formerly vacant units have been transformed into an interactive culture hub in line with the council's commitment to making art and culture accessible to all. Follow Fire Within Wigan on social media for updates.

To be honest Garry I had to look very closely as I thought Ozy was celebrating Christmas early and his elbow slipped. He's certainly creative....
I remember our coal man, he worked hard, you would have to be strong with a broad back to hump those bags of coal on your shoulders. It must have caused damage to the spine over time!
All the best to you for Christmas and the New Year. My best wishes to everyone on Wigan World...

Delivering coal in the 1960s was hard work and not many people could appreciate the task involved. For a start, many homes has cellars and very long steps, most dogs were then running loose and that mean being bit almost twice a week and when your arms and hands were literally tied because 100cw of coal was held behind your back, you could not shake the dog off. Dangerous, but in a funny way loved the job.

Not to mention loading off the floor during the Christmas period when the coal board were on their ten day holiday and none of the bunkers were working, eh Garry?

Yes we filled our own bags from the floor and always weighed 100cw sometimes a little over never under.
The bags on the street coal wagons could be checked anytime anywhere.
The street coal round has almost disappeared into history, but if I had my time again I'd do it all again. I've see car crashes, street fights, burglars, arguments, things I can't post on here etc etc.
Sorry for some spelling mistakes to the above post it's the sherry you see lol. All the very best for Christmas and the new year.

We used to get our coal from the NCB coalman,my dad worked in the pit.He would deliver 10 bags a time not just to our house but to nearly house in the street and the lorry was parked a fair distance away as it could not get up the backs,a hard job.They had a leather cover with studs on their back and my mother would always count how many bags were dropped off,must have had a fiddle going.The last coalman I had was called Prior,I think he was from Ince.All the best Garry

Garry, thanks for being on Wigan World, you make me laugh X.
Merry Xmas.

I had to suppress laughter Anne, imagining Garry shaking his leg, trying to kick dogs off with a big bag of coal on his back. But really it wasn't a laughing matter .... Not at the time anyway! I bet there was some choice language though... Hahaha

I'ld like to bet you kept the scale bag in the cab though didn't you Garry, come on now, be honest,....you can't kid a kidder,...I've done a bit of baggin' an' all you know. Not to mention the housebricks that we took into the landsale........I could have built a bungalow.

On the contrary Ozy, they picked any bags at random, it wasn't worth it.
Thanks Anne and Veronica, time to put some more COAL on my fire and open up another bottle of sherry.

It was called a leather studed back protector Pw, Coalmen would be mad not to wear one you'd have a neck and back like Hunchback of notre dame.
All the best Pw.

Get yourself down to The Fire Within Garry, and wear an overcoat with big pockets.
They've got coal all over the floor in there mate,...I don't suppose it was extracted within 200 miles of Wigan though....Poland most likely.

I know Garry he's a very decent man, he'll never steal or rob anyone.
Believe me.

garry i know were i would like to put some coal