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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



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

Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 26th August, 2020)

Black Bull


Black Bull
The former Black Bull, Hardybutts, Scholes. Then and now.

Photo: Dennis Seddon  (Sony DSC-WX200)
Views: 2,443

Comment by: Cyril on 26th August 2020 at 00:18

A pub that I have never been in, no idea why as I've been in The Silverwell, The Flamingo, The Waterwheel and The Foundry. I didn't live around there it was either following the darts team or to call in when going past or out of curiosity.

Wonder how many blokes have come out of there after a skinful then tripped and rolled down the hill of Edwin St at the side.

Comment by: Veronica on 26th August 2020 at 08:09

I went past here at weekend and was surprised to see the transformation to a store. It's better than rotting away. I only remember it as a pub. The steep cobbled hill at the side is just the same. Thank you Dennis for the 'now and then' photo. My memories are a lot further back, my grandparents would have had a drink in there, it was only across the road from St Pat's church.

Comment by: Veronica on 26th August 2020 at 09:20

The hill at the side with the lovely cobbles was always referred to as 'Piggy Brew'. I don't know why. Perhaps those railings were put there to stop any fatal falls by the inebriated Cyril.... as a child the 'brew' seemed a lot steeper than it is now, but it's still steep!

Comment by: irene roberts on 26th August 2020 at 09:26

I had to get my bearings then. I just couldn't place it, but I HAVE been in there once many years ago and it seemed a nice friendly "local". Sadly things change but I agree with Veronica that it's better used as something else than rotting away. We pass a building in a village on the way to our caravan that used to be a big pub and is now a Co-op....so much better to use it than build a new building unnecessarily and it means the buildings are still full of life and people.

Comment by: PeterP on 26th August 2020 at 10:12

Noticed the brackets for the pub sign and the door lamp are still on the building

Comment by: Carolean on 26th August 2020 at 10:14

Veronica. The pub opposite St Pats was the Vulcan. Both pubs had a reputation for being very cliquey, or so my Dad said. We lived between the two it if he went (not often) to local pub it would be the Crispin or the Spotted Cow on Scholeld Lane. There was another pub on Burkett Bank which was turned into a hall for Sea Cadets, but I cannot remember its name.

Comment by: Stan on 26th August 2020 at 11:09

It was a scruffy pub been in there once with a friend about 2014, it was damp and add a musty smell.

Comment by: Thomas(Tom)Walsh. on 26th August 2020 at 11:29

Carolean, the pub you mention was ' The Birkett Hotel ' it was a very large pub with a function room akin to a dancehall. The Vulcan and The Black Bull were ' Ale Houses ' ( didn't have a full licence, couldn't sell spirits) The Black Bull did eventually get a full license, alas The Vulcan never did.

Comment by: Veronica on 26th August 2020 at 13:34

Yes the Vulcan was exactly opposite the Church Carolean. The Black Bull a bit further up. I remember the Birkett pub as well. I also remember the smaller two up, two down houses at the side of the Vulcan with Miss Hunt's toffee shop in between. She was a lovely lady, I remember buying tiger nuts from there and Kali and Spanish. I seem to remember terraced houses at the other side of the Black Bull with the railings in front. I might be wrong though.

Comment by: Cyril on 26th August 2020 at 13:56

Veronica, wasn't piggy a game of swiping a stick to try and hit a piece of wood thrown in the air to see how far each player could bat it.

Comment by: Thomas(Tom)Walsh. on 26th August 2020 at 14:35

Veronica, your memory is quite right there were a few houses with small gardens. Hope you and your family are well .Best regards,Tom.

Comment by: Veronica on 26th August 2020 at 15:17

I can remember 'rounders' Cyril swiping a ball with a stick. Thanks Tom I'm ok, hope you and yours are. I'm glad you remember those houses at the other side of the Bull, I thought I might have been dreaming!

Comment by: WN1 Standisher on 26th August 2020 at 16:34

Piggy, as I remember was a game where a small cylindrical object, tapered at one end ( the Piggy ) was placed on a brick. You hit the tapered end with the Piggy bat which caused the piggy to fly up. You then hit the piggy and paced out steps from the brick to where it landed. Furthest away wins.

Comment by: Mick on 26th August 2020 at 17:25

You could make your Piggy from a old bottle screw top

Comment by: irene roberts on 26th August 2020 at 18:07

Cyril and WN1 Standisher, you are right about the game "Piggy". The "piggy" was placed on a brick and the pointed end struck with a bat or stick, then whacked to see how far the contestant could get it. My Dad described it to me exactly like that.

Comment by: Edna on 26th August 2020 at 22:01

I remember the Black Bull.Also the Spotted Cow,and Mount Pleasent in Scholfield Lane.Yes Veronica there was terraced houses,and also a paper shop.This was in the early 70s

Comment by: Methinks on 26th August 2020 at 23:14

I remember there was a corner shop at the bottom of the hill on the left going on to Darlington Street, and after a 4 hr game of footie on William Fosters we would call there on way back home to get a frozen orange Jubbly, think they were about 4d. Brilliant.

Comment by: Thomas(Tom)Walsh. on 27th August 2020 at 10:45

Veronica, your memory is quite right there were a few houses with small gardens. Hope you and your family are well .Best regards,Tom.

Comment by: Carolaen on 27th August 2020 at 19:04

Methinks - you are right about the corner shop which I went in a few times but cant remember the name. On the other side of the road was Mortons which in the 1960s was unusual for being a self service small shop. Further down Darlington street, just past Billy Seddons butchers was an old fashioned grocery shop which we used to use and I think was known as Wilsons. We also used the Brethertons (later the Shawcross's shop on Chancery Street. There were lots of others !!!

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