Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 30th September, 2020)

A far cry from that 1960s photo, the place in now a junk food area for fast food no real shops from yesteryear. Shame.

I dont know why the crossroad in Ince are called Ince Bar, only other place I know locally are the crossroads at Wrightington Bar

It's called Ince Bar because there was at one time,a toll bar there I believe.

Really good photos , I like to see the before and now. Especially if the buildings are the same. What spoils today's scene is the 'in your face' advertisements, more restraint in my opinion would be better as in the older photo. Great idea Dennis. I remember the Ince as was... still pass through many times.

Mick, it once had a toll bar across the road and people with vehicles had to pay to cross it. That's why it's Ince Bar. There was a toll-bar in Hindley too, up Ladies Lane and from what you say there was probably one in Wrightington too. There is still a toll at Warburton Bridge near Lymm. We go over now and again. It is 20p to pass once and 25p for a day ticket. The above scene was my childhood and will forever be a special place to me, despite the changes since the small black and white photo was taken. They can take away the shops and the landmarks of my childhood but they can't take away the memories, and a little piece of my heart will always be there.

"Bar" in this context usually implies a gate. I don't know whether that was the case here.

Didn't everything look homely and well kept..how sad it looks now..such a shame. Thank you Dennis for giving us a glimpse of yesteryear.

Mick, it had a Toll Bar back in the day, hence the name Ince Bar.

So its all to do with a Toll bar, but why would Ince and Hindley be entitled to have a money making Toll bar, when areas on the west of Wigan like the manor of Shevington wasnt, except for the hamlet of Wrightington,

Yes,like Irene I have great memories of growing up in Ince and agree how much better it used to look.Perhaps Standish and Shevington are getting all the money spent on them
????

Yes,like Irene I have great memories of growing up in Ince,and yes,it did look much better then.

The money from the Toll was used to pay for the upkeep of the road. After a wet winter the roads would be left in a terrible condition and in need of constant repair.

Welcome Progress this is me,
Tomorrows future your eyes can see,
New beginnings, old ones gone,
What was once is now undone.
Should we smile, laugh or cry,
Hold our eyes up to the sky ,
thankful for these bright new days,
not the grimey long gone ways,
Now its fresh good morning too,
not the chimney blowing stew,
Not the miners choked with coal,
down some pits forsaken hole,
Modern buildings just like these,
bright with colours of sunshine please,
Plastic windows delightful dream,
not the smell of coal borne steam,
The grunt of engine , the Progress man,
I'm feeling sick , I know I am...