Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 1st October, 2020)

The things than stand out in these then & now photos Dennis is how the streets are littered with signposts & lines....probably noise too. Give me the 'then ' , it looks so neat & peaceful.

I remember the row of shops on the right, past The Squirrel pub. My Mam shopped along there every day, at the fruit and veg shop and the butchers. We had no 'fridge in those days so meat was bought fresh daily, just the amount that was needed for that day. The row of shops looks so depressing when I go past these days. Thankyou so much for showing these photos of Ince, Dennis.

You’re right there Helen, it’s a case of information overload.
It’s becoming almost impossible for motorists to find there way through some towns these days, Wigan being a prime example.

Irene that row of shops between the Squirrel pub and Pickup Street needed knocking down even before I left Ince in 1963. How they are still standing beats me.

There was a little shop along there (I think) called Robinson's where all the flowers for my wedding came from. Some very old buildings along there a bit worse for wear now. There's a very old pub built in the 1860's which is more of a facade these days. It fascinates me to think my ancestors may have crossed the threshold.

Helen we all need some signs to find our way around, and Britain as the best information signs in the world.
The ones that dont apply to you, like the one pointing towards the M61 and the 26t max sign you wont notice if your on a bike or not going to the motorway and you in a little car.

You are right Mick, we do need ' SOME ' signs, not a sign overload.

Yes, Veronica. It was Robinson's fruit and veg shop but my Mam always called it Edie Traynor's which I assume was the name of a previous owner. Fruit and veg shops had such a wonderful smell in those days....you never get that smell on the fruit and veg areas in supermarkets. I think the pub you mean was The Royal, which is further up than the row of shops in question. The building still stands but I don't think it's been in use as anything for years but at one time Robinson's Antiques used it as a store-room.

That's right Irene, they were beautiful flowers, they delivered them in the morning in a long cardboard box. I still had the receipt for them for years. I think the buttonhole flowers were 2s/6d each I have forgotten what the bouquets cost. I think the sum total was
£7 / 6s . The shop was highly recommended.xx

Every were you go today, you end up in a traffic jam.Getting to Hindley at peak times is a nightmare.

Was taken there for my shoes a few times in my younger days. I think the shop was Mellings.

Yes, jack, it would have Melling's shoe shop.

Irene, Was that the same Mellings who had a shoe shop on Ormskirk Road, Newtown?

I don't know. Pat McC, sorry.

Irene. You are right about the lovely smell of greengrocers in those days. You may well remember be here was one on the Wigan side of Manchester Road which was always referred to as "Polly's" presumably after the last who seemed to run it singlehandedly.

Talking of the smell of shops my father had a distant connection with a man who had a clog shop at Ince bar. I seem to recall going in there once in 1950s and the smell of leather was overwhelming.

Just to the right of the Squirrel was Mortens grocers i used to deliver orders for them in the fifties, top of Belle Green Lane on the order bike groceries front and back wouldn't like to think of trying it now!.

Anyone involved with so-called "slum clearance" in Wigan council in the 1960's and 70's should hang their heads in shame. Most of the buildings along Ince Bar just needed modernisation and not "devastation" Can't bring them back, but what was done was very wrong.

Bill - Er Ince wasn't part of Wigan B Council until after 1974. It was a separate Urban District of Lancashire County Council and the boundary was at Clarington Brook. I had a relative who lived in Albert street and believe me those properties were well beyond renovation.

Caroline, I believe the clog shop you mention was near Jack Tomorrow's. My husband used to tell me about being carried on his older brother's shoulders to get clogs.They lived quite close to there.Near what was then called The clary.

Edna. No. There may well have been a cloggers at Birkett Bank ( which is where Jack - Tomorrow - Mellings shop was) but the one I am thinking of was definitely at Ince Bar, just about where the shop was it a cafe sign outside is.

I know Carolaen, as soon as I had commented I realised that you had put Ince Bar.x

I lived in one of the properties close to Ince Bar and it would have been easy to have been modernised our house if enough money was spent. Whomever was responsible for the wholesale destruction of that part of Ince - Houses, shops and pubs, was guilty of ruining a great community.

The same happened with Scholes Bob Owen. As you say they ''ruined a great community".