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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



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

Photo-a-Day  (Saturday, 30th October, 2021)

A Brickie’s nightmare


A Brickie’s nightmare
How’s this for a jigsaw puzzle?

Photo: Dennis Seddon  (Sony DSC-WX500)
Views: 2,188

Comment by: Mick on 30th October 2021 at 10:37

It would have come ready assembled, maybe in 4 piece, from China.

Comment by: John G on 30th October 2021 at 11:55

Dennis: That’s very neat and well blended in to the facia brick.
Mick could be right about the emblem being pre-set in four piece sets, don’t suspect China, it doesn’t look like plastic. If it was they didn’t get it “”Wong””

Comment by: Veronica on 30th October 2021 at 12:32

I like this building its better than all the other modern ones. To me the coat of arms looks like a work of art. It's pleasing to look at, not as ornate as buildings from the Victorian era, but the bricks are not as substantial as the bricks of those times anyway.

Comment by: joe bloggs on 30th October 2021 at 12:37

Is that how you came Mick?

Comment by: Pat McC on 30th October 2021 at 13:25

My thoughts exactly Veronica. The brick's a warm colour but lacks the 'character' of the old bricks.

Comment by: TerryW on 30th October 2021 at 14:37

Got proof, Mick, or is it your way of just annoying people with silly remarks?

Comment by: Dennis Seddon on 30th October 2021 at 14:54

Is that another gem from your “Book Of Horse Entrances To The Back Of The Pub Theories” Mick?

Comment by: Mick on 30th October 2021 at 16:19

It doesn't stand out for me there's too many lines criss crossing it.
When they ordered it they should have told the Chinese terracotta brick and tile factory to make with out lines.

Comment by: Pat McC on 30th October 2021 at 18:00

I read that shields are divided into quarters in order to bring different coats of arms together.

Comment by: Cyril on 30th October 2021 at 20:02

In the book Public Sculpture of Greater Manchester by Terry Wyke ISBN: 9780853235675: 'Wigan Magistrates Courts. Two brick sculptures on the exterior, the Royal Coat of Arms directly above the main entrance and the figure of Justice on the side wall, both sculpted from Baggeridge Brick and stated to be by artist and potter Maggie Humphrey. The sculptures are set into the walls and the outer bricks have been striated, adding extra depth to the figures. The courts were designed by Wigan Metro and opened by the Princess of Wales in 1991'.

So definitely not plastic or from China.
You can also read about these and other sculptures in Wigan and Leigh on Google Books.

Comment by: Dave on 30th October 2021 at 21:00

Details , details , but only of the past ! Not even a single note about Global warming is mentioned . The young have taken hold of it but the old just run back to safety of the past !

Comment by: Veronica on 30th October 2021 at 23:26

Dave, I can't see the link. Am I missing something with this photo? All I can say is I recycle like most people, I don't drive anymore. I haven't been on an aeroplane for 2 years. All my clothes are natural fibres. I walk to most places and I go on the train. I pick cans up and bottles that young ones drop on the ground and put them in bins because they are too lazy. I keep the temperature low on the boiler. Trying to think what else I do, oh! I only put enough water in the kettle for one cup of tea. I'm not being facetious honest. Don't tell me Greta has got to you....I am even trying not to come on my iPad as much because apparently if you come on here every day it stops you being fit, even if you comment once or twice. The World has gone mad! ;~))

Comment by: Helen of Troy on 31st October 2021 at 06:56

Well said Veronica !

Comment by: Veronica on 31st October 2021 at 07:52

Just realised you've commented on the wrong photo Dave . Another thought occurred to me - why not recycle old buildings by doing them up? I've been saying that for years, even Greta Thunderberg would probably agree with that. It's countries like China who need to get a grip for one ... let's hope the COP summit can produce some good plans for the future.

Comment by: Pat McC on 31st October 2021 at 08:10

You make sweeping generalisations about "the old" Dave. I, like many of my generation, have worked into my 70s, recently having to retire to care for my husband. We're the generation of 'make do and mend' - recycling was the norm, wearing hand-me-downs from our older siblings; a father who saw active service in WW2 but could never afford a car in his life, and walked everywhere. That lifestyle is ingrained in most of 'our' generation.
Us 'old' people might not talk about it all the time, we just live it.

Comment by: Veronica on 31st October 2021 at 08:54

Well said Pat, we are the original 'hand me down ' kids.
Can you imagine children today wearing second hand - not on your Nelly.

Comment by: Mick on 31st October 2021 at 11:17

Maggie Humphrey might have got credit for it, but she still could have had it made in China, some of you folk who don't get out much would be surprised what China can make.
Did you know the old soldier stood in Mesnes park was made in China, anyway we for out one thing that it was made by a brickie

Comment by: Cyril on 31st October 2021 at 14:55

Come off it Mick. Maggie Humphrey is a talented artist and successful ceramicist.
"From my early 30’s I was a successful ceramicist in North Wales. I created many large murals to commission in England and Wales, and there's even one in Nazareth. Examples can be seen in Ruthin, Rhyl, Bangor, Ness Gardens, Barmouth Dragon Theatre, Liverpool, Wigan Court House (unveiled by Lady Diana, Princess of Wales), Kingston-upon-Thames." The above comment was copied from here: https://www.maggie-humphry.co.uk/about-me/

The Boer War Memorial soldier figure in Mesnes park is carved from Granite and was supplied by Stonelove Sculpture. Stonemasons who are based in London.

You may get replication ornaments from there, but not everything gets made in China. The Chinese government keep denying that Covid 19 originated there, and yet "In April 2012, six mineworkers were admitted to hospital with coronavirus-like symptoms after working in a bat-infested cave. Three eventually died." https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/covid-began-chinese-miners-bat-25178960

Comment by: Veronica on 31st October 2021 at 16:11

I was reading about those mineworkers yesterday Cyril. I have said from the beginning there's been a big cover up.

Comment by: DTease on 31st October 2021 at 20:26

Politicians have always needed a Bogey Man to justify the outrageous amounts of our money they spend on so-called "Defence"
Many years ago it was the French who filled the bill, then along came The Kaiser. After him, Hitler did the job. When he finally came to a fiery end the Russians dominated the stage for many years.
Now give a hearty welcome to the Chinese who seem to have taken to the position with much relish.
Many jobs and much finance depends on their success in the part.
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women in it merely players.

Comment by: Cyril on 31st October 2021 at 21:21

Just noticed that she spells her name without the 'e', apologies to Maggie Humphry.

A lot of diseases have their origins there don't they Veronica, Hong Kong Flu, Beijing Flu, Bird Flu from chickens and then ducks, Swine Fever, then those SARs viruses, and even the Black Death of the Middle Ages originated in China. If they ever do launch any of those missiles mentioned below then I hope they mis-fire and fall onto the Chinese government at Zhongnanhai.

So true DTease, wonder how many billions of Chinese Renminbi went on them becoming the first country to actually produce a Hypersonic missile that they satisfactorily tested recently, they could effectively hold the world to ransom as these missiles if armed can't be detected by traditional radar.
https://www.ft.com/content/ba0a3cde-719b-4040-93cb-a486e1f843fb

Comment by: Veronica on 31st October 2021 at 22:03

True Cyril, this one is the worst. There is a lot hidden in those labs, they don't want coming out. The whole business stinks.
I looked at Maggie Humphry's art work she is brilliant in everything she does. Quentin Crisp modelled in her classes when she was at College. I bet that was a barrel of laughs.

Comment by: CanalAli on 6th October 2022 at 21:20

A member of this site posted pics of himself and his mate actually building these murals. They're fascinating - the murals and the pics of them being built: https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/showalbum.php?opt=5&gallery=Wigan+Magistrates+Court

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