Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 28th July, 2023)

Should have done this behind the park too, wouldn't have needed the flats on the Market plot then. Good picture Dennis.

Never in a million years would the people who once toiled there day in and day out have ever imagined it would one day be "luxury apartments".

These luxury flats are unlikely to attract young professionals, as there is no work in Wigan to suit them, Manchester is probably a preferred option to them.

What a wonderful idea, it is to turn these old mills into modern apartments before the rot sets in.
The new residents will be in an ideal location for the Wigan bus station and the two railway stations, ASDA and robin park and also the new towpath cycle route to Parbold.

I’d be no use up there me, I wouldn’t let go of the scaffolding long enough to get any work done.
Mind you, I get dizzy just walking up the wooden stairs to Bedfordshire!
Having said that, the partaking of strong waters after supper could have something to do with that!

I just can't see the residents who can afford the Luxury Apartments jumping for joy to be near either ASDA or Wigan Bus Station; I somehow can't envisage them travelling into Wigan to catch a bus. The Railway Station, maybe, but not the bus. They will go everywhere by car. There isn't even anything worth them travelling into Wigan for now, and neither will there be when we have the so-called "new amenities", such as a Cinema, Bowling Alley and Restaurants....they will last a very short time IF they ever appear at all. I know I sound like a prophet of doom and I hope I am proved wrong and it is all a huge success. If that happens, I will be happy to hold my hands up and admit I was wrong, but somehow I can't see it, and I don't think MOST Wiganers can either.

At least its saved and so will the History.

Right smack dab in the middle of town
I’ve found a paradise that’s trouble proof (up on the roof)
And if this world starts getting you down
There’s room enough for two
Up on the roof (big smiley face)
The Drifters 1964
Always have a laugh on photo a day Wigan
Good photo Mr Seddon

I think it is horrible, it is one of those dark satanic mills that folk sing about, it reminds me of Wallgate Railway bridge, in that it does not matter how much money they spend on it, however they try and smarten it up, it will always look like an eyesore, it should be demolished.

I thought they were just about to start with them being up there and doing the roof, but Dennis caption says they are 'soon to be luxury apartments,' Hope they are also to do the pointing of the walls and new windows too, though I suppose a tin sheet would last a lot longer than a sheet of cardboard, so maybe the tin sheet that's covering the rotting windows is the luxury, or maybe it'll be the view of the river and being able to watch Salmon leap the waterfalls along Fourteen Meadows.

Irene, I too can't see the folks from here shopping at Asda or Robin Retail Park, they'll be off to other Retail Parks where there are larger stores to choose from, and even better the roads are not under two feet of water every time it rains for longer than an hour.

Garry, true and it will be serving a purpose again.

Nice one John, a very good song by The Drifters, one of those songs that you see folks in cars mee mawin along to when its playing on the radio.

The idea behind the scheme for luxury apartments is good..but I can’t see high flyers wanting to live in them…. Not by any stretch of the imagination. This type of renovated building is more for the inner city. There’s nothing in Wigan to attract them.

The property developers or some entrepreneurs must think there is few bob to to be made from it.

It worked at Trencherfield, why not Eckersley's.

Pru, you know what they'll be saying in Wigan - Will It Eckersleyke. Trencherfield is a more iconic and altogether a better built and maintained building, the buildings at Eckersley's had been left with little or no maintenance, some far worse than others with them collapsing, being demolished and having to be made safe.

And as Veronica says these converted mills did work from the mid 1990s and the early 2000s in other towns, and especially so in Manchester city centre when they took advantage of the then booming pink pound.

I wish them well though, and do hope that folks move into the flats and really do enjoy living there, and in doing so giving the mill an extra life and keeping its heritage and history going which it deserves.

Some things we keep ,
Some disregard,
others we leave ,
no matter how hard ,
that smell we can taste ,
that feel we still own
no matter the years
can never disown
A mark on a space
the canvass called me
a look that takes longer
I ask there to be …

I worked in number 3 mill in the mid 60s