Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 21st August, 2023)

I know this is one of the very oldest buildings in Wigan (1700’s? Not quite sure! )
It’s lasted this long - it puts the modern property to shame which won’t even last a quarter of that time. I could sit and look at that rather than the
‘un- Believable’ Square in front the glass fortress on the other side. I love the cobbles - so quaint. I hope it’s spruced up even more when the New, new Market is installed!

Forgot to thank you Dennis for the photo it’s lovely as usual!

Beautiful photo Dennis ! One of the few remaining parts of Wigan with character,well done.

I have never been in there but believe it to be a popular pub with a good jukebox. Have any p-a-d regulars been in?

No Ive not been in Irene, and to be honest I wouldn't want to go in if its got a jukebox.

Best pub
Best bar staff
Best jukebox
Best Guinness
In Wigan

I love this building..always have..and painted it once.

It's a good pub Irene, great staff and friendly customers. The jukebox is quality and it's probably one of a few pubs in Wigan you don't feel the need to be looking over your shoulder all night. Good capture Dennis.

whilst i love good architecture, it is a fact that many older buildings are unadaptable to modern needs. I do think though that many modern buildings were built to completely ridiculous designs , flat roofs, huge glazed areas and poor maintainability the Civic Centre and the row of shops opposite Primark are examples that should never be repeated

A lovely old pub with atmosphere and good people.

It's over 500 years old...I would love to see inside.

Love it!

Maureen, I "googled" it after reading the very favourable comments and you can see pictures of the inside. Just type into google "John Bull Chop House Wigan" and two photos come up on the right, one saying "see photos". Click that and just follow the arrows through the pics. It looks lovely and is reportedly haunted!

Irene,I've just been looking on "Google" as well,it is a building worth looking at..and more so if it is haunted..I can't see the many windowed buildings we have in Wigan being around in five hundred years..or even standing..I wonder if anyone knows who is haunting it....it would be really interesting.

You did a good job with the paint work Maureen.

How do Ezra ! What'll thee sup ?
Two gills o mild and half a beer .
A couple a pals coming in tonight ?
Aye , a miner and a fusilier .
Not Jemmy from the Maypole pit ?
Not sin him since it all went up .
And Walter with whiskers laced with ale
That kept out the cold at Passchendaele ?
That's reet Sam my inquisitive host ,
Won't you join us in a ghostly toast ?

Now then Alf. How's trade been ?
Dead Poet ! Owd uns' mostly...
A mad rascal with a scraggy beard
Reckoned he played football one Christmas eve agin the Jerries .
And one old codger with a lamp and a face full of grime ,
Asked for a tin bath would you believe !
Drifters I suppose . Owd Ezra bought 'em a gill apiece .
Will they come back Alf do you think ?

Then the coals on the fading fire fell ,
And the door of the snug
With a tinkling bell
Opened slow and there they stood....

Will they return Alf and sit on yon stools ?
Why Alf you're all ashen
Like thas sin some ghouls .

Poet

Pw..I do mean painting in oils on a board,but I know you're having me on..LOL.

Love the ghostly poem, poet! You should have done one with us p-a-d lot as customers.....Veronica and Maureen and I could have been Ena Sharples, Minnie Caldwell and Martha Longhurst in the Snug, supping stout and gossiping, and I think DTease would make a jovial landlord! As for paintings, Veronica and Maureen are excellent artists ; I have some of Veronica's paintings and have seen Maureen's work.....talented ladies both! Lovely photo today, Dennis, and nice banter from everyone.

PS...Has anyone heard how Anne is, please? Her comments are much missed; hope she's okay.

Good photo Dennis, and as good a place as anywhere to pass the time and have a rest. Went in a few times when it opened as a pub around 1972, had a look on the website and photos and it looks to be very nice, though it's altered quite a lot from what I remember, and was a time when a mobile phone was probably just an idea at the back of someone's mind.

Just thinking back now and I'm sure the old music hall and pictures was still there across from there, was it The Empire? though it was then being used as a bingo hall, and it wasn't all open at the front like it is now.

Cyril, The John Bull Chop House is in The Wiend......The Empire was in Cooper's Row, which was further down Market Place going towards Millgate, not in The Wiend.

Proper pub
Proper beer
Proper music
Proper nice photo

Lovely clear photo Dennis, and not a speck of litter.

I can imagine the ghostly company inside the pub after closing time Poet.
Certainly not with the juke box going though. I wonder what they would think of that noisy apparatus. They would soon scuttle off. Lovely poem …..brings tears to my eyes.