Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 27th September, 2023)

Where you see JD stood Waring and Gillow furniture shop.
I still prefer old Wigan...anytime.

In the 50s and 60s Oxleys started where JDs shop is, and Oxleys shops occupied the full right hand side of Station Road. And opposite Oxley's stood Woolworths. We've lost so much.
So sad its all gone.

When I worked as a barmaid in The Platt Bridge Inn in the 1970s, the men in the tap-room used to tell many a tale about The Ship in its heyday, and of Wigan's "Ladies of the Night"! Somewhere either on The Album or on facebook there is a hauntingly atmospheric black-and-white photo of the interior, with two people sat at a table, wreathed in cigarette smoke.

So where was the mill in Millgate ?

Might as well say where was the Hall in Hallgate and where was the Wall in Wallgate…etc. I believe ‘gate’ meant street. Perhaps the Mill (if there was a Mill) could have been anywhere between the top of Millgate and Scholes Bridge. Someone will know I’m sure.

Google it Tom.
I'll tell you what, Irene has had a very busy working life because when ever a photo has been on photo a day, she worked there or nearby. Good on you Irene x

Did you know that JD stands for John & David.Two Bolton guys who are now big in Australia with a shop in Perth

The mill would have been on the river Douglas wouldn’t it?

The Ship had a reputation, but at one time it had a glorious Victorian interior. Etched glass windows and beautiful polished woodwork.

Not really, Sandra....I worked in a small family chemists when I left school, both at their Ashton branch and their Standish branch, followed by Debenhams on Standishgate where I worked until I had my son in 1976. Then I did bar-work in pubs in Platt Bridge whilst my children were young, as their Dad was there to look after them in the evenings, and then went to Boots Chemists in 1992 where I worked for nearly 17 years, retiring early to look after my granddaughter. So having worked in Ashton, Standish, Platt Bridge and Wigan Town Centre, I can relate to many of the photos. Having grown up in Ince and gone to school in Hindley, photos of those two places are also of interest to me, and I have many memories of both. I love to share memories on p-a-d, and I love to read other people's.

Yes it would have been lower down Dtease. The old Georgian House on Millgate with the stone head of a little girl over the door was drowned in the river whilst playing. The access was from the back of the house down a grassy slope. The old house is still awaiting renovation. (So I’ve read.)

Prior to Waring and Gillow and Oxleys, Pooles department store occupied almost all the length of Station Rd.

Hallgate lead from Wigan Parish Church to Wigan Hall, which was the home of the Rector of Wigan. It is now a commercial operation and the view from New Market Street has been opened up well.

Standishgate was the way to Standish.

DerekB your right, read Garrys post.
Nice photo but prefer 1960s.

Well it must be nearly a month since I saw a photo or a comment from Mick, anybody have any idea what's happened to him.?

I have a feeling Mick's okay. He'll be back.

Mick,or Sylvia /Sylvia from Bognor/ Sue......take your pick or many pseudonyms

Didn’t Mick say he was having some trouble with his knee?

There is no atmosphere In Wigan any more.Its just awfull.

The Ship also known as The Yacht Club was actually a good pub, I only ever went in the lounge part for a pint or two in the early 1970s, and this part still had plush seating and Victorian mahogany features as was mentioned by Dennis. The other room, tap room I suppose, there was always a gang of women having a good laugh and craic, there was also a very camp voice that could be heard throughout the pub, and said many times - "ooo Kitty what are you like". You couldn't see him, but he was in the midst of those women, probably someone in drag, could have been Paul O'Grady.

Veronica, A. S. Tindall mentions a 14th Century corn mill on Millgate, see page 21. and there's also other interesting information in his book.
Wigan: The Development of the Town. http://www.gmau.manchester.ac.uk/pdfs/gmac3.pdf

Thanks Cyril I couldn’t paste and copy as it wouldn’t allow me to, so here goes a little information from what I read.

“The main thoroughfare of Wallgate and Standisgate entered the triangular Market Place from the north and south respectively. Hallgate led westward to Wigan Hall and Millgate eastward to the River Douglas where the Rector and Lord of the Manor’s Corn mill stood from the 14th century and where the people of Wigan took their corn for milling”.
There was too much to write but the gist of it is plain to see.

Cyril do you know where I could get a copy of the book? It’s made me want to read more. Thanks

‘Himself’ spoke on the 24th September and as usual had the last word!
I think you are right Dtease. “hands, knees and bumps-a-daisy”! He will survive. I’m sure.

Veronica, It seems the volume is made up of academic papers on different towns in Greater Manchester, though you can always print the pages yourself if needed as there is a printer icon top right of page, and there are two chapters about Wigan consisting of 14 pages. Chapter 3, The Development etc., and also in Chapter 4, the records of when the excavations in the Wiend were dug.
http://www.gmau.manchester.ac.uk/publications/gmaj.htm

Ah! But I don’t have a printer Cyril. I might get my grandson to help me to ‘screen shot’ it he has shown me before but I’ve forgotten how to…
I can just keep going on to it if needs be. It was interesting to read anyway especially knowing the areas so well back in the 50’s60’s and 70’s. When it slowly all ‘melted away’. Thanks.

Veronica, You don't need to screenshot them: the actual pages are PDFs. If you click the down arrow in top left, you can download them.

You probably already have a PDF reader, but if not Google will soon find you a free one,

Thank you Ena I will try that, it’s worth having a go. I find iPads don’t ‘do’ as much as computers.