Photo-a-Day  (Sunday, 14th January, 2024)

That’s a cracking photo Colin, one for the history books, well done. Who would have thought that so much of the old Wigan would be left under the Galleries.

I suppose it proves that memories are ephemeral things, in the mind. Like you, I immediately thought of the Legs of Man - and on my part, the incredibly long bar.
Colin, a scene of devastation without a war.
Nevertheless, a thought-provoking photo.

95% of Wigan folk do not like what is happening to the town centre but every day we see and hear about other towns and cities which are also void of shops. Some will be redeveloped but most will be just stood empty for years to come.

In the remnants of the Market Gate shopping centre you can see the vestiges of the first floor and basement levels with the atrium of would have been the lift and stairway access between the two.
Now destined to be the site of the new Market Hall.
This picture is one of three pictures taken from the Queens Hall sent to Brian eventually showing a full panoramic view of the scale of demolition. Hope you like?

My goodness, it looks like Hiroshima......The Romans must be turning in their graves.

The only thing I am thankful for is that we got just another glimpse of the tiled wall of the much-loved and much-missed Old Arcade .....who would have imagined those white tiles would still be there after all these years? I realise we can't go back but we don't seem to be going forward either. Sorry, I can't build up any enthusiasm for this "bright new town" that is supposedly going to rise like Phoenix from the Ashes. As for the signs from the powers-that-be telling us they are "protecting our heritage"??....They've just bulldozed it!

A good photo Colin, but as Irene says, I too can't bring any enthusiasm over the death and destruction of our original Market Place that we all knew and loved.
The demolition of the Galleries don't mean anything to me, but the old Market did.

The old fashioned Arcade and Market has gone, the Galleries has gone. Let's move on and stop living in a timewarp. This new project could be the best ever and make other Towns envious of Wigan. I think you have a slogan "Believe".

If the new, new Market Hall is going to be at the side of Makinson’s Arcade what is exactly
ear -marked for the ground where the old, old Market Hall was??Please don’t tell me that’s going to be for Apartments it just seems so bizarre. A cobbled market square wouldn’t go amiss. Oh! I forgot there used to be one years ago!

OMG I can't believe how clean and tidy the demolition site looks well done to who ever was in charge.

Irene, I had forgotten about the tiles.
I wonder if there are any signs, graffiti or traces left of once was there on those Little Arcade walls?

let's hope that the world of finance leads to a reconsideration of plans to build a huge 700 seat cinema building that will be demolished in next to no time

We were supposed to ‘move on ‘ 30 odd years ago and look where that’s got the town.
Yes very tidy why has everything stopped? It’s a long tea break!

Sue, you are either too young, not from Wigan or have never seen the old Market Hall and Arcade to appreciate the atmosphere there.

Sue, you do have a point, many towns and cities have gone through many changes in the last one hundred years due to the evolution of people’s wants, needs and tastes.
First we had many theatres that went out of fashion converted to cinemas. Churches turned into nightclubs, Banks turned into bars and restaurants etc. etc.
The rapid change of the last ten years accelerated by the Covid epidemic and online shopping has I think been more rapid for people to cope with or accept and high street retail is on its knees.
Gone are the big department stores some through greed of owners, others unable to make transition so quickly and the froth of out town shopping venues (Sheds as I call them ) has done the likes of Wigan and Bolton no favours.
All we are left with in Wigan are discount stores, charity shops, vape shops and Thai massage parlours.
I suppose the question is what were the council going to do with two almost empty shopping centres?
What does concern me is what’s coming next as the council seem to be very secretive on the matter!

A further comment I would make on this demise is why are town centres like Chorley and Warrington looking so prosperous, why is it that our once thriving Market Town has fallen into such decline. Is it the council or is it the people?

Well said Irene and Veronica.

Colin don't forget junkfood outlets, barbers next door to each other, cars, vans and trucks parked outside junkfood shops on Double yellow lines causing obstruction to other drivers. I could go on. If Traffic Wardens spend two hours round Hindley, they'd have a field day.

Garry sue has the right to voice her opinion. Have a nice glass of sherry and put some coal on the fire pal.

Garry is asserting his opinion Tim. We all have that right. Whether we agree or not is neither here nor there.

I am not blind to the fact that Internet Shopping has gone a long way to emptying shops in towns.....I feel that someday, ( whether in my lifetime or not), shops and stores will actually come back as it will be a "novelty" for people who have always shopped "online" to go into a store and actually touch the goods they are interested in and pay for them at a till....what goes around comes around. But I just can't see this Huge Cinema/Indoor Golf/ Roller Skating/ Restaurants/whatever we are promised , lasting. Sure, everyone will flock there when they open.....that's human nature.....but I doubt they'll last and the money will have been wasted. We had cinemas in town years ago and they were closed and a "huge, modern cinema" at Robin Park took their place, only to die a death. I'm afraid I DON'T "believe", "Sue", and I don't think the Council is being secretive, Cyril....I just don't think they've a clue where to go next with this. As for the "apartments" ....I shudder to think! But Time will tell.

Nothing lasts forever,
Of that I'm sure.

Yes Tim, Sue has a right to voice her opinion and so do I.
My coal fire is roaring away and my glass is full of Sherry...cheers.

All opinions welcome as long as they are polite and courteous.
For all Garry may know Sue might be of an age to remember Mesnes Street, Market Street and the old Market Hall being built on the green field that was there, known as Boother's Croft.
What outrage Wiganers might have expressed then at the actions of the council had WW been up and running.
I bet people complained about the first street gas lamps saying they were sending them blind at night!
Makes you think how time passes so quickly and attitudes change.
2023 is over and our recent past is no more but there is work to be done to preserve what we still have and that we live in hope that what will be built is to our liking. Just wish I knew what that was!
A glass of sherry to that and tomorrows PAD, if Brian follows through this week with my other two pictures from the Queens Hall you will well and truly be dismayed.

Progress with Unity as it says on the flag, sadly the unity's long gone with inter borough spats, and as others have said there's not much progress about, does the council still remember what their slogan 'Believe means,' if so please tell us as we're left wondering.

With not having been through for some time I did go along Market St Hindley a few months back Arthur, and was shocked as to how it is and as to how it once was, as you say horrid junk food shops galore and the awful greasy smells, Wigan Lane is like that too and many more High Streets around I'd imagine.

Looking forward to seeing those other photos Colin, they'll be interesting to see, along with interesting comments too.

Garry,we doubt Sue is Sue !

I ‘Believe’ there’ll come a time when there’ll be regret for what has been lost in the town for what has happened where shops have been replaced by online shopping. You only have to look at the Post Office scandal to see that technology is not all it’s cracked up to be. With closed banks as well in most towns where you can’t speak to an advisor in person about finances. Not to mention the ‘scammers’ ringing up to say £ 600 has been taken out of your account!!!****
The photo today depicts the ‘ nail in the coffin’ for Wigan and there’s definitely no going back.
( plenty Returns though going back to online business’s along with the frustration of that!). You might think that’s no problem personally but think of all the holdups and waiting with lost parcels and wrongly delivered parcels left where they shouldn’t be left and all the accompanying aggravation that ensues.
Just my opinion….

A good vantage point for a very sad photo, well taken Colin, I can't wait to see the other bits of the panorama. I wonder how many years it will be before another Colin is taking a picture of whatever goes up here, being demolished again. One of the main reasons this has happened was the destruction of Station Road. There was no way a town like Wigan could support 2 shopping centres. As soon as the Grand opened, the Galleries' days were numbered. Factor in online shopping then Covid, not a good outcome. Still begs the question, what do Bury and Chorley have that Wigan lacks ?

Garry, as Julie says, we doubt "Sue " is "Sue", and Tim Walker is the same person! Someone is hiding behind pseudonyms and not for the first time. You can hide the name but you cant hide the patterns of speech. What differentiates Bury and Chorley from Wigan is that they are ALL "Market Towns" but only Bury and Chorley still have a proper market. The poet A E Houseman sums it up perfectly in "A Shropshire Lad", (it may well have been entitled "A Wigan Lad"!)...."This is my land of lost content, I see it shining plain....The happy highways where I went, And cannot come again". So sad. We can all only wait and see.

Perhaps it’s a boy named Sue?

You've got it in one, Colin!

More like a Shevvyshire Lad.
His land of lost content was on the slutchy paths of waterways,
It’s where he saw the sparkle on the waves,
The gritty highways too he went
and cannot go again…
For his knees have given up and his puff is spent!

Your turn next Dtease

A good historical record shot Colin. It's important that we remember, but also look forward.

Irene I so admire your ability to quote poetry and sayings. I'm afraid I used to learn poetry by rote and have unfortunately forgotten 99% of it. You have a brilliant retentive memory, and your quotes are so apt. Todays photo really shocked me. I will be in Wigan next week - the first time in over 5 years. Looking forward with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, having lived there for 36 years up until 2005.

Poor Mick

Alas, poor Mick we knew him well
He rode his bike and true to tell
The Council bade him ride the Parish round
And “Pounce” the Peacocks from the town
This he did with commendable vigour
Using his butterfly net and not the trigger
With silly hat upon his head
He rose early from his bed
Wherever he went he took a picture
And, over the years he became a fixture
But woe is me and lack a day
Poor Mick’s knee has given way
Now he bides at home and watches telly
And feasts all day on strawberry jelly.

Bring your wellies Pat!

Dear Pat, you couldn’t have picked a worse time….take plenty Kleenex with you and don’t go near the Bank Chambers.
Dtease I think it’s time you were published, by that I don’t mean going t’pub up the Wiend.

Thanks DTease, I'll bring wellies and also plenty of Kleenex, Veronica! My husband, who is unwell, is hankering to see his home town, so hopefully there will still be enough of the 'old' Wigan still standing!