Photo-a-Day  (Sunday, 10th March, 2024)

At least Standishgate is left Dennis. They daren’t knock anything else down surely!

No it doesn't look right, Dennis.
What does look right is that beautiful Natwest building.

What was there before and what is going to replace it?

Linma....it may very well be a square box type thing ?

I agree Garry. Did there used to be trees lining the pavement? It looks bare. Lovely photo Dennis - thank you. Happy Mother's Day to all the mums on pad!

Linma, many years ago it was where Van Allen's clothes shop and Timpson's and Freeman, Hardy and Willis's shoe shops used to be. In recent years it has been the entrance to The Galleries Shopping Centre. It is The Galleries that has been demolished.

Linma. I think it was the Market gate entrance. That's been demolished.

probably get a building like that opposite primark, the designers must have been 5yo's

They must have known what was afoot when the benches went ..then the trees were dug up! It was lovely when the trees were there ..a little bit of Parisian ambience. That is until there was trouble at t’Moon Under Water!

Linma, the entrance to the Galleries was where the gap is now, Garry the entrance to Marketgate was further up on the Market Place where the gap is now.

It was the entrance to The Galleries.
What was Timpson’s is still there, now Specsavers.
Pre Galleries it was the alleyway through to Hope Street, Woodcock Street and the Market Hall and the back entrance to BHS.
The plan is that it will be the Standishgate entrance to the Multi Media Centre- Cinema, Bowling Alley etc. Although I will believe it when I see it!!!!

It doesnt look right with the state of Wigan anyway what it has become its a ghost town hardly any shops to shop in.

market passage what's been demolished leading to the now defunct market.

Yes the bank building is lovely Garry, it would blend in anywhere.

I don't know which day this picture was taken Dennis but clearly not a Sunday as the Bank is open. It looks like a Sunday though.
Where have all the crowds gone from Wigan. No doubt driven away by all the beggars and undesirables harassing you everywhere.
I was recently challenged by some drunk in the Royal Arcade mid morning demanding £20 to pass! I am not one normally for using bad language but he got a few words from me.

Removal of the benches was probably to stop drunks and druggies congregating in Standishgate, they have now moved on to the Market Place, what a disgraceful state of affairs, I'm embarrassed to take 'out of town' visitors into the town centre these days.

Aw... that's what Garry is saying.
Lets hope it proves to be worth it, but I have my doubts.

Fair enough AW, I said I think it's there but not 100%.
I'm sure someone will know.

A lot of folk sat there on the benches eating their sandwiches and just watching people pass by in the
sunshine, but that’s when there were shops Colin.
The undesirables stayed at the top mostly. I sat there on the benches a few times until it was time to catch my train.

Garry, main entrance to the Market Gate Centre was from the Market Place now also demolished. The new entrance from the Market Place will be straight into the New Market Hall.
The Standishgate entrance was into The Galleries which would also eventually take you through to the back of the Market Gate.
Does anyone rennet the Wigan Centre which preceded Market Gate with that bland brick exterior on Woodcock Street with the big Co-op blue signage?

I think Garry is absolutely correct, the missing tooth Dennis describes was the entrance to Marketgate shopping centre that leads on to the Galleries.

This photo was taken on a Monday afternoon Colin.
Those trees made a big difference didn’t they?
The trees and seats were well used by the older folks. Why do the majority always have to give way to the minority? Shouldn’t we be catering for the majority?

Yes, Colin, I remember The Wigan Centre Arcade before it became Marketgate. It wasn't memorable for good reasons though, as it had about as much character as a bin-bag! But you know me by now....I still miss The Old Arcade and Commercial Yard! I just hope what's left of Standishgate will be left alone, including the two arcades we have got left....(The Makinson Arcade and The Royal Arcade), and the tree that I can still see down near the B and M Store. Even if there aren't many shops left, the trees, (especially when in leaf in the warmer months), and the seats gave a welcome to people needing a "breather"....let's hope they are replaced.

Wiganer you might be right but I could swear it had Galleries in large gold letters above. Has anyone got a picture pre demolition?

Which trees are missing? Those in view here (leafless as yet) are the same number visible in Google Earth views back to 2016. There were others up the hill from where the photograph was taken in the last Google shot from 2022. From the past views of the area, the benches were certainly well-used, so it does seem a pity they've gone.
I'm imagining the old folks 'using' the trees... but the trees don't look big enough either for climbing or spending a penny behind....

Yes, just found a couple of pictures and in big gold letters in Standishgate it states ‘The Galleries’.

It does look a bit bare, a few more trees would not go amiss.

It did say The Galleries Colin. P.A.D 27th Dec 2021.

Dennis, of that I have no doubt, others though thought it was Market Gate in Market Place.