Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 27th March, 2024)

I know I should be interested in the age of this piece of furniture and the lettering across its front from as long ago as 1604, but I'm afraid the first thing that came into my head on seeing it was the 1950s, and my Mam with a duster and a circular tin of Mansion Lavender Furniture Polish in her hand in the days before aerosols!

Colin, thanks for uploading another one of your photographs of great interest. Such a shame that Crooke Hall was demolished and really sad to learn that it stood for more than 300 years but the authorities and modern changes of the 20th century failed to recognize the importance of some of the historical buildings in and around Wigan.

This always fascinated me when I worked at the museum.,before the internal renovations you had to pass it to go up the stairs.

This relic was above the main front door entrance.
I have sent a photo of that framed print to Ron, hopefully he will upload onto the Album recently viewed so that you can read about Crooke Hall’s history in detail.
If still there today i am sure that it would rank as important as all other buildings in the North West with Tudor/ Elizabethan origins.

I remember this in the original entrance at the top of the stone steps.
I joined the adult library in 1960 and sometimes went up the steps being a bit inquisitive to see what was going on up there.

Before any ‘Wokey’ person has another dig, Elizebeth 1 was the last of the Tudor’s and died in 1603 so technically it is in the reign of The Stuart’s. But it is in the architectural style.

Three miles to the west of Wigan, on the far side of an area known as Standish Lower Ground, but within the parish boundary of Shevington and situated on the north side of the River Douglas, lies a small hamlet called Crooke Village. The village was also built on the north side of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
Read All About It.....
https://www.crookevillage.co.uk/About.html

Elizabeth, when you worked at the museum, do you recall seeing a timber bow window that was once on Bakers Jewel Casket. I have tried tracking it down without success, the museum staff say if it still exists it might be in storage.

Correction: Built in 1608!!!!!

On Irene you do make me laugh! I hope you've been writing all your lovely memories down for your children and grandchildren. x

Hello Colin,no I don't remember the bow window,but I certainly hope it is in storage.

What is it!!

Thank you Liz for that interesting piece of history especially as there were ‘Catterall’s’ mentioned. My maiden name is the same and did get back to the 1600’s with some Catterall’s in UpHolland. I doubt they are related though but you never know.

Thankyou Meg! I did used to write my memories down for Past Forward magazine but haven't done so for many years now, but photo-a-day and Album photos never fail to trigger memories for me and then I'm off like a shot and am always having to apologise for rabbiting on on Wigan World! My Auntie married a Catterall so I might end up being related to Veronica.....we're as daft as two brushes now so would be even worse if we were related!

Good question Sue.
Let’s guess. Might it be a cover over a secret passage way or a priest hole?
I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s been treated for wood worm.
Somebody will know what it was for or where it was stuck to.

That's a big chunk of wood and beautifully carved too, and almost a good match to the pattern of the mosaic tiled floor, you can't tell on the photo but I'm sure it will be oak and very heavy.
I'd imagine it would take a couple of tins of Mansion Irene, and a few tunes being hummed or songs being sung, but it would have come up a treat. Geoff Shryhane once got me and quite a few others too on one April 1st joke in his Observer column, he'd said that a new printing ink was being used and which smelled of lavender, I don't know if it was the polish on the table or a mind suggestion, but I was sure I could smell lavender.

Colin, I've just seen your photo of the hall and description of the panel on the Album, interesting, and I never knew that this pattern depicted Lancashire roses.

see Colin's 08:33

For the location of what I imagine to be and oak panel please see the two uploads on the Album, recently viewed/ commented.
It was on the exterior wall above the main front door below the window above.

Correct me if I’m wrong but the panel looks to be attached to the door not over the entrance. There’s also an oblong shape at the side of the doors on the left. A bit confusing ….

I’ve looked again the drawing is just showing the letters but it doesn’t denote the intrinsic carving. The Artist has just left the paper white whereas he could have done some cross hatching. I found that a bit confusing I must say.

Built for Peter and his wife Elizabeth
I think this is the PE. Peters mother was a Standish and at both ends there could be barn owl faces.

Veronica, look at the framed print on the album and zoom in.

Looks like bed headboard to me.

I have done Colin it’s nowt like that panel..
still it’s only a pen and ink drawing..a bit of artistic licence I should think.

The reference from Wigan Archives is: PC2010 2873 reference.the wooden item from Crooke Hall.

Good un Tom .

Elizabeth 1 actually passed away age 69. Around the same period a carpenter accidentally drank the wood varnish. Sad way to go, but a beautiful finish.