Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 18th June, 2024)

If I close my eyes I can hear the clog wearing workers clip clopping around, it does take me back to the good old days of growing up in Wigan.
I've still got a pair of clogs that I keep for best.

I rennet when George Pollitt had a garage repair shop down the dip on the other side. I think the family still have their business on Bradley Hall Estate.
Also can anyone remember the name of the Indian family and the name of the business that started manufacturing Indian Spices down there?

I think it’s Patak Spices.

It was POTTERS. Before that it was Haigh Foundry. I believe now been sold for houses

WN6, Pollitts is long gone from Bradley Hall along with many other businesses to make way for more houses that Standish doesn't need.

I know that local newspapers were printed down in that area in the past perhaps more towards Brockmill but what business was in that factory building with chimney?

Roy, just telephoned them and they are still on Bradly Hall Estate.

It’s now S&D Pollitt and they are still based at Bradley Hall.
George past away a few years back, the business is now run by his two sons Stephen and David.

Did George Pollitt use to have a business at the back of one of the properties on Preston Road Standish?

Colin, the newspaper you refer to being printed in the plant to the left was The Lancashire Evening Post, when it still had a seperate Wigan edition.

The building with the tall chimney was Potters Herbal Supplies. The owner used to ride round in a Rolls Royce.

Colin, it was the Malt Works and Potter's Herbal Supplies in those buildings. Two large ancient (18th Century) buildings were beyond those remaining buildings and being part of the original Haigh foundry, and there was a railway line still visible in the yard which served this foundry and the foundry at Brock Mill via a bridge over the river.
The line ran under the road bridge on Leyland Mill Lane and through the plantations before joining the main (Whelley Loop) line that once ran through there, I was told that some time ago Haigh Rail station was also on the same line and down where what is now called Valley Gate.
Fred Dibnah did some maintenance work on the steam engine they had which drove the malt milling apparatus.
Here are some photos by WEP showing Fred and staff at Potter's,
scroll down to see all photos
https://www.wigantoday.net/business/medical-memories-archive-picture-gallery-celebrating-history-of-wigans-potters-herbal-remedies-4539875

There are a number of videos on YouTube showing the extent of vandalism of the buildings, which later was set on fire resulting in demolition, and as Ron says there are plans to have housing there. I did a stint there in the mid seventies and remember the whole area was steeped in history, there was still artefacts in the fabric of the buildings from when it was Haigh foundry.
Here's one video and when the buildings were still standing too, there are a few more videos, and I'm sure Wigan Mick also did one and it was on the Forum.
https://youtu.be/shcMfW7lEIk?si=kRPV7NM-EZBH7viF

I still have my clogs too Doris . I kept them specially for the odd wedding or funeral wake when I’m often requested to perform a clog dance on the tables in the Brocket or The Moon Under Watter .

The newspaper printed and published there was the Evening post and chronicle a substitute of the Preston base Lancashire Evening post. Most of the adverts were about Preston.

Cyril and others, many thanks for all your insights and information.
Too much for me to take in this evening but I certainly appreciate your comments and will check out tomorrow. Thank you so much, Colin.

You and Doris could do a clog dance together in the pub on the bar Ozy.

They used to have young ladies dance on the bar in Clowns bar on Woodhouse lane back in the 80s Veebs , minus the clogs of course .
A couple of Ronnie’s daughters were participants .
The compere was a trans bloke called Davinia if memory serves .
He always reminded me of Paul thingy , the bloke wot did the dog’s wotsit from Battersea dog’s doo dah on telly .

Fair enough WN, i was sure they had moved on.