Photo-a-Day (Sunday, 21st July, 2024)
The Belgian House, Swinley
Designed and built by renowned Wigan Architect and Engineer George Heaton as his home it is so called ‘The Belgian House’ because accommodated many Belgian refugee families during WW1.
Brass bands and crowds greeted them when they arrived from Liverpool by train and travelled from Wallgate to Swinley.
Many eventually settled in Wigan as they were welcomed with open arms bringing with them their skills.
Photo: Colin Traynor (iPhone)
Money was no object at the time this house was built. It was built to last.
It wouldn’t take long just to get rid of the weeds and the half dead tree. Some folk don’t seem to bother about the outside of their homes.
I would love to shut myself away in that little room right at the top of the house.
How interesting Colin. We live quite near to this house, and always admire it, never knew it was called The Belgian House, and why. Thank you for the information.
...because accommodated many Belgian refugee families during WW1. Brass bands and crowds greeted them when they arrived ...
Many eventually settled in Wigan as they were welcomed with open arms bringing with them their skills.
Over 100 years ago. Attitudes have changed somewhat.
Colin I recon you would do well teaching people the History of Wigan,could that be the last house on Earl Street.Like Veronica says I couldn’t do with them weeds etc it speaks volumes.Just off to Holmfirth to pick some Aco shallow drains up for Monday’s job and maybe call at the original Compos cafe for a coffee and cake catch you later.
A nice pic and an interesting story. Thanks Colin.
Ticsmon Like the majority of people. I have no problem at all with giving asylum to people fleeing war torn countries i.e. Ukraine. Its all these ECONOMIC migrants( and I'll say it) Mainly from Africa I'm against... They come over here with no identification of where they come from, Who they are, What diseases etc they have as they haven't had the proper immunisation...AND they are treated better than our own people
The Revolution ain't too far away....
The Belgians that were fleeing war were families not hordes of single men and when they came they were relatively economically independent did not live off the state (us taxpayers) and shared the same religion, culture and democratic values.
At the end of WW1 presumably many went home appreciative taking with them memories of the hospitality shown by Wigan folk?
Not this current lot who we can’t get rid of and hang around the streets on their mobile phones plotting who knows what!
I do however know of at least two descendants of Belgian families that stayed and contributed to Wigans economic prosperity.
John, try the Oil Can Cafe at Holmfirth. You can see the old cars and bikes on view before you eat. Great place to visit.
Maybe the Belgians had permission to come over here at that time. Britain has always been a safe harbour for migrants but the one’s coming now in droves do not have permission. I feel we are being taken advantage of. It’s the control of the borders that have been lost and it’s very worrying. It seems they are everywhere now and the buses are full of foreigners. It’s time to get tough with them. We should only take who we need and if there’s no identification they should be turned away. Let the countries with open borders take them.
I see the Spanish are complaining now because tourists are buying more and more property. They’ve changed their tune!
Are there no wars in Africa?
There are wars in Africa yes,so why aren't they there fighting for their countries like men in Ukraine?
Compared to the African Continent the British Isles are tiny dots on the map. These islands could be swallowed up in the land mass of Africa. What’s wrong with going to the neighbouring countries that aren’t at War?. Surely not all of the African Continent is at war. There must be vast riches lying dormant in those countries.
Some Ukraine men are fighting, some men don't want to fight. Thousands have left the country, sometimes after bribing officials, and others are finding ways of dodging recruitment officers. Similarly, some African men are fighting for their countries some aren't.
There are major wars, wars, minor conflicts and skirmishes and conflicts in most African countries. Some of these conflicts make the headlines, others do not. Some of them started recently, while others have lasted for more than 50 years.
I as guilty as anyone for digressing today, immigration is quite an emotive topic!
The architectural legacy left by George Heaton is all around us in Wigan, perhaps more on this another day.
John (W) hope you haven’t been to Holmfirth on you bike, it’s all uphill!
Colin I recon you would do well teaching people the History of Wigan,could that be the last house on Earl Street.Like Veronica says I couldn’t do with them weeds etc it speaks volumes.Just off to Holmfirth to pick some Aco shallow drains up for Monday’s job and maybe call at the original Compos cafe for a coffee and cake catch you later.
Trumps proposed Vice President says that the UK is the only Ruropean Islamic State with Nuclear Weapons, France might best us to that.
Those who don’t want to fight for their country shouldn’t be allowed here to free load. They can cause riots here instead on the sidelines. The voting majority of this country don’t want them here.
Dennis I do wish I’d known of that Oil Can Cafe was it the old Carding Shed,we had dinner come tea at the Boshaw Trout as I was picking the drainage gear up across from there more or less and was excellent grub and the Carding Shed was very nearby just looked it up,I was last in Holmfirth 27th May 2016 with my best friend from school days who had motor-neuron just like Rob Burrows (rugby player)but we didn’t know about that place but both shared our passion for classic cars,I did everything I could for that lad,shopping,mowing his lawns etc etc…….he died 27th December 2016 still very sad.
Colin had I not been picking all that gear up it would have been a great ride not forgetting every hill you climb your likely to come down one while catching your breath, I do fancy riding back from Penrith over Shap that would be a proper ride past what was the Jungle Cafe as Ozy will definitely remember.
Those who hold up ' Refugees welcome here ' placards , should remember what happened to Samoset .
Veronica your right in what you’ve said about the people coming over here we are a soft touch and I don’t know another country in the world that would feed and water us + give us money and allow us to build Christian churches etc etc blood boiling topic if you let it do,and I’m not racist I worked with 3 lads from Jamaica Jim,Cleve and John Small and they were grafters.
Well said Veronica.
Good photo Colin, and a blue sky too. There's also another large house on Avondale Road which too housed refugees.
Irene, you have two attic rooms to choose from, and seven other bedrooms, also have a toot in the other rooms too:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/details/england-60370197-90927759?s=0abb56f03cfef4a3fcc682d45ce6adc50a4fd9661f7b93c25a72636145fd2bae#/
WN6, they are shutting down mosques in France. Maybe they are realising the dangers they present?