Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 26th July, 2024)

WW Album photo #35195 submitted by Ron Hunt shows the plaque in situ on Victoria Hall in Pottery Road. Built in 1902, it was a temperance mission and lunch place for mill girls.

https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=35195&gallery=VICTORIA+HALL%2C+POTTERY+ROAD.&page=1

The inscription reads:
“This memorial stone was laid on 3rd May, 1902 by Charles Gidlow Jackson Esq, Alderman and JP, in commemoration of Her Late Majesty, Queen Victoria the Good. 1837 to 1901”

From https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/queen-victoria-18191901-314635 :

By Stanley Brothers Ltd and Potts, Son, and Hennings

A square plaque containing a sideway on portrait of Queen Victoria in a roundel (originally) surrounded by the names of the countries in the empire. It celebrates Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 60 years.

Date
1897
Medium
terracotta
Commissioned by William Woods & Son Ltd

l bet the late Victoria wouldnt be amused if she knew the location, in between two drain pipes, they have chosen for the memorial plaque.

A good find Joanne.
Maybe a little tucked away in a corner by the drain pipes but at least it was saved from the wrecking ball !

She is certainly "not amused!" She reminds me of that other Victoria, (Beckham), who, despite her wealth, always looks like she's lost a shilling and found a halfpenny! I'm sure most Victorias aren't like that....I think they had to "pose" for photos etc. with a serious expression back then. Well done for finding this, Joanne.

It looks quite flattering of her. She always looked miserable.

Unlike yesterday's P.A.D. these are proper historical bricks. I do not know what she is wearing on her head but she is usually depicted with her hair in a bun. A variation of the usual simulacrum and I would not have recognised her had I not been told. Well done to those responsible for salvaging it and thank you to Joanne for bringing this to our attention.

She seems to be wearing her Widow's cap in mourning for Prince Albert.

Nice picture Joanne, I never knew it existed and as others have commented pity they could not have found a more suitable and prominent location. Dear Queen Victoria was not one for smiling or being amused.
Irene, loved your Victoria Beckham comment, with her 'Pout' she often looks as happy as Andy Murray on a good day.

It does look like a widow’s cap but Albert died in 1861. She did suffer from what we now term Impacted Grief but 40 years is a long time to be wearing a widow’s cap.

Don't let the "PC" Brigade find it or they will want it removed or vandalise it because of any excuse for things that may have happened during her reign.

cracking photo Joanne, Meg it's a mob cap, she's been doing a turn serving mill lasses. :¬)
Going off the number of butt ends on the floor it must be a place where smokers gather to imbibe of the grossly overpriced weed,
and I can see a metal cable protector to the left of the memorial and a downpipe to the right of it, but no drain pipes either side of it,
also WN3 you wouldn't know historical bricks even if you tripped over a pile of them. ;¬\

Ouch! Who left that pile of historical bricks lying about?

Charles Gidlow Jackson

Charles was born at Pennington Hall, Leigh in 1848. He was educated at Wesley College, Sheffield.
He went to work with his uncle Thomas Gidlow at the Ladies lane and Hosier House collieries.
In 1871 the Wigan Coal and Iron Company took over both collieries and Charles became chief mining engineer for Wigan Coal and Iron, one of the largest mining companies in the world. He was a young man for such an important role. However, he was successful, possessing the confidence of his employers and, in an equal degree popular with the miners

Wigan Observer October 1895