Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 13th August, 2024)

Another almost forgotten alleyway but nice to see it isn’t litter strewn. There wouldn’t be much room to manoeuvre if parking was allowed.

A stunning photo. The sky doesn't look like a beautiful sunset, to me it looks like the Gods are very angry ! Great pic.

The sky looks on fire, like looking at molten lava in a volcano, is it real or superimposed?
That row of buildings further down on the left have some incredible architectural features. I have tried to photograph them in the past but very difficult in that confined space.
Interesting photo though Mike.

I have cut through this alleyway many times and find places like this fascinating. They always make me think of the fashions in clothing they must have witnessed through the years from Victorian and Edwardian Wiganers, through the forties'utility clothes and the fifties' "New Look", and through the sixties' hippy fashions to the present day. Long may these places....College Avenue, The Wiend, Rowbottom Square etc....be left safe from the bulldozers.

Been a while since my last visit, but stepping down that alley in the dark was like a scene from Whitechapel in the 1800's.
Good photo Mike.

A lot of the so called modern trends and fashions worn by women, thought to be an original fashion idea were worn by the hippies in the sixties. I was a so called hippy or freak as they used to call us and the hippy girls I used to see and hang around with had amazing fashion sense .
So all these so called modern fashion gurus and trend setters thinking you are being original, I'm afraid it has already been done . Find your own style like the women hippies did .
I see these comments about famous women and fashion models and what they are wearing as if they are carrying the style other girls and women should buy and follow and think my girlfriend and friends where wearing that as a matter of course. How they combined clothes was also amazing to see . Sadly , the hippies were thought of as layabouts when all we did was have a wonderful time . It was the happiest period of my life and I still remember how they dressed , especially the girls and women . So sorry super models and so called trend setters , it's old hat , seen it , done it ! The sixties, wow ! What a time that was !

Stunning photo Mike.

I wonder why it called an avenue.I always think of avenues as quite wide with a few trees,perhaps it was one time and been built up.Wigan has some interesting places that are not used and seem neglected.

Stunning photo Mike.

Not a piece of litter in sight. Well done Wiganers or well done Wigan Council or both.

Looks like its been made by the same outfit that made the Wigan Aviva Insurance advert

Irene, do you remember the other covered alleyway on the opposite side next to the Court Cinema? It led through from King Street to Library Street coming out near the Library where there was some smelly men’s urinals. It was always damp and dark with clusters of toad stools growing out of the walls. It’s now completely blocked off.

Yes, wasn't that Grimes's Arcade, Colin? And wasn't someone murdered down there some years ago?.It was blocked off after the murder. Unless I'm on the wrong place.

I remember the one that was blocked off further down. It came out near Byron’s where I went to learn touch typing. The old Library was on the other side of it. At one time the Crawford Rooms was there for dancing. Wasn’t the Grimes arcade the more spectacular one. I do remember a murder happened in the bottom one and that’s why it was blocked off. I went through there many a time as a short cut.

It isn't Grimes' Arcade Irene,its'further down and comes out next to the Library. I remember walking down Library Street on the way to work on the Saturday morning, and being asked by a young policeman to cross the road as there had been an incident. I've never seen anyone look as pale as that young officer and still be standing. I believe a young man who worked in one of the clubs had been beaten to death by a couple of yobs. I think it happened in the late eighties.

Looking along the left of College Avenue, at one time there was The Transport Club which was the social club for Wigan Corporation bus employees , but was open to the public. Also along along the left was the side entrance to The underground Bodega bar which also boasted a Wimpy branch inside it. and it's main entrance on King St. later became the entrance to the King of Clubs.

I think he means the one further down from Grime’s Arcade Irene. The one with the escape ladder on the side of the building.

Irene, no not Grimes Arcade it was much further down King Street, I think between the Court Cinema and the Court Hall were they use to have live music and dancing in the 1960’s.
I might send you a photo of it from the Library Street side tomorrow, that might jog your memory.

I seem to remember there was one of those green iron urinals on the side nearest the old library. ( nice!) That’s probably why it smelled bad. But latterly it smelled worse with the King St revellers relieving themselves in any dark space.