Photo-a-Day (Wednesday, 11th September, 2024)
Sole Survivors of Darlington Street
The Preston Arms was on the right hand side of this sole surviving parade of shops.
But what is in a name? Harrogate Street and Darlington Street? Living there in the 1950’s I always assumed they were named after towns in Yorkshire and Co Durham.
You need to go back to the early to mid 1800 when most of this land was fields known as Harrowgate Croft or Field with a simple track leading from the King Street area to the Pepper Mill which was close to a Pump House with adjacent Pump and Well.
In 1849 one Ralph Darlington 1823 - 1890 born in Adlington and Christened at St Wilfrid’s Church Standish and Councillor for Queen Street Ward a staunch Conservative was first elected Mayor of Wigan. His vision was to transform this area of the town and so the rebuilding began.
Darlington Street and Darlington Street East took shape with Darlington Street Bridge (on which his name is commemorated) was constructed to connect the two.
In 1884 Darlington Street Station opened but closed to passengers in 1892 when Wigan Central Station opened on the newly created Station Station Road.
Harrowgate Croft and Field was finally completely built over providing a direct route to Millgate and then with its new spelling, named Harrogate Street.
Photo: Colin Traynor (iPhone)
Is the tree at the end of the terrace dead or has it lost its leaves because it's September.
Interesting background information, Colin.
Croft = field is common across England. The extension of Hope Street in Aspull was always "t'croft" with a pathway to the bank and ultimately Borsdane Wood.
One of the largest parish churches in England, St Peter Mancroft, Norwich derives from its original site in a large field - magna croft.
The shop most Wiganers recall along there, though on the opposite side, was Kaye's Army Surplus Stores. What an Aladdin's Cave that was!
In the late 60’s the first Indian place I ever went in was in this row or very nearby.
I’m more familiar with the other end of Darlington St. it’s still alive and kicking but not as much has it used to be. There’s a couple of Hairdressing Salons and a Newsagents. The houses always looked impressive they still do but some not as well looked after as previously. It was quite
‘ well to do’ with the houses built for big families. It was the ‘posh’ part of Scholes always busy with the various shops. And of course the ‘ Blind Shop’.
Now then Colin you must remember Kay’s shop which was across from those shops and that’s where I used to get my work boots from they were second hand ex army boots 30 bob a pair (times were hard but there you go) by the way we are off to Harrogate for a couple of nights mid October and will be going to Aunt Bessie’s cakes and coffee if
I’ve spelled that right there is one in York that we like.
Don’t know about the tree but the gutters look well swept.
A very familiar shot ..we lived in Warrington Lane in the 70s so every shop is familiar to me..the Post Office next to the now green fronted shop and next to Alan Rhodes who sold daily papers and books etc and was alway cooking curry in the back.
Then skip across the road there to Collins pet shop where I spent a lot of my youth and later when I had my third little one,..every time I walked him home from School he would pick and post a dandelion through Mary’s letter box..Mary of course ran the shop with her hubby
Danny who was Irish then there was. Clare their daughter…a bit further down was Norman Leathers ..the music man..I used to be in a few plays at school and still had a recording that Norman did..he would play the piano and be recording as you sang .my solo song was ‘Sad is the hour of parting’ I was fifteen at the time..and Cliff also made a recording well before me.”No- one but you “ and Love letters straight from your heart..he had a very nice voice..over the road was McCandlishes cake shop..further up was Irene’s mention Kayes ..what a shop..the woman that ran it was quite eccentric but she certainly made a name for herself…then lastly was the picture framing shop..a bit too expensive for moi though…I hope I haven’t bored everyone with my memory’s..I loved living down there.the inside of our house was lovely..then the bulldozers came along ..and a car park which holds about six cars is now there..progress???.
Irene: Occasionally the bomb squad is called to Wigan. Those brave young chaps may not know it, but dud hand grenades were sold from that alladin's cave you mentioned.
Fun at the time, but heavy for a kid to throw and sometimes left in gardens or old cupboards after the novelty wore off... Oh eck!
Some cracking information there Colin.
I remember reading that the Romans prided the well that was along there because of its iron content, I suppose that too would have had the spelling of Harrowgate, later becoming Harrogate Well. The majority of the remains of Roman occupation of the land around there was lost when it was built over with houses and industry. The gas works was found to have been built on a Roman cemetery with burial urns found when it was being built, and other artefacts found in an archeological dig.
https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/issue.xhtml?recordId=1190271&recordType=GreyLitSeries
Can't say as I remember the Preston Arms or much of what was in Harrogate Street and other streets, because when I'd began to go around there in 1968 the demolition was in progress. I'd began working at the Co-op and the van driver I worked alongside would go to the Co-op garage that was on Foy Street. There's a photo (6257) of that time in the Album, and with a lot more information in the comments on the shops etc,.
https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=4&id=6257&gallery=Harrogate+Street&offset=0
Colin I got that wrong about Harrogate it’s Betty’s Tea room.
And I forgot o say that our music teacher sent us for the recordings because we’d sung the particular songs in one of the plays that we’d taken part in.
You'll get better service and nicer food if you miss rip-off Betties and use one of the local cafes.
les bike shop le moto motorcycles dont know what happened to him but his van is still parked at the rear of the shop he was brilliant with bikes etc inside was like a scrapyard but les knew what everything was for and where it was