Photo-a-Day (Sunday, 17th November, 2024)
Meek's Building, Wallgate
There appears to be conflicting reports regarding whom designed and built it but one suggests that it was purpose designed by architect J. Ainscough for the Meek family, prominent Wesleyan's, who had first traded in Market Place in 1841 before moving to larger premises in Standishgate in 1851.
In 1862 with the business growing rapidly their new premises on Wallgate extending all the way back to Arcade Street with a side entrance on Rowbottom Square opened for business.
By 1871 records show that extended Meek family lived on the premises along with staff comprising of 12 Assistant Drapers, 8 Apprentices, 1 Cook, 2 Housemaids and 1 Waitress.
Throughout the 1870's Wigan suffered from a slow down in trade but the business continued to diversify, employing similar levels of staff with no indication of dramatic events to come but in August 1884 an Official Receiver was appointed. So ended a respected company with 50 years of retail trading in the town.
The side entrance on Rowbottom Square is still there with a sign above stating Meeks Buillding.
Surprisingly this building with such an interesting history is only Grade U listed.
Photo: Colin Traynor (iPhone)
When ever I took Yvonne to Wigan in her wheelchair I hated the "A" frames used for advertising always blocking the footpath.There are two in the photo .Why do they need them it is obvious what the building is being used for?You went up the side of the Meeks building to get to Retinopathy.
PeterP, I couldn’t agree more they are a hazard to wheel chair users and those who are visually impaired.
It is funny though when you see someone totally engrossed in a video call on their phone when they fall over one!
Cafe Society on Wallgate, talk about trying to make a silk purse out of sows ear. I wouldn’t sit there for free.
Every time I walk down there, there seems to be a police car parked up and someone being arrested.
I use this section of the upper wall gate footpath on my bike because the road is one-way.
And you wouldn't believe how many times I've had near misses, not just with street furniture, but with pedestrians.
Riding a bike on the pavement is illegal and more dangerous than these signs.
Try walking with your bike down the pavement otherwise you might be one of those being arrested.
I wonder what the architects of old would think of all the razzmatazz advertising displayed on and around the sturdy buildings…..it really irritates me.
Walking along a pavement with one’s head down, totally oblivious , due to simultaneously texting and listening to music through earphones isn’t illegal as far as I’m aware ,… although it bloody well ought to be .
Too right Peter, between those A boards and the seating area there isn't much room left for folks to pass leastwise wheelchairs or Mick on a trike, the Guide Dogs for the blind have had many petitions about advertising clutter etc., on pavements, there's no need for it and at one time the council wouldn't allow it to be there, but not now it seems.
It's been a multitude of shops and businesses over the years, didn't there be a book shop there at one time and later it became Reeves art supplies? I remember going up the alley to the fabric shop with my wife - Flax Mill which later became The Spice Lounge, that was a very popular restaurant, though now closed. https://thespicelounge.co.uk/
Wigan Buildings have an interesting article on this building and with links to various sites connected to it, https://www.wiganbuildings.co.uk/building.php?id=673
The info in this link is superb with a wonderful peek into the history of Wigan town centre, St Paul's Standishgate and Brick Kiln Lane and Dicconson Street with the Wesleyan School rooms, which the Meeks were involved with. https://www.wiganlocalhistory.org/resources/150-years-of-wigan-methodism-1783-1933
'Riding a bike on the pavement is illegal'
Not if it's a shared-use path. Stupid idea but there you go.
Cafe culture is everywhere...pity we don't have the weather to go with it. The council here have strict rules. Tables & chairs are allowed about a metre & a bit from the shop frontage...something Costa a Lot Coffee ignore time after time so blocking the pavement.
Note for DTease....though much time was spent in my schooldays in the art of Housewifery...we females knew our place in those days....alas when the time came to put all that knowledge into practice I failed miserably at ironing....washing was ok as I had Twin Tub ( remember those ladies ?) but the art of ironing has not been one of my life's success's, so you would be wise to look elswhere for such a treasure as an Ironing Lady !
I’m disappointed Helen, but maybe they will train one of those A.I robots to do the ironing in future.
I did once try ironing a shirt, but I finished up just doing the bits at the front and kept my jacket on all day!
I too had a twin tub Helen, and was locked out of the kitchen on more than one occasion, as twin tub would move across the floor when spinning, leaving little room to get back through the door!
I too had a twin tub, it was shipped off to Bombay along with other large domestic items when we moved. The looks of amazement and delight on the servants faces as they showed off to their underlings tickled me. The only downside was they would not handle my undies, that was up to me.
Helen I am chief cook and bottle washer and master of none but I hate ironing Time I have ironed a shirt my late missus at one time could have ironed about a dozen.Same with trousers I always end up with the crease in the wrong place.Going back to the "A" frames I have knocked a few flying with the wheelchair and nobody has ever said anything to me.Maybe they knew they where positioned in the wrong place