Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 26th February, 2025)

Would have looked nice has a cobbled footpath and its short of a few flowers even if it was Daffs in the grass

The original Amy Lane was further to the right. I wonder how it got it's name.

Isn't it a shame one area of Scholes has to be fenced from others.

A bit better than yesterday's photo, we just need a cheerful colourful picture like Spring flowers. Where are you Dddeeennniiisss.

PeterP what about the wheelchair and pram pushers, I bet they wouldn't want to see the return of cobbles.

Not too many flowers out in early February. Snowdrops perhaps and winter flowering Pansies.
Last year Dennis gave us a lovely picture of his Snowdrops, I hope they are doing as well this year?
Crocus are now out and in a week or two Daffodils which I am sure we will see many of.

Baracaded David. I used to be a Wigan Postman and I can't remember any othere areas we're homes where separated like the ones. in Scholes.
Even in the so called worse areas og Wigan like Worsley Hall, Norley Hall and Marsh Green the residents are allowed to mingle.

Yes it was further to the right (or left going down) Tuddy …. The first time I walked on there after the relocation it felt very strange. The cobbles were treacherous when it was icy. I was glad to cling onto the railings. We had a lot of fun on the Amy Lane in snowy winters.

I think you will find it is "blue suburban skies", not sky's. Plural not possessory case singular. Obviously a predictive text error and not an error of grammar. We Wiganers can be a little pedantic about these things. It's in our DNA. Good picture.

Looks ok to say were it is!

So far I haven't discovered how Amy Lane got its name but came across this bit of gruesome information from October 1900. Hope it doesn't put you off your breakfast!
The body of a new born child was found in Amy Lane in Wigan.
The child had head injuries and signs of strangulation.
A police surgeon said that the body was that of a fully-developed male child and that at the back of its head there was a wound two and a half inches long, and also a small fracture to one of the skull bones. He added that there was also evidence of strangulation.
He said that in his opinion the cause of death might have been due to either the injuries to the head or strangulation, but added that there was no doubt as to the cause of death being attributable to violence.
He said that the head injuries might have been caused by a blunt instrument and that a considerable amount of violence would have been used.
When the Coroner summed up he said that a prima facie case of murder had been made out and that it rested on the police to find those responsible for the child's death, noting that he hoped they would be successful.
A verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown was then returned.

I think it’s better for the residents that the flats have railings around them they are now more private. I remember how it was for them when the flats were first built with yobs running up and down the stairwells and landings. The flats these days look well maintained from the outside they look better.

Interesting and cheerful photo Colin.

Big change from the days of gas light and the old cobbles.

In 1871 a pit sinker was given the job of clearing the Moss Pit after a gas explosion.
He found dead colliers down there.

His name was Thomas Pickles and he lived on Amy Lane.

Bright and cheerful photo Colin, thank you. Now I've got Penny Lane buzzing around in my head! I believe the railings around the flats are to deter people from using the car parks for free parking when going into town. The residents have parking permits and there are hefty fines for anyone found parking illegally.

Crocuses Spring flowers are out next to Hindley Council Offices and Ince Park.
Lovely. Roll on Spring.

So true Veronica, I remember the troubles they had in the high rises, there was always bother with youths shouting and banging on doors and littering the landings and stairwells, also continually riding the lifts and urinating and at times defecating in them, also rough sleepers began sleeping in the stairwells and on landings and so with all this going on no one wanted to live there, however come the concierges and the security cameras and combination locks on the railing gates and doors, there then became to be a waiting list for folks wanting to be a tenant in these high rise flats.

On these retro photos from Wigan Today scroll down to No.14, which shows the old Amy Lane before re-development in 1966: https://www.wigantoday.net/heritage-and-retro/heritage/take-a-look-back-at-the-wigan-neighbourhood-that-has-changed-out-of-all-recognition-4606233?page=4

Thanks to photographer Frank Orrell and to Lancashire Publications.

I cannot comment on the type of residents living in these blocks of flats these days. But in 60’s 70’s and 80’s my experience is that 99% were decent people with decent families, I should know my mother, father and three brothers lived decent lives with decent neighbours. Many of whom have contributed to WW for many years.
In those days most blocks had a Concierge Service and a live in Caretaker, maybe that as all gone so I cannot vouch for todays residents but the exteriors look clean and tidy so please do not cast aspersions if you do not have first hand knowledge. Thank you.

In 1966 Lancashire Publications didn't exist, the Publication belonged to United Provicable Newspapers that became United Newspapers Limited.
The Publication have had several owners since.
The beginnings were Thomas Wall and Sons Ltd, the Wigan Observer from
1853 to May 1965. The Preston head office of the Lancashire Evening Post had a sub
division Publication at Brockmill, Leyland Mill Lane, with the title Evening Post & Chronicle. Both papers were bought by United Newspapers Ltd, they Launched the Wigan Evening Paper in 1965.

Black ink, photographs taken in 1966 could be published in 2024 though. That said, Lancashire Publications went bankrupt in 2020.

Black ink is correct.
Lancashire Publications were taken over by National world and moved from Martland Mill to Waterside.
Publications very rarely go bankrupt, but taken over and in this case that happened.
Of course old photos can be published
Today from years gone by, but in most cases, permission is required.
The home of the Wigan Observer and Post newspapers at Martland mill and Central Lancashire printers have long gone, the printing side first. The place is now converted to a hotel.
Both Wigan papers and very many more are printed at Sheffield. (at the moment)

I never wish to appear as a be all and know all so I do give credit as to any information to who maybe took the photos and the publisher mentioned, you haven't given any credit at all as to whoever or wherever the information in all your comments have been copied and pasted from!
Copy and paste by all means, but you should name and give credit to your sources of information, as it's only common decency to do so!

Paul Davies, Lancashire Publications were not taken over by anybody. In December 2020, they were liquidated and dissolved by administrators as part of Johnstons Publishing who were bankrupted in 2018. Johnston's newspapers were offered to creditors as assets.
UK insolvency regulations state that a dissolved and liquidated business cannot be taken over.

The photographs in question were taken in 1966 and were published in 2024 but not by Lancashire Publications, so Cyril doesn't need to thank them.

It's always respectable to thank and name the person who took the original photograph if someone has an interest to show it. By the way, Cyril's name was never mentioned. Black ink and Paul Davies are right with their asumption of the company
All newspapers in this present day are struggling and the "big boys" make "buy outs" to help save them.

The Post and the Wigan Observer still going and is published by National world at Leeds and both printed at Dinnington Sheffield.

Cyril posted "Thanks to photographer Frank Orrell and to Lancashire Publications"

Simon, Lancashire Publications neither took the photos in 1966 or published them in 2024.

Slippery Mick is correct. Lancashire Publications were dissolved in December 2020 due to the bankruptcy of their parent company Johnston's Publishing. A company can't be taken over if it doesn't exist.

In 1966, Lancashire Publications didn't exist or was even formed at that time. It was indeed United Newspapers Limited who had control and ownership.
United newspapers owned very many Lancashire titles. I should know I worked for them.

Cyril you are correct what you say. At no time did Black ink, Simon and Paul Davies question Cyril at all.... Black ink is a retired printer.

Within 20 years printed newspapers will be a thing of the past. The Publications want to go fully online.

Cyril wrongly thanked Lancashire Publications for something they had nothing to do with.

Black Ink correctly pointed out that, in 1966, Lancashire Publications didn't exist.

John Noakes confirmed that Lancashire Publications were dissolved in December 2020 due to the bankruptcy of their parent company Johnston's Publishing.

It's meterogical Spring today, we should all be happy. The Weather looks good too.