Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 1st September, 2025)

This is my favourite Arcade. One of the only places left as it is. Alas! For some reason it’s making my eyes cross..
Does anybody remember ‘Skenning Ben Turpin?’
He very often appeared with Laurel & Hardy.
I bet Cyril will remember.

I like The Royal Arcade and hope it stays open, along with The Makinson Arcade. I think things went a bit OTT with Covid but, as someone on yesterday's p-a-d commented, that's just an opinion.

Thats a memory provoking photo Colin. Is it what I knew as the 'little arcade' ? If it is, there used to be a small shop at the Standishgate end called Bon Marche. They sold dance wear & it was where I got my first pair of red leather tap shoes. I remember at the dance school ( it was opposite the old bus station back then ) we danced & sang to '' Roll a Silver Dollar, down upon the ground''
Those were the days !

Not belong before Christmas lights and decorations are up there, B&M stores have Christmas stuff on sale now.

It puts me in mind of one of those illusions where the further you walk in, the taller you get.

According to statistic up until January 2025 there were over 25 million recorded cases of Covid-19 in the UK, resulting in over 232,000 deaths.
World wide the true figure might never be known as many countries such as India, China and most of Africa and South America never knew or never divulged their data.

Where the blue door on the right is, the floor tiles should have been directed to follow the path. In other words, cut at an angle. It looks like the shop fronts have been built over the walkway, obviously an optical illusion.

Helen, there were three arcades....The Market Arcade, The Makinson Arcade and The Royal Arcade. The Market Arcade was also known a "The Little Arcade" and "The Old Arcade", and it was sadly demolished many years ago....a place of great character, much-missed by many Wiganers, myself included. The Royal Arcade is also small and I can understand if some people called it "The Little Arcade" too, as it is much smaller than The Makinson Arcade. It was indeed The Royal Arcade that held Bon Marché, and it has had some good shops in there over the years.....a lovely handbag and purse shop that sold the Italian leather brand "The Bridge", which I love, and it also sold hats. There used to be a coffee shop, Peabody's, that sold loose coffee beans and was reminiscent of Makinson's in The Makinson Arcade. I used to buy little chocolate umbrellas from there for our Christmas Tree, reminiscent of ones from my childhood.
As I say, Colin, my opinion on the Covid rules are just that.....an opinion. I doesn't mean I'm right. However, I think older Wiganers would have appreciated being asked to keep "three yards" apart....some of us will never get the hang of metres and litres! Peter is an avid weather-forecast watcher and insists on telling me it's going to be 26 degrees, which sounds icy to me! I say to him, "Put that in Old Money and tell me again!".

It's good how they used the chequered tiles to create an illusion that the arcade is larger than it actually is, but as Veronica points out it isn't easy on the eyes, and possibly if Ben Turpin walked through there he'd come out the other end with his eyes perfectly aligned. Everyone loved seeing him in the comedy silent films, especially when a close up of his eyes and face would say it all. Here's a reel of some stills from films he starred in:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0878035/mediaviewer/rm2294957056/

It was interesting to read that Hal Roach had thought that James Finlayson could be another Ben Turpin, and they did look alike, though it didn't make out: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0278006/mediaviewer/rm3810886658/

It’ll be Easter Eggs in the Co-op before you know it.

Helen, I responded to your comment earlier but it didn’t appear! However Irene has answered quite eloquently.
Market (Little) Arcade ran parallel with Makinson’s Arcade from Market Place down to Woodock Street opposite the old Market Hall.
The Royal Arcade is at the bottom of Standishgate and exits in Marsden Street off Mesnes Street.

Irene mentions the ' Little Arcade ' this is an article I wrote some years ago . I know it's nothing to with this arcade but I thought it may be of interest to viewers. The editors of the site will decide whether it's appropriate or not.

The Market Arcade , with its uneven Yorkshire Stone Flag floor . Known to all as 'the little arcade' or ' the old arcade', alive with its many stalls and characters - Bob Rudd with his scales, who would shout "try your weight friends " to passers by. Sid Smith's newsagents , Sid was an institution in Wigan he seemed to know everyone of his customers and had a cheery word for for all. The smell from Gorner's Cafe wafting through the thoroughfare; it was a real treat to dine there ,white tablecloths waitresses in nippy type uniforms. My favourite was steak pudding and chips or it may have been mash, I can't be absolutely certain about the accompaniment but the pudding was better than my Mam's homemade and that's saying something !

In the early 1960s ,Mrs Gormley sold the cafe, that had been her family for well over half a century , to Brenda and Gino Berritia who ran the business until the sad demise of one of Wigan's most loved landmarks. I'm sure if it had been in York or Chester there would have been a preservation order on it . Mr and Mrs Berritta went on to open The Lindley Hotel in Parbold ; they also opened Roberto' s Restaurant off King Street .

Halfway along the walkthrough was Forshaws Toy Stall and Dolls Hospital , I remember going with my Mam and sister along with her doll 'Dinah', to have its legs reattached , I think it was Mr Forshaw who performed the operation, he had a sort of hook that stretched the thick elastic band inside Dinah and out on the opposite hip , hey presto ! Dinah was complete again . More difficult procedures, eyes , 'Mama' sounds' the doll had to be admitted and collected at a later date . Many a child would be seen making a fuss at having to leave their beloved doll at the causality department. The operations were not always successful, for instance my cousin left her doll with voice and eye problems at one hospital - there was another inside the Market Hall , the eyes were made to blink but the unfortunate doll never uttered ' Mama ' again!


In the arcade there were stalls of every kind - Aly Khan's knitwear , Margaret Razaks stocking bar, Evelyn's 'Catholic Shop' always busy when religious events took place, Confirmations ,First Holy Communions etc. Umpteen other interesting stalls ,including a hardware shop where you could buy anything from a pin to a tin bath. One shop in particular used to sell fireworks leading up to bonfire night, they were displayed in a case with a glass top . One year I wanted to spend my coppers on ' penny bangers ' my Mam thought otherwise , I left with a packet of sparklers and 2 ' Roman Candles ' !

When not being used for fireworks the glass case was used to display cake decorations - Bride and Groom images to go on the top wedding cakes and so forth. I remember clearly my Auntie Maggie buying a fancy ruff type sash to go round the Christmas cake along with a little snowman and robin from this shop . They were used for many years , nothing thrown away that could be used again in those days !

Colin with you mentioning the notice….Keep 2 meters apart it brought back memories of our time in Anglesey around 2021,we called for a drink in a karaoke pub and outside was a notice,
Due to Covid 19
Sweet Caroline
Is Banned
There Will Be No-
Touching Hands-
Reaching Out-
Touching Me-
Touching You-
I still find it funny although it probably wasn’t,if this weather keeps up we will probably have a train ride into Wigan and visit the arcades and maybe a Coffee at the new coffee shop or a pint in Witherspoons.

I remember queuing up outside the Supermarket and someone asked
“ How much distance is 2 metres ?” Quick as a flash a chap piped up “The length of a coffin!”
That made us all think….

Tom, reading your story I was almost back there in the little arcade. I found myself smiling to myself as I read.
I would go down that way on Saturday afternoons to buy records from the stalls outside and inside the Market Hall.
The Arcade was so alive with people chatting and laughing, both customers and stallholders.
People seemed to be so much happier then.
Thanks for the memories Tom..

All of the good memories have gone of the royal arcade and to of wigan theres nothing left now its just a total disaster now its doomed.

Thank you Tom, your articles and comments are always of great interest and this one is no exception.
Apart from Smiths, it’s The Catholic Shop that sticks in my mind. Crucifixes, Religious Statues, Rosary Beads, Prayer Book, Bibles and Mass Cards.
Legs O’ Man I never went in and Gorners Cafe, well, for my parents paying for a cup of tea and a cake out in Wigan was beyond comprehension, maybe something we might have done once or twice a year at the seaside as a treat.

Tom, I know Colin realises what memories p-a-d triggers off and won't be offended by us referring to Wigan's OTHER arcades, which his interesting photo has brought to mind. I remember all those stalls in The Old Arcade, especially the loose fireworks in the box outside the door. That shop also sold little strings of paper bags and my Mam used to buy me some to play "shops" with. I still love paper bags and have a string of them hung up in my kitchen, including some original three-cornered toffee bags, which many of us remember, now yellow with age. The Makinson Arcade and the Royal Arcade may have been "posher", but The Old Arcade had a homely atmosphere all its own which will live on in the memories of those who knew its flagged floor and its white tiled walls.

In mentioning Covid-19 I expected a few comments on experiences through those dark days, perhaps there were many comments at the time but I haven't checked.
I never set foot outside the front door during the first two or three months and when I did it was early morning. Strange experience, almost unnerving, not a person to be seen no traffic on the roads. Taking a walk around Standish the only sign of life was traffic lights blinking and one morning seeing a deer walking up high street, it stared at me for a moment then scarpered up School Lane..
Occasionally a ambulance would pull up in the neighbourhood and men in biohazard outfits would pull up to take someone into hospital, all quite scary.
We tried to get on line for home deliveries but too late for that, everybody had the same idea and no slots available. Fortunately neighbours who had to go out to work or shopping brought us what we needed, in the early days there was panic over toilet rolls so at one point we had enough toilet rolls to insulate the house, I was so bored I did toy with the idea of making an Igloo!
After many months and no hair cut, I looked like a mad professor. When the warm weather came I sat in the garden and my wife took the scissors to it, I think the birds used it as nesting material!
Fortunatley we never contracted the dreaded illness but we do know few people who did not survive, two in particular spring to mind who went into hospital with totally unrelated problems, caught Covid while in there and never came home.
It all seems a lifetime ago now but at least I'm hear to relate my tale.

Patricia, oh yea of little faith.
I used to share your doom and gloom thoughts but now I am more optimistic.
Wigan town centre is going through a slow but unmistakable renaissance. I still think that those proposed blocks of flats would be better located down Wallgate and the Market Hall retained and repurposed. Anyway there are many building being renovated and some exciting new things to come. ‘Don’t give up on me baby’ I don’t think was one of John’s Karaoke songs but as it is said in Wigan ‘Keep The Faith’ or ‘Believe’. If you don’t you might go mad!

Dennis, one of my old work mates had the record stall outside the Market Hall on Woodcock Street in the late 70’s early 80’s.
He now has a thriving Kitchen Business in the West Midlands but still loves to do a bit of DJ’ing and came up to see me a few months back. Memories are made of this!

What's that man doing sitting on the floor?

Yes, COVID was a funny time. We were watching Boris on the doing the Covid news every night, and whenever we were offered another jab, we jumped at the chance.
My friend's wife died of it, and then my younger sister died from it, so it was real, and I knew a few others who died.
Colin don't they still have a couple of big feet stickers on the floor in the arcade?
Just had another look and that man is still sitting there.

A lovely quaint little arcade, and great just to amble through and look at the quality clothing, shoes etc. It was also very handy as a shortcut if it was raining!
Loved your Anglesey tale John - laughed like a drain, very funny, as was your tale Veronica! So nice to have a laugh.

I too bought a few records from there in the early 1970s, was there two or was it one big stall belonging to the same seller.
I remember in the early 1980s the stalls still being there, though with The Birdie Song always playing over and over, and with the stall holder doing the dance to it, this one:
https://youtu.be/ESViOhqRdlE?si=FiMz0YdziSN4rS8N

Dennis and Colin, do you remember how some of the second-hand records on the market stall were ex- juke-boxes records and they had no middle, and you used to be able to buy a white disc which enabled you to play them on your record player at home?

Sorry to hear that you lost your sister to covid Mick - a horrendous time indeed.

The Royal Arcade opened on Saturday 1 October, 1927 (details from the 1939 edition of the Wigan Almanac).
Contemporary notices in the local press show that the Market Arcade (aka the Little Arcade and the Old Arcade) dates back to 1879/80. The glass roof was originally supported by a woodwork structure and there are two instances of a fall into the arcade through the roof (1886 and 1907).