Wigan Album

A still taken from a path film entitled “Leisure Shift Mill Workers” in 1947. The film follows Nellie Smith (of Beech Hill) and other women workers in the cotton mill, thread winding onto spools on the huge machine. If anyone wants to see the film go to the pathe news website and type “Wigan” in the search engine. I’ve posted images previously but not this one.

In the film, Nellie is seen setting the table for her two children for tea before she leaves for her evening shift, 6pm to 10pm. We see her shopping in Beech Hill Avenue and then giving her husband his tea before she goes to work. Her husband when he comes home, is served his tea and later is seen playing cards with friends.

I wonder if anyone might be able to put a name to this gentleman who is leaning against a picket fence on land that has a distinct slope. My guess is that Nellie lived in or near Thickness Avenue (Shaftesbury Avenue end) and I wondered if those are bungalows in the background rather than houses and possibly in the same area of Beech Hill - a complete guess.