Wigan Album

A great shot, Tom. I wish I'd had that available when I was putting together my 'Then & Now' calendars at St Mary's.

Otherwise known as Clinker Valley. Why, I have no idea.

Big difference in the standard of that Cricket Ground these days thanks to hours and hours of dedicated work by volunteers who provide a great outlet for local boys/girls that want to try playing cricket.

Albert - I thought Clinker Valley referred to the area between the Whelley Loop Line, which crosses behind the fence beside the pitch, and then, to the left, goes under Warrington Road, and the embankment carrying the branch from the St Helens - Wigan line which crossed Warrington Road by a bridge a bit to the north. A couple of short terraces, known as Dale Street, lead off Warrington Road there. I doubt if much greenery was seen there when the railways and collieries were active, so perhaps it looked desolate enough to be called Clinker Valley?
Incidentally, St Mary's church has carried on publishing in its present parish magazine copies of the magazine from 80 years ago, which I began in 2000. Back then I noticed that a boy run over by a coal train on the nearby Fir Tree Colliery sidings was taken to 'Rescue Cottage'. I've just received the January issue of the magazine, and noticed that, recorded in the January 1936 magazine, is the burial on December 4th 1935 of Margaret Davies, aged 67, of 'Rescue Cottage'. I can't find this on any maps I have - does anyone have a clue where it was?

Another fine and interesting photo Tom. You must have taken it from the railway embankment, was you at work?All the very best wishes to you for a happy and prosperous new year!

Does the road join onto the beginning/or end of Moss Lane?

You are probably correct Reverend. I was commenting in general terms. Up to the age of four I lived opposite the the old Spring View Police Station, when the railway engine pulling wagons, crossed Warrington Road, going to a works at the rear of our house. A man with a red flag would hold up the traffic, what bit there was.

As it is new years eve I would just like to put in the following comment. A little earlier I was reminiscing on past new years eves, when just before midnight, you would stand at the top of your street, with groups of others waiting for midnight, when all the pit whistles, factory whistles, steam engine whistles, and others would all sound welcoming in the new year. Then you would return to the house where you had left, be it your own, a friends, or a neighbours, entering by the front door, letting in the new year, after leaving by the back door letting out the old year. You then throw a lump of coal onto the fire. You would then all sit down to a large plateful of potato pie, the pie would have had a large crust on top, you would tuck in, supplemented by plenty of red cabbage, and a glass of brown ale, that would be replenished as required. This practice resumed after the end of the war, but towards the early sixties it curtailed. Nowadays there are no pits, factories, nor steam engines, to sound the whistles. Wishing each one of you health, happiness, and contentment, throughout, 2016

When I was a kid in Garswood, there used to be an old soldier that stood at the top of the street and played the ' last post ' on his bugle every New Year's Eve.

Well said Albert, exactly right.

I am lucky enough to remember all that, Albert, probably just before it died out. I lived in Ince but had relatives in Spring View.....I'm sure we must have talked about this before. A Happy New Year to you, and to all who remember those special times.

My goodness what memories. I have walked along the top of that wall a few times in my youth. Yes, Wigwan this is the bottom of Moss Lane, there used to be hoardings all round that bend. I lived in Moss St, near the petrol station and Clinker Valley was referred to as the area between the bridge you went under and the bridge you crossed over, just before the Cricket Ground as you walked to Platt Bridge.

Albert, I was only thinkimng myself about the factory hooters yesterday!. I was born in 1952 and certainly remember many of the practices you refer to going on until the early 60's at least. We lived off Darlington Street East and I well recall going out of the back door with my father . For some reason we would also leave some bread and a penny on the back window (!!) as well as taking a piece of coal from the coal heap to bring back in with us. We would stand on Darlington Street next to Billy Seddons butchers, Billy would be out with his dogs and wish us a Happy New Year. We waited to hear the bels and the factory whistles /hooters before going in. My mother would have baked a potato pie jsu as you described with a single crust. However you failed to mention that it was "Pickled" red cabbage that always accompanied this. I haven't lived in Wigan since 1970. Do people still have potato pie and pickled red cabbage at New Year? We have lived in Somerset for 20 years and whilst its nice in many ways I would love to go back in time to a new years Eve in Wigan in 1963 or so. I also bet as abobby then you had very little trouble to deal with on the night.

I don't know if any of you can hear already the bangers and fizzers going off ....in place of the whistles that Albert can remember - they have started here. It's like a taste of the trenches in WW1. I miss all that congregating in the street waiting for midnight with neighbours - it just doesn't seem to be done anymore. I still open the back door and go around to the front. Happy New Year to one and all.

Caroalaen. What trouble there was, it didn't carry any viciousness that accompanies trouble today. My wife made the ingredients of potato pie yesterday, but without the crust. She said pastry didn't do me any good. Who really cares when you are in your eighties. We did have pickled red cabbage.

Brendell, you must have lived next door to the Price family since there was only no,s 2 and 4.I went out with Barbara for 3years. I was shocked when she died aged only 52 years.

This brings back memories played for spring view cricket in the 60s,Albert we lived at 302 Warrington rd between Henry St and Norman st, remember my dad would say when the whistle blows it's new year and we got the potato pie out,no whistle know but we still get the potato pie out every new year.

Is that the Whelley loop line, behind the bus

Barry,
The Whelley loop would be to the rear of the photo, running from left to right somewhere between the church spire and the chimneys.

Barry - Yes it is. The wooden fence marks where it runs..