Wigan Album

Crook was always part of Shevington, not Wigan.

And Shevington is part of Wigan Borough....what's your point??

There used to be a portion of the wood that came from Crooke Hall in the Rodney Street entrance,where the staff used to enter and leave at Wigan Life Museum,hope it's still there ! It has the original tiled floor from when it was Wigan Library,(pre 1974)

As part of the Wigan Rural District James?

If we are going to be pedantic James its Crooke, with an `e`, not Crook.

My poinf??

Crook Hall was built in the early 1600's and was demolished in the 1930's.
Shevington fell into Wigan authority area in 1974.
Crook Hall never stood in Wigan, town or borough.

Crook Hall was named just that. The village took it's name from being land stood by the 'crook' of the river. When Crook Hall was built, it was given that title. It says so in the history books and modern opinion can't change that.

I remember the piece of wood in the entrance to Wigan Life Museum Elizabeth. My mum used to play with the children who lived in the hall. She was born 1921. I think the family were Catterall.

Shevington was a township in the parish of Standish and in 1837 became part of the Poor Law Union of Wigan......

I dont know when this picture was taken but it was after 1837, so it DID stand in Wigan at the time. Be a pedantic hair splitter by all means, but at least be correct...

It must have been a grand house in its day & what a rare photo of it.
Where do you find all these great pics Ron ??

Gareth, don't mention the word township, you'll get the Village People stamping feet and shaking fists in the air.

A great photo of a building with lots of character, a pity is isn't still there, but even if it had been maintained to a good order would it have dodged the bulldozers?

Where exactly did this lovely building stand?? Can anybody recall or have access to old maps etc?

Gareth, you can find most of the old British ordnance survey maps (free to use) on this National Library of Scotland website
https://maps.nls.uk/os/

I got a uncle who is mentioned on a cencus the Duncan arms crooke always wondered what he was doing there his name was ike or Isaac beech he married Jane Rigby who lived in crooke

Thanks Val,it must have an been a fascinating experience for your Mum when she played with them,did she tell you what it was like inside? Hope you,Rob and the family are keeping well.

I’m just grateful to see a picture like this, it’s richness just begs you to wonder !

The rectangular part of the building, below the big window, and above the door.Is the only surviving part of the Hall. It's on display in the History Shop. At the bottom of the stairs, leading to the reference part of the History Shop.

Gareth Cheetham - please don't rise to the bait dangled by James Hanson. He is a sad, and deeply unhappy little man (if indeed, it is a he), who has nothing better to do with his time.

Well said Tony L.

Thank you, again! Ron. These old photographs bring such joy to see. Sometimes, unfortunately, both photograph and information bring such sadness as we see and learn that so many of these wonderful and historic buildings are no longer standing.
It is indeed a real shame to know that so many of these fabulous buildings were demolished and so many in our living years.
Possibly, if Crooke Hall had not been demolished in the 1930's, it may have escaped the wrath of the bulldozer. If it had survived just another decade, it surely had to be recognised as a building of special architectural and historical interest. I think that the listing of buildings of historical interest was established in the Town and Country Planning Acts of the 1940's.
What I can honestly say and believe, Crooke Hall should never have been demolished. Our history and buildings of historical interest, especially in and around Wigan, have been disappearing and too many in a period of time which is unacceptable by many.

Ian as you say the listing of historical buildings set out in the Town and Country Planning Acts didn't seem to concern the elected councils through the times onwards from the 1940s, as in 1/2 to a mile or so from Crooke Hall a lot of ancient buildings met the same fate. A medieval farm and cruck barn at Kitt Green demolished to make way for Heinz in the 1950s. photo of cruck barn: https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=3&id=8393&gallery=H.+J.+Heinz%252C+Kitt+Green&offset=60

Scroll down to the post by Kathleen Saunders nee Philbin, she lived at Walthew House farm which in the 1970s that and Walthew House and Cottage down Walthew House Lane was demolished to make way for GUS. Stonehouse farm was demolished too for the new road and Challenge Way Industrial Estate.

Another ancient farm Peddars, which was on Scot Lane got demolished in the 1960s for the council flats of Logwood House. As you know the list could go on.

Gareth Cheetham, Crooke Hall was located in the field just south of the letter “e” in Crooke see WW item 33494. Cheers John.

John Staveley, thanks very much...
Crooke has quite 'romantic' connotations for me. Both my parents went to the primary school, as did I briefly in 1973. My parents grew up in Flockton Avenue, Standish Lower Ground, just a brief walk from Crooke, and my grandad Stan Bretherton worked on a voluntary basis.at the Owd Barn garage for a while. Jimmy Cheetham, my other Grandad was secretary of Crooke brass band for years, so although I'm only 53, I have a lot of direct memories and inherited fondness for Crooke in general

Hi Gareth, I was in the same class as your mother,Beryl, at Crooke School. Don't let her know, you know, but she was always top of the class, but nice with it. I think she sat with Kathleen Culshaw also from Flockton Avenue. Mr Grandfather Brown was very good friends with your Grandad "Jemmy" in Crooke speak. Best Regards to you and your family, email if you have any more memories you wish to share.

Jimmy cheetahs did he work at gun at wood house lane

Tom, no, not as far as I know. He worked for the Coal board all his life, mainly at Giant's Hall pit.

Just saw a wonderful picture of a lady Annie Shovelton - crookevillage.co.uk .It says taken from 113 Crooke. What a cracking picture, open countryside , M6 in the distance

Was Annie Joe and Sandra’s mum?

Please refer to today’s PAD for a picture of the carved timber relic.