Wigan Album

The butchers lad on the right is Jimmy Briers, who later took over the shop in his own name. The photograph was taken by the chemist next door to try out the new photo-processing service. All the shops in the row were photogaphed with their staff.

I am Ben Turner's daughter. I have passed this site on to my sister who is having trouble logging on to this website. Her email is rosalieknowles45@btinternet.com.
She is very knowledgable about all the shops. Which one was this? We remember John and George Marsden well!
She would love to hear from you. The photo is too small to see the third person by the way. I did find a screen to enlarge it but have lost it!!

This shop was in Higher Ince across the road from The Horseshoe pub, long since demolished. You can make out the pub in the reflection of the shop window. I eventually located Jimmy Briers, he is living in Whelley.
Ben Turner had a dozen shops in the Wigan area. My dad, Walter Latham was the manager of the shop at 90, Poolstock Lane, Worsley Mesnes, just across the road from Russ's Barbers Shop. We lived behind the shop. The shop closed in 1974, after being the subject of a CPO by Wigan MBC.

If you turn the photo around, you can also make out Murrays the Printers This stood next to the Doric Cinema (Bug to all you Incers)

Does anyone know if the photos of the other shops and their staff, mentioned in the first comment, are still in existence?

I worked at woodcock street from 1957-1963. The manager was Bill Woozey.I remember Ben's daughters working at Woodcock Street in the school holidays. The staff were John Marsden, Mary Fleming in the cash office, Wallace Turner, Alan Gorman. Would love to see any other photos of Ben Turners shop and staff.

I worked at woodcock street from 1957-1963. The manager was Bill Woozey.I remember Ben's daughters working at Woodcock Street in the school holidays. The staff were John Marsden, Mary Fleming in the cash office, Wallace Turner, Alan Gorman. Would love to see any other photos of Ben Turners shop and staff.

That is a picture of my grandad George and John my dad, John has just turned 80 last month and doing fine. I remember Jiimmy Briers as a child and will be showing this to my Dad.

My father was Benedict j. Turner Jr. and his grandfather was Benedict Turner from Aspull born in 1832 and was an Inn keeper at the Victoria Inn in Lanes End. Any relation to your Dad? ( very interested )

My grandfather (Benedict Turner born 1864) started Ben Turner Ltd in Wigan. My father (also Benedict Turner) followed him into the business with his elder brother James who died in 1940. The Benedict Turner who was Innkeeper of the Victoria Inn Aspull was my Grandfather's uncle.
As a girl I worked in the Woodcock Street shop on Saturday mornings and in the school holidays. Dick Croft was the manager followed by Bill Woosey.

I googled 'Benedict Turner Wigan' to arrive at this page. My son (born 1965) became Mark Benedict Turner because the name over a butchers shop I noticed in the Wigan area had I thought something of a 'rightness' to it. But it was certainly Benedict not Ben that I saw. I don't think we are any relation though.

I would like to say to Rosalie Lander that I've been "doing" my Ancestry for a few years and have gone back to the Benedict Turner born either in 1786 or 1789 or so. [depending on the source] He was the patriarch of many Turner families. Even the daughters named their kids Benedict Turner Smith or Jones. ( or Sherlock for one ) My dad was Benedict and my Brother is Benedict and my grandfather was Hugh, brother of and son of Benedict Turner. Benedict the butcher was the son of James Turner. He married into the butcher business with the Haselden family.

Hi I live in Aaran Platts Farm or Platts farm
I believe it was originally a pig farm
James Turner(born 16/10/1892 and died 23/12/40) who married Florence Byers lived here I believe he was a relation of Benidict Turner
Does anyone have any details of who built or owned my house before James Turner? I believe the farm was built in 1886