Wigan Album

looks like the gate could do with another coat !:)

love the pic and description, not many folk take such pride these days...myself included :( puts us to shame!.....making me feel guilty about the weeds in my front garden now! :)

Is the house No44, Nadine?

Yes Alan, I thought the same myself after seeing it close up but knowing my dad, i`ve definately made a wrong assumption! No idea why this pic was taken now!

Forget the house Nadine, just look how happy and tidy your dad is, great photo.

Yes winder, it is No 44 - where do/did you live? Since looking again at the pic, I think I can see the top of Mr Orrell`s head in the background he lived at No 50.

No, I didn't live round there but when I see old photographs like this I go onto Google Street view, to compare the old pic with a more recent one. A sort of then and now comparison.
The house was next to the end of the row, the brick wall is still there but the wooden fence and gate have been replaced by a metal one. The shop at the other end of the row is still there, it's a chippy!

The chippy that is mentioned has been there for many years. I am 80 now and I remember George Glover having it. He had a daughter Betty, who died young from cancer.George had coal fired boilers. I think that Aspeys had it next, followed by Syd and Dorothy Bentham. Syd introduced curly chips for the first time and then cooked chicken portions. It has had various owners since, but Syd and Dorothy were the best by far. My granddad and grandma lived at No 10 Victoria Street and I spent a lot of time at their house.

Does anyone remember Freemans shop being next door?

Hi Fred....You're right, the chippy was at the end of the row, Glover's had it when I was a boy, followed by Bentham's.....Aspey's had the chippy at the corner of Ormskirk Rd and Little Billinge Road.....I should know, I lived there for 11 years, but your right Benthams did serve up some good tucker.

Hello again Fred.....If the house shown is No 44 then a relative of mine named Joyce Caswell lived there when I was a boy and the shop next door was owned by Bill Liptrot..with Mason's on the other side of Westminster St.......showing my age now Fred!

Yes Bob your right, I seem to remember the Caswell name being mentioned. My parents bought the house from them around 1955 I think. I only remember next door as Freemans Grocers shop as a child. Alan Freeman the son, still lives there I believe.

Winder, are you the gent who shares coal pit interest? If you are, I've not heard from you for a little while. Hope you're well.

Sorry Nadine to invade on your comments.

Joyce Caswell was married to Roy Silley and she now lives in Little billinge Road in a bungalow. Roy died from cancer a few years ago now. Joyce's dad Arthur was a van man for Harveys Bakery and at one time served our shop in Billinge Road. Who was it that had the shop before Ralph Freeman?

Yes I am John, feeling fine just keeping a low profile

Great pose Jack! Another job well done! Yes Mr Johnson 'Freemans' grocery shop was next door and on the opposite corner was 'Masons' general store (corner of Westminster Street). This was later taken over by Mr Mason's son-in-law, Bill Bailey who then sold wedding cake accessories etc.

Nice to see this pic of your Dad and your house. Thanks Nadine.

Nadine did uncle Jack make the fence .Good photo Takes me back when we used to come to your house.

Yes Ruth, dad did make the gate and fence, as you know, he made use of any bit of timber he could lay his hands on! I thought this pic had been taken after he had painted it but it obviously wasn`t. Thinking of it, it was more likely we were testing out the new Yashica camera I remember he bought around this time !!

In answer to Fred Foster’s comment, the shopkeeper before Ralph Freeman was Mrs Liptrot, and when my mum and dad, Elsie and Ardern Mason, had the shop on the next corner at 40 Victoria Street, I used to spend my pocket money at Mrs Liptrot’s, despite my dad selling exactly the same sweets!

In answer to Fred Foster’s comment, the shopkeeper before Ralph Freeman was Mrs Liptrot, and when my mum and dad, Elsie and Ardern Mason, had the shop on the next corner at 40 Victoria Street, I used to spend my pocket money at Mrs Liptrot’s, despite my dad selling exactly the same sweets!