Wigan Album

thats not you on your bike is it keith

Yes, it is Roy but I definitely wasn't looking for work.

I was too young to frequent that pub in those days, But I have never seen any photos of the one further up on the opposite side of the road, namely The Birkett Bank Hotel, I went in there as well as the Crispen in later years, also the Bay Horse lower down on the corner,I can remember when The Bay Horse came under Ince licencing laws and the Crispen was Wigan, this made for an extra half hours boozing at the weekend, come to think of it I have never seen any photos of that place either.

Hi Aitch. In 1949/50 I used to frequent the "Birkett Bank Hotel". It had a boxing gym upstairs, and I went there a couple of times a week,just to keep a bit in shape. Billy Ashurst was the trainer. He had a fruiter's business, I believe it was somewhere down Wallgate way. A young fellow went to the gym, at the same time as I. He eventually became quite a good flyweight professional boxer. In fact, coincidently, quite a number of years later, I married his sister.

I understand that at one time the upstairs room at the Crispin, the "Clubroom", was used as a training venue for wrestlers.

You're quite right Aitch about the "extra" half an hour that the Crispin enjoyed. On a Sunday afternoon it was a familiar sight to see anything up to 20 men, it was always men, walking along Manchester Road heading directly for the Crispin which was just "over the border boundary" and I can tell you that sight would gladden my father's heart. It was wonderful trade.

I was born in Birkett Bank Terrace and left when the houses were pulled down in 1958. I used to play on land behind hoardings near the pub. I never knew what had been there but am now remembering a fire place but never realised there must have been houses there. My mum and dad, Jimmy and Jenny Kenyon used to go into the new Crispin and as young children we spent a New Years Eve upstairs playing with the children from the pub while mum and dad had a drink. It is nice to see these old photos although I was too young to remember.

Aitch, I don't know if you get the local heritage magazine, "Past Forward", but in issue 44, (December 2006-March 2007), the daughter of former landlord and landlady, Stanley and Cissie Hocking, sent in her memories of The Bay Horse, along with a few pics of the regular customers, which I would judge to be in the late 1940s/early 1950s, going by the fashions. If you don't already have a copy of the article, I would be only too happy to post one to you, but would obviously need your postal address. My email is irene.roberts2@virgin.net Please get in touch if you would like a copy.Even if it was before your time in The Bay Horse, I think you would enjoy the nostalgia.

Hi Albert, I think the Birket Bank had boxing in a back room at one time, then in later life finished up as a venue for the sea cadets, ???

PS, Aitch.....you can read the Past Forward article online but I'm not sure how you go about it.

Irene. Just type in at Google" Past Forward Magazine", and it will come up. It would appear you can go back to 1999. I haven't tried it myself though.

Quite correct Aitch,the boxing was run by Brian McTigues dad,I think his name was Jimmy!

Thanks, Albert. I have copies of all the Past Forward magazines as I used to write for them; I just thought if Aitch didn't want to give his address it would be a way for him to see the article I mentioned. I'm not clever with all this technology! Thanks again. Albert.

Aitch. As Irene says, you can read the story of the "Bay Horse Hotel", Manchester Road, Higher Ince, on the web site I've mentioned. It is as she says, in that particular numbered issue, that she has mentioned.

Irene and Albert, I have the past forward mags in my favs so no problem with reading but it still hasn't any photos of either the Birkett Bank or the Bay Horse, and Irene I have quite a few magazines here a home I used to get them regular from the labrary, but sadly it is now shut, so I use the computer

my late mum madge, was born at birkett bank in 1927.( her name was madge charnock), then later lived on clapgate lane then warringto road, goose green, with nan charnock
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hi,i am currently writing a book on Billy Riley who ran the pub inthe 1930s would i be able to purchase a copy of the photo for inclusion in the book?

We lived at 43 Birkett Bank until 1956 when i believe the pub was being renovated and there was a lot of dust around. My mother ran the drapers shop at number 43 and sewed dresses etc for the local neighbours. i can remember playing with Ann Bowen who i believe lived at the Crispen Arms.