Wigan Album

This is a very recent photo?

Hawthorne's lived between the trees and I was born to the to the left of them at Birkett Bank Terrace.

Keith It is certainly different from the time I remember it, in the fifties, and early sixties. Looks idyllic.

Albert I could not agree more - it always amazes me whenever I revisit, which is not very often, that there used to be so many houses within such a small area.

Half way down on the left was Jack Berry's grocers shop, opposite at no26 was my grandfather Thomas Berry's newsagents shop. Thomas Berry was a cousin of Jack Berry.My mother Elsie Berry was one of four daughters of Thomas Berry. I attended St. Catherines school from 1948 till 1953, and Keith, I was in the same year as your sister Anne.

The place that stands out in my memory for me was Jack Tomorrow's Chemist just after the Crispin. It's as if those buildings never existed looking at the picture now and yet it was a very busy area.

Those are strong memories for me also David. My sister is well and living in Horwich.

Keith, good to here that your sister Anne is well! I had a school friend named Norman Ashcroft who lived round the corner from you in Birkett Street, perhaps you would remember him? Indeed, my younger brother was named after him!

My great grandfather lived at 24 Birkett Bank in 1901 (house still standing) his name was Thomas Hodkinson he was the father of Edith Fillingham my grandmother she was also the grandmother of Roy Pitcher

David - Barbara Ashcroft who was Norman's older sister I believe, was in my form at St Catharines, a bubbly, happy girl who I understand from other comments on wiganworld passed away far too early.

Keith - if I'm thinking of the same Barbara Ashcroft, she died in the early 1980s, and used to manage the canteen in Harrogate St Police Station.
A lovely lady - always cheerful.

Mick, that sounds like the very same Barbara, my abiding memory is of an attractive girl with a lovely smile. Just yesterday I was staying at the hotel in Harrogate Street, she left us far too soon.

I used to visit that area daily. I courted a girl for a while in the late 1960s. (Lynne Richardson) Great memories!

Keith, can you recall the name of the public house that stood on the corner of Wray Steet and Manchester Road across the border in Higher Ince? Wray Street is where Masons the wholesalers had their premises at the bottom of Caroline Street.

were the grass is was there a workhouse there and david the pub was it the rifil man not sure cud have been jonson street or jackson st there was lots of pubs in them back streets

David I was just 14 when I left the Crispin so my knowledge about pubs was limited but using Wiganworld's wonderful resources I can tell you that The Rifleman pub was located in Caroline Street which was bordered by Holt Street at one end and by Ashton Street at the other. A total of 9 pubs were on Manchester Road itself back in 1882 and probably just as many beer retailers and no doubt many other pubs in side streets.

Cs - there was a detached men only lodging house to the left of the picture.

Hi Ken, only just seen your posting. I believe Roy Pitcher was in the same class as my sister at St Catharines, he would have been 2 years my junior.

My dad served his apprenticeship as a butcher in a shop in his row, now long gone it would be around 1936 hopefully someone can give me some info please

Gerry, if you go to “Places” and then “Crispin Arms” you’ll find on the photo labelled “Crispin Arms 1954” some discussion about Butchers shops in Birkett Bank. Alternatively you could put this in your address bar and it should get you there http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=16967&gallery=CRISPIN+ARMS+&offset=0
Not sure if it will help but you might find it of interest.

Mick or Keith. Do you ever remember a chap called John Mcgarty who lived at no 10 birkett bank? He was my grandad and sadly passed away in 2003. I had a happy childhood there playing on st Catherines field and the little field which has now houses on and is named 'woodcock walk'

Hi Rob, sorry I can’t help with your query about John McGarty, if my parents were still around they might have been able to help, I was only 14 when I left Birkett Bank.
Not sure if this is any help but in the 1939 Register there is a John McGarty living in Upholland, who was born in 1921.

Thanks Keith. Well he was indeed born in 1921, but my recollection is that he lived in and around st pat's scholes area all his live so may just be a coincidence. He moved to birkett bank around 1965. Do you remember the 'blind school'? We used to play in there as kids gaining access from the roof near the blind steps. Risky I know but was a massive old building explored every bit of it.