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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

The White Horse pub, Leigh 1890

10 Comments

White Horse Pub, Leigh 1890
White Horse Pub, Leigh 1890
Photo: Ben
Views: 2,954
Item #: 29377
Long before the amalgamation of Leigh with Wigan a photo of White Horse Pub Leigh circa 1890. Interesting to see the bobbies on the beat, a "real" pram and a delivery of coal. The pub was on Railway Road with, I think, Market Street where the gentleman is moving the coal and Bradshawgate I believe is out of shot, to the right. Photo is part of the Wigan and Leigh archives.

Comment by: Albert. on 25th May 2017 at 07:37

Although over the passage of time the style of the Policemen's uniforms have changed, but the helmets have remained more, or less the same, as headwear, until recent. times.

Comment by: A.W. on 25th May 2017 at 11:59

This is a good picture, a moment in the everyday life in the streets of Leigh over a century and a quarter ago.

Comment by: Scaramouche on 25th May 2017 at 12:34

THIS IS WIGAN WORLD.......This photo is LEIGH NOT WIGAN

Comment by: Albert. on 25th May 2017 at 12:43

Several police forces have adopted the use of the base ball, style caps, with the word POLICE across the front of the cap. These are to replace the traditional helmet. I believe they are much cheaper to make, than the helmet.

Comment by: Ben on 25th May 2017 at 13:32

You've obviously read the title Scaramouche, it does indeed say Leigh but I'm afraid you've not been keeping up, since The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan was formed in 1974 and is an amalgamation of several former local government districts and parishes which includes LEIGH. Oh yes and this site is WIGAN WORLD so anything in that world is relevant to this site, the others who form part of the amalgamation are, part of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Ince-in-Makerfield, Hindley, Orrell, Standish, Atherton, Tyldesley, Golborne, Lowton, Billinge, Astley, Haigh and Aspull, all of whom, like Leigh, are part of wigan world.

Comment by: Alan H on 25th May 2017 at 14:48

Albert, I heard that the reason for the change was that the pointed helmets damaged the inside of the roof in the Panda cars. True or false?

Comment by: Albert. on 25th May 2017 at 15:59

Alan.H. More to do with finance. When driving police cars, you always wore a flat cap. When I was a panda car driver, in Kent, in the sixties, you had to change your headwear, from flat cap, to helmet, when you parked up, to carry out a foot patrol of the area.

Comment by: Julie on 25th May 2017 at 17:47

Albert, So they transferred you to Kent from Wigan? Seems an excessive distance. Did the force have no bounds in those days. Why would this happen may I ask respectfully.

Comment by: Albert. on 25th May 2017 at 19:13

Julie. I joined the Wigan Borough Police, in early, 1958, but during the early sixties, it became apparent that the days of small Borough Police Forces were numbered. As you didn't have a crystal ball, you did not know what the future held for you. I did not wish to be moved to other locations within Lancashire. I did consider applying for the Australian Police, but that seemed a step too far, so I settled for a transfer to Kent, and moved there in July, 1964. A jump, before a probable push to somewhere I didn't wish to go. There were also other considerations that I had to contemplate.

Comment by: A.W. on 26th May 2017 at 14:17

What Ben says is correct Scaramouche, and UpHolland, Dalton and other outlying districts that were once part of the historic Wigan Union could be added to the list.

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