Wigan Album

This is Station road some time in the 1960s. The pub on the right is the Horseshoe, built in 1891 and demolished in 1985 to make way for the new ring road. The multistorey car has not been built, and there is a Mini van and an Austin A40 whose registration numbers can't be seen, and a rear entrance Wigan Corporation bus. Corporation double deckers switched to front entrance from 1959.

Central Station in the background, very ornate building, further along was George Makinsons Showrooms.

This is a copy of Brian Laithwaite collection of Station road photos, it is on this site in item number 25259. Please be careful of copyright acts.

Was the Powell Children's Library just past the pub? I used to go every Saturday morning but can never get my bearings when looking at old photos of this area.

Nice motor chasing the bus. Triumph Spitfire??

irene yes it was, to the right of the pub was the Museum.

I remember when most of the buses stopped on the other side and before the extended pavement was installed. The children's library was just a little further on Irene with a couple of shops and 'backs' in between.

Corporation read door double deckers were still running in the mid to late 60's.

Does anybody remember if ever there was buildings on the grassy slope at one time pre 1950s?

Isn't that Derek Bramhal in his Lotus Elan? I'd say 1969.

The grassy mound was the old swimming baths. Or it could have been from where JF Kennedy got shot???

It is 1962 or post 62. The white car whose rear end is showing behind the Austin A40 parked nose in, is a Vauxhall Victor MK 3?. A completely new body shape from previous models and introduced in 1962.

I think you have lost your bearings Ken - the Old Baths were on Millgate to the left of the photo. I don't recall any buildings on the grassy mound - but that doesn't mean there wasn't any.

the old bath springs pub was jus in millgate ,could be the rear part of the pub top of the grass verge.

Look closely and you'll notice Central station is boarded up. The summer of 1970...it's got to be.

Your right Veronica, but this is Millgate.

You're probably right Tom the pub would have been sideways on.

the station shut in november 1964

Wasn't there a brewery along there at one time.

The building in view behind the cars parked on top of the grass mound is probably the side elevation of Penningtons furniture shop.

At the bottom of Millgate I can remember going in a car showroom that was run by Trevor Lake. He had the Challenge Cup on display in the window ;it was 1965

Cyril, the brewery you refer to was Moorfield's brewery but it was at the top of Millgate.

Anyone remember the young daring men standing on the bus platform as it swung around the Horseshoe Pub, I think the driver tried to go as fast as he dared,(I think he loved the game as we did.) we timed our leap and run and ended up near a Tobacconists at the bottom of Millgate. Some guys did not fare well and finished with holes in their pants knees and sundry scrapes and bruises. Saturday Night revelry.

Phillip - the motor garage was actually called Rugby Motors and was owned as you say Trevor lake and at least one other Wigan RL player - Harry Major ? possibly but I am only certain of Trevor Lake.

We used to see the business when queuing to go into the old baths - of which I do not have fond memories as I nearly drowned there on my first visit with the Primary school when I was 8. I had soap in my eyes from the showers and could not see. I told one of the instructors and he said "well you will in a minute" and shoved me in and I had to be rescued from the bottom. Even though I learned to swim eventually, to this day I don't swim very well as I cannot put my face in the water. Its all very well to talk about the good old days but there was a lot a casual ill treatment of kids along with the good.

About 1963. New lamp standards erected at time of Douglas House being erected

Carolaen . I think his partner was John Winton. The show rooms would have been somewhere facing the baths on the opposite side.

Could the other rugby player have been John Winton?

Veronica - yes there were old housed where the slope is. I remember coming out of the children's library with my cousin and "poking about" in the derelict properties just prior to their demolition. I remember loads of insects!. That would have been late 50's I think.

I always thought Rugby Motors was down Frog Lane. Near to the old cattle market. I think it was Prescott Street that ran down to a one way tunnel.

I have completely forgotten any old housing there Brendal and yet I remember other old buildings before the new baths ( now demolished) on the other side.