Wigan Album

I am so happy to see this photo. I went to the Wesleyan School in Dicconson St for a while when living with my Uncle & Aunt, George & Greta Bryson, think it was No 38. We went over from the shool to the church for singing lessons in a ground floor room at the back. At Christmas we had the Carol Service in the Church. There was a balcony high up in front of the organ. I remember having to stand up there to recite the bible story of the shepherds 'abiding in the fields ' The school had 4 classrooms with stairs going up to them at each end & a large hall between, the toilets & flagged playground surrounded by high walls were downstairs. A far cry from the schools of today. I can't think of any other place that would have knocked down a church like this. In Norwich there are lots of redundant churches...all being used for something.

Hi Helen was the school building part of the church?

brilliant picture also the old Electricity Showroom(black&white building) in the background

Hi Dave you mean this;
http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=4191&gallery=Standishgate&offset=40

I remember, being a child, there was always a nativity crib outside this church. Am I right?

Now you come to mention it. Yes I can remember the crib.
I always thought the church was a very daunting place, as it was very black. Obviously with all the soot about over the years. Not very welcoming at all.

Hi Ron, some really good stuff you are showing us.
The Wesleyan School was just about opposite the rear door, (Gothic archway to the right of the screen) Thats the door we went through to have singing lessons. If I remember rightly the school had separate entrances for boys & girls, big wooden doors on to Dicconson St. You first went into the cloakroom, then up the stone steps to the school proper. Everything went on in the big hall, school dinners, dancing to Music & Movement on the radio, listening to stories,again on the radio. Rests after dinner on mats on the wooden floor. There may have been
5 teachers, 40 children in a class was usual for the time. Out in the dungeon like playground whatever the weather, we played. Skipping, hopscotch, two balls, etc. Don't really know how long I was there for maybe 18mths...I have been to a few schools in my time !
On a nostagic trip with our son 2 or 3 years ago I tried to find my bearings, no Dicconson St...I was totally lost !

Hi Helen if you were lost then you would be double lost now( is there such an expression?<g>) There ain't no Station Road and no Ritz Cinema, Boo Hoo

Another superb building along with lots of others that was agreed to be demolished for no reason whatsoever, by gormless Wigan councillors ,

Yet another of Wigan's architectural gems and history lost forever along with the timber framed Electric Showroom just visible to the left.