Wigan Album

Hi, Dennis. Thanks for this fascinating photo; As you know, I worked here from 1977 to 1981... I wonder if anyone has photos of the shops that used to be nearby? One was Dorothy Winstanley's grocery shop.

Irene, I was an order boy for Dolly Winstanley when I was about 11 or 12 years old as a Saturday morning job. I would cart boxes of groceries on an old parcel truck around Platt Bridge... all for 40p, plus the tips I got from whom I delivered to.

I have also come across some old photographs of Abram which I will post soon in the Abram section.

good pics Dennis.please post more .turners now CONTITECH . 2 photos on sport . you may no 1or2. live in P.B myself no your brothr very well . also lookn for more photos and comments about ST. NATS .school . likes a pint or ten myself but p.b dont offer much choice or entertainment now .

To get back to the PLATT BRIDGE INN! I think it was in the late 50s. Arnold Ashton had the garage on the corner of Bickershaw Lane, he also sold motor bikes and he asked me about starting a Motor-Cycle club. I suggested restarting the old Hindley Club, we still had a few Cups & trophies, a printer, typewriter and it was still affilliated to the Auto Cycle Union. This, we did and the landlord of the Platt Bridge Inn allowed us to have our weekly meetings there, his son, Geoffrey Gaskell had a motor-bike and he was one of the members. I think we met there for about 10 years. Any ex members say, AYE. E.T.

Fantastic photo of the "INN" i went to school with Geoff Gaskell and the last time i was in the pub was Geoff wedding reception Aug 71

Great photo Dennis never heard of the brewery though, according to the name on the windows it was Barkers

was ther an electrical shop nearby, with a picture of a light bulb painted onto the bricks? There was also a bakers called Lathams. I can remember when decimal currency came in.....we had only just moved to Platt Bridge from Ince, and Dorothy Winstanley said she wasn't using it, and would stick with the old money.....of course she had to in the end, and she had an enormous "guide to new currency" stuck on the counter.Was there a little clothes shop called Grady's too?

I still have the original door knob which my father in law got when they re-fernished it now serves as a newel post at the foot of my stairs

Hi Irene

If you look in the Walking Day section, and then under St Nathaniel's, the 2nd and 3rd photographs have the row of shop immediately to the right of the Inn, just after the opening. You will Deacon's Bank, then what looks like a small shop (cannot remember what this was)... and then the pet shop.

Dolly Winstanley's shop was the first of a row of shops that were stepped back from this terrace... even though it was part of the terrace.

>>Great photo Dennis never heard of the brewery though, according to the name on the windows it was Barkers<<

Hi Frank... if you have ever walked past The Crofter's Arms in Wigan you will have seen Barker's before. Emblazoned across the frontage in wonderful maroon glazed brick are the words 'Barker's Huyton Ales'. The King William, across from the Inn was also a Barker's house

Dennis, the small shop you can't remember next to William Deacon's bank was where I lived. It was a tripe shop for many years run by my mother when I was a small child. It then became a bookie's from around the early 60's. I remember Dolly Winstanley's very well and the electrical shop was Cliff's Radio. Next door to Cliff's was Melling's butcher's and the other side of Cliff's (last shop before Dolly's) was a drapery shop. Next door to Lathom's bakery was Cilla's chippy. I'm sorry I can't remember you, where did you live?

When I was born my parents lived with my grandmother Alice Miller in Car Street, you may remember my uncle.. George Miller.

We then moved to a flat over Bob Foster's butchers, next door to the TSB Bank. Then we went to Gas Street near the park... and than finally to Vicarage Close just off Victoria Road. My mum and dad are Margaret & Billy Miller. Sadly dad passed away in Feb 2008.

Does that help? :-)

Thanks for the photo Dennis. It brings back happy memories.My father Jimmy Gaskell kept the Inn from 1955 to 1974. Originally at the rear it had stabling for four horses and accommodation for up six people. These buildings were demolished around 1962. I remember your Uncle George very well. Regarding Eric Turner's comments about the motor cycle club he was quite right. [I'm still riding Eric] A few names to jog your memory Les Hurst, the Harrison brothers and the one and only Don Purnell.

1974 was just before my time, I started going there in about 1977, I *think* I have the name right, but it was Dickie Seddon and his wife Lillian ran it then.

Yes, Dennis, it was Dick Seddon and Lilian, and Lilian's elderly mother used to sit behind the bar in the corner.

.. and after him was Steve Conway...

He totally changed the 'ambiance' of the pub... it became, well.. something different. I still went in, I still enjoyed my time in there... but quiet nights enjoying a quiet pint were a thing of the past.

Unless you live in some posh village, you simply can't find that any more. I am not out to embarrass you Irene, but I treasure those times I sat at the bar chatting to you, I am and have always been a public bar lounger, enjoying the craic, just enjoying a chinwag. You shall always remain my favourite barmaid! :-)

But now we loungers have to deal with loud music and American ideas... shots???? Smoke... no no!

Thanks, Dennis! I had to laugh at your "senior moment" over the address of Green's chippy.....we never expected to have "senior moments" in those far-off days, did we?!

Hehehehe... some of us have more senior moments than others. :-)

I forgot to mention, I had my wedding reception in Th'Inn when I married my lovely Lady (23 years!). I am going to have to dig those photographs out and put them up.

If you remember the Platt Bridge Inn with fondness... do not visit this link...

http://www.ecadfael.fu8.com/pubs/tn_P7143180.jpg

... so depressing!

Is your wife from Ince, Dennis? (Only asking with you living there). If so, what was her maiden name and whereabouts did she live? (Aren't I nosey?!).

I married a Platt Bridge lass Irene, but only just... her house was practically the last one on Liverpool Road... the next house up was in Hindley! Her maiden name was Waterhouse, if you look under People in the Album, and then Waterhouse you will see a photograph of her as a young teenager.

Lovely photos.....don't forget to put a wedding photo on. Haven't been able to look at the "depressing" pics of The Inn.....my computer isn't very sophisticated and won't let me click onto the link. Have written it down and typed into Google but no luck,(I'm not the brightest person with modern technology!). What is depressing about them? Do you have a family, Dennis?

Irene, the address is not a link... you cannot put links into the album, however...

Select the text by dragging your mouse over it, then press your right mouse button and select copy from the menu that will open, then open a new browser window, right click on the address bar and select paste from the menu again.

Hi, Dennis! Thanks for your help, but I just can't do it...I'm useless with anything like this and don't know how to open a new browser window...haven't a clue! I will have to wait until our Jamie comes round.

In the sixties a cycling club was run from the Inn. The longest ride was to Arnside where we stopped at a Youth Hostel overnight. On a ride out to North Wales John Burke's rear wheel collapsed and we had to strip his bike down and carry it in pieces between us. We also had to chip in for his bus fare. Buses on Sundays in those days were few and far between. We arrived back home by bike before he did. When I find out how to put a photograph on the web site I have a photograph of some of the members on a ride out.

Irene, if you click on the forum link at the top of this page, then look in the 'Photographs of Wigan' section of the forum I will post the photograph there under the title 'Platt Bridge Inn - Then and Now'... my username will be Cadfael.

Hi, Dennis! Cracked it! Got pic off the forum, (you're right, it IS depressing), but I was determined to learn how to access it the other way.....easy as pie once Jamie showed me!Thanks for your trouble and hope you have more picsup your sleeve. All the best, Irene.

I know from the 1891 and 1901 Census that Licensed Victuallers were William and Mary Ann Thompson. They were my Relatives and had the Pub in 188x to 19xx. I know he was the Public House Manager in Feb 1888 [According to the marriage Certificate].Not sure how long they had this pub for.

I used to worked in Arnold Ashton's garage as an apprentice motor mechanic. (1966) I got paid £2 a week! It used to cost me five bob a week just to get there on the bus.
I often wonder where the other mechanic got to who worked there; Billy Kitts. Billy was about six foot six tall.
They sold the garage and Barrie, Arnold's son, later started a lawn mower repair business.

i am the daughter of anne seddon dick & lillian were my grandparents and great little nan who sat behind the bar is jane i have lovely memories of the pub which they had until i was about 10 yrs old i am now 40 it was so big inside but i can remember a lot the middle front door was on the end to the mens only room bar in middle and family room seperate at the back to go out side was the toilets and steps big glass doors out side grandad had his kannels which he bread airdales and showed at crufts the stairs to up stairs were in the family room my sister and i were always peeping it had 4 bedrooms 1 bathroom seperate toilet a very large landing, kitchen, diner and lounge off the photo left to right upstairs windows janes bedroom, small bedroom,a group of men used this room as a meeting room called the buffelos, lounge, diner, kitchen behind

Was there a pub on the same site in 1901? According to the census numbers 27 & 29 Walthew Lane were licenced premises. A very distant family connection of my husband's was a barmaid there.