Wigan Album

My grandparents Thomas & Annie Winstanley lived in Fir Tree Cottage from about 1910. They can be found on 1911 Census. The house, when I went there up until 1967 when grandma died had no electricity, gas or drainage. Heating was from the range in the living room. Lighting was from a paraffin lamp with a tall glass chimney and a mantle. The necessaries were done in a privy at the end of the garden which needed to be cleared out by shovel an wheelbarrow every few months. Upstairs was divided into two rooms. The bedroom ceiling was the reverse side of the stone which formed the roof. In winter there would be ice on the ceiling. At the back of the house there was a lean-to wash house which had a brick built copper for boiling whites and an enormous mangle with large wooden rollers - great for squashing the fingers of inquisitive little boys! Grandma refused to have electricity installed. Both Thomas and Annie are buried in St Matthew Highfield. This picture must have been taken after 1967 when grandma died and sometime in the late 1980,s when the cottages were renovated. The cottage must originally been the teacher's house as there was a doorway by the side of the fireplace which led into what had been the schoolroom next door. As a five year old I used to wander into bluebell wood alone without concern. The old farmhouse opposite was occupied by two spinster sisters Lily & Ethel Fouracre. As a child i thought they were called Forrekkers as this was how their name was pronounced,

I am on Ancestery and was going through my ancestors when I came along this for Thomas and Annie Winstanley. My maiden name was Winstanley and I had relations in Upholland Alma Road and my great cousin was named Derek with two sister Joan and Doris and his dad was Harry and mother Alice. His dad was known as Chicken Harry. You never know we could be related somewhere down the line.

my dads uncle was known as harry chick his brother was john Winstanley who was my dads dad and lived om Alma Rd Upholland and my dad told me many a story about his uncle Harry