Wigan Album

Some great old pic's there Derek - thanks for sharing them.

used to play there as a kid in the late 60`s.with mates paul glover and allan ashurst.is that the yoyo in the background.great memories.i lived at 135 billinge road,just incase anybody knows me.

Hi Allan
Did you go to Highfield School until 1969? I was Julie Bromilow, thought you lived in America now.

I remember the yoyo was flat on top am i right

Both big tips were rounded on top when built, but got shortened over the years - down to the ground.

Hi julie, yes i did go to highfeild.and i live in Australia now ,have for the last 30 years.i do remember you do you keep in touch with anybody from school.

Julie, did you live at the top of Smethurst Lane?

Hi Alan
No I am not in touch with anyone from school. I used to have a baby clothes shop in Pemberton and spoke to your mum when she came in one day, that is at least 18 years ago.

I didn't live at top of Smethurst Lane. I lived in Southern Street until I was about 7/8 then in Merton Road until I married.
Actually my Nan lived in Chapel Street (would you call that top of Smethurst Lane)She was Annie Bromilow, with daughters Betty and Susan.

Julie

Thanks for all the photos of Highfield and Winstanley, they brought back many memories. I used to live in Queen Pit Cottages at the edge of Blundell`s pit. I went to Highfield School and my mum worked at May Mill. I used to go with my grandma once a month to collect my late grandad`s pension at Summerscale, this was a princely 10shillings a month! I spent many a happy hour playing on the slag heaps!!

Can anyone remember what happened to the saddle tank engine that was being run by a few guys after the pit had closed?
this wpould be about 1968/9 ish. If you asked for a ride you'd be given a bucket and told to fill it with coal off the tip, and it had to be decent stuff no lumps of bass or they would tell you to sling your hook.
Had a hairy but memorable experience riding down part of the big tip on a Morris 1000 bonnet with a rope tied to the bonnet catch to hang on to. It was noisey and frightening and shook you to bits. I did it a couple of times it was great fun, and we sent it down a shallow errosion gulley to keep it from spinning round and chucking us out.
Where did the engine go? anyone?
Great pics of the colliery by the way, they could do with putting up on the aditnow website, they would be very gratefull. Many thanks, Roy