Wigan Album

That kiosk was if I remember rightly used as a change office for Wigan Corporation Buses, the main office was in the building to the left of the kiosk. The same kisok was later used to sell tickets for the short lived Wigan lottery in the 1980s.

this was in 80s.id say 83 84.cracking photo

the small stall had something to do with gm buses.

Later than 1970 John, the livery on the buses and types of motor vehicles indicate this. Also the fact Jackson's Tailors is to let - they were trading on the corner there until circa 1980.
The stall between the toilets was the Bus Inspectors cabin.
I should say the photo was taken between 1980 and 1985. Woolworths are still trading, and I think they closed 1985/86.

Think the small stall was to do with the buses. Timetables etc

I think it was the bus inspectors cabin John.

Further to my other comments, the pic must be after 1981, as in that year, GMPTE changed the livery of their 'buses from orange and white, to orange, white and brown, as can be seen on the 'bus in Market Place.

i think the stall was something to do with the bus offices. wigan corporation bus transport was facing there.the drivers went in there for their drinks and the conductors would change their ticket machines.the drivers and conductors very often stood outside with their drinks.

'small stall' was bus inspectors office I think

That little hut was used by the buses following the closure of the transport offices . These were situated behind the hut to the left.
also the little hut housed the night inspector who would blow the whistle at 11pm sharp on which the last buses would leave.

looking at the buses it could be late 1970 early 80s.

The Tiffany's building is in the background on Standishgate, I seem to recall that was only built about 1976 after the old Dog I'th Thatch was demolished, and as others have mentioned there is a GM bus in the market place so would certainly be after 1974.

Are those two queue's for different buses, and is that a dash of Cherry and White on the Kop stand? Does this say Saturday afternoon?

Can somebody let me know how the pedestrianized Wigan of today works better than this picture? Here I see something that functions why did it change?

Andrew, I reckon the photo must have been taken on a Sunday or early morning. now way could it work now, many towns were pedestrianised around that time because they could no longer cope with the amount of traffic going about.

Don't think the photo could have been taken on a Sunday - it looks like at least one of the shops (Peter Lord) is open, as the sun blind is down.
The light and shadows suggest the sun is in the west, so late afternoon/early evening possibly.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU WILL SEE THE WIGAN SUPPORTERS WATCHING THE MATCH, SO IN ALL PROBABILITY IT LOOKS LIKE ITS SATURDAY AFTERNOON,BUT NEVERTHELESS ITS AN AMAZING PHOTO,NICE TO SEE THE OLD TOWN AS IT WAS, BRINGS BACK MANY MEMORIES FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE I WOULD THINK.

John - at this time (early/mid 1980s), the vast majority of Wigan RLFC games were played on Sunday afternoons.

may have been a cup game, sometimes played on saturdays

i think this is early 80s .... notice the toilets still open at top of wigan opposite jacksons . I remember them.

I think pedestrianisation is a good thing in the main, even as far back as the 60s it was lethal trying to cross Standishgate or the Marketplace on a Saturday.

I can remember queuing up at that kiosk for my 'Saver 7*' bus ticket, originally you got it from a kiosk just outside of the Ritz, but later on you got it from the Market Place kiosk.

* I *think* it was called a Saver 7, you got a ticket that lasted a week on the buses?

The roof at the front looks to be old style and have flag poles so maybe its Lowes roof and not the new Barclays bank roof

That's right Dennis - a Saver 7.
At one time (1977/78) they also sold them from an office on the corner of Millgate and Market Place.

Definitely the old Lowes building roof in the foreground, that was demolished around 1987.

was a saver 7 an a clipper card the same thing

MICK,I THINK IT WAS ON A SATURDAY ,ALL THE SHOPS ARE OPEN AND THEY DID,NT OPEN ON A SUNDAY AT THAT TIME, ON SUNDAYS IN THEM DAYS WIGAN WAS LIKE A GHOST TOWN, EVEN THE PUBS CLOSED AT 2 OO PM.