Wigan Album

Wigan of not so long ago, when this picture was taken who would guess that shopping would change so much? C&A, Lewis's, Littlewood's, T J Hughes, Kwiksave and even good old Woolworth's have all gone in the 10 years or so since this photo was taken. Who will be next I wonder?

Makes you think Dennis. I don't get into town very often these days, but I get lost every time I do. The town centre is unrecognisable from when I was a nipper.

Cant ever remember T J Hughes in Wigan,are you sure you are not getting mixed up, There was one in St Helens,

This was one of the years the Parish church was having a makeover.

To D, Have you been on the pop, where was T J Hughes. not in this town.

D is talking of high street shopping in general in his later comments, and not referring specifically to Wigan.

No, we never had a T.J.Hughes, but I remember C & A's.....we used to call it "Coats an' 'Ats"!

Think D was just making a comment in general otherwise could anyone tell me where Lewis's and Littlewoods where in Wigan?

Joe L - the parish church is just out of shot from this location. That's the roof lights of the Galleries.

There was never a Lewis's Department Store, but there was a Lewis's Separates, selling skirts and tops, on the corner of Crompton Street, where the greetings card shop is now; I couldn't say if it was a part of the large Lewis's group or not, but in the "flower-power" days of the late sixties. it changed its name to the more trendy "Chelsea Girl".

I can remember a Mark Williams pork butchers shop some where around here, bought many a pork pie with cold jelly on top, ate them as we walked home, best pork pies ever.

To me this is a planning nightmare, wether the shops are there now or not. Do planners ever look at surrounding buildings when considering a planning application ? Obviously in this case they didn't as the C&A store is so ugly & totally out of keeping, smack bang between the old black & white & the fancy red brick buildings. Looks like a depot or warehouse rather than a High St shop.

Walt, Mark Williams used to be where McDonald's is now just higher up than C&A.

It's been said a thousand times, with all the pics up to about the 80s/90s, about how much cleaner the streets were, compared to what they are now.... so sad...I liked C&As for shopping, but it was an ugly building...

I agree, Janet. It's nearly as ugly as Bryan House a bit further along, which they demolished the Dog i' th'Thatch to build.

I wonder what that tower crane is being used to build ? Could probably date the picture if known.

Paul - I think the crane is on the site of the Grand Arcade monstrosity, which will put the date about 2004/2005.

Mick it is earlier than that because C&A in Wigan closed down in 2000 I think it was.

Dave J. You are right with the year. Statement by C&A.
C&A's department store in the town centre is due to close after poor sales have forced the company to sell up.
Falling profits, bad location and the Trafford Centre are to blame for the demise of C&A in Standishgate, which first opened in the town in 1962.
The store was said to have made less and less profit over a period of years and was rejected for a refurbishment because it was not worth spending money on. Company bosses first announced it's closure on January 22nd this year and have now confirmed the official closing day as January 15th, 2,000 when 18 members of staff will be made redundant.
Chris Williams, head of corporate communications for C&A said the closure was regrettable. He said, "C&A in Wigan was our number 43 store and we are now up to 142 across the UK. Over a period of years it has made less and less profitability and the store has made a loss. We have tried to keep it going for as long as possible but it was important the loss did not affect the profit of the company.
"Although the company has been refurbishing many of it's stores Wigan was identified as one of the branches that was not worth spending money on. It has been extremely difficult for C&A since the refurbishment of Wigan's high street and an indoor shopping centre close by because the trade seems to have shifted. The Trafford Centre has inevitably had an effect on the way people shop.
"Solicitors have now been instructed to let the building and we understand the property has already been taken up.
"Eighteen members of staff in the Wigan store will be made redundant but six of them are over 50 and could take early retirement. Staff were given 12 months notice and we feel this was an opportunity to find themselves alternative employment."
Susan Szpak, manager of the Wigan store said, "It is still a shock to the members of staff. We are very much a family here and they are obviously upset. We have received letters from customers who said they are sorry to see the store going and from the town's point of view it is very sad.
"We have 18 members of staff left at the store and they who have chosen to stay until the end...they wanted to work until the last day."

By accident the above information about C&A came from a News Report Archive, for the Wigan Observer, Reporter and Evening Post. So, sorry if not allowed to copy & paste the text.
The link to the Web site hosting this information is

http://www.fortunecity.com/oasis/seychelles/577/july18news2001.html

no idea why seychelles is in the address ?

Sorry , I messed up the link.

It is [url="http://www.fortunecity.com/oasis/seychelles/577/july18news2001.html"]LINK[/url]

D's comments were general regarding shopping though in fact Littlewood's did have a shop in Wigan, Index (Catalogue Shop) that used to be on the ground floor of Marketgate Centre was actually part of the Littlewood's group.

The correct, full length name for C&A is

Clowns and August...................

Clemens and August were the owners
Clowns and August related to the Clown (Circus) and the August was the (foolish clown)

The crane in the picture was being used to build what is now GAME , previous to this there was just a hole with blue boarding around it