Wigan Album

I can remember the little shack selling cups of tea on Shaley Brow in the early fifties.

If you look in the Old Gallery feature on this site you'll find an item entitled Matthew Walters - an album of scans I took of a set of glass slides he made around 1900. Freda Chorlton identified one view there as being of Shaley Brow, with the refreshments hut in view.

"I'm a Brow Beater!" Been up here on a few Orrell Half-Marathons. 1984, 85, and 87. Damned testing race that was!

This is looking up the hill from the Billinge Hospital side.

You are right Steve, the photo that I identified in the Album was over the hill on the way down towards Kings Moss.

The farm on the left is Plane Tree Farm and the cottage on the right is Beacon Cottage, currently a white cottage for sale I think. It is just up Crank Rd from where I live, and over the fields to the left of Plane Tree Farm are Billinge Plantations.

Shaley Brow Farm is other side of the hill on the entrance to Houghwood golf club. The old cafe was in the cottage further down the hill, it used to be on a sharp bend till the council altered it after many a car ended up on the roof.

Matthew Walters was my great grandad, i remember him well

I used to ride horses owned by Old Bill on Shaley Brow on the right hand side. I would walk from Worsley Hall to there to ride, groom, or muck out the stalls. Loved it.

Me and a couple of mates used to go in the Cafe on Shaley brow after we had been in the club opposite Billinge Hospital on a Sunday afternoon. Back in the 1960's After a few pints in the club we would walk over to the cafe for a cup of tea and a piece of Custard pie. I had a couple of dates with a girl who worked in there on Sundays, But it didn't last. Bus from Pemberton to Billinge Hospital then walking over Billinge Hill to Kings Moss, where she lived, then walking to the Red Cat then walking back.. Then after I missed the bus and had to walk home that was the end of a beautiful friendship and free Custard pie.. <g>