Wigan Album

Cathy Bolton, whoever and whereever you are, consider yourself kissed!I'm looking for the names of these shop proprieters in the fifties and here you are with virtually the whole row identified and most certainly modelable.
Is 'Pooles' the cafe that apparently subsequently moved across the road next door to the Victoria Hotel or ????
In any event thank you
Kevan

Kevan, when I saw your picture I asked my better half what was there in the fifties. He lost his sight in '59 and remembers things amazingly.
He came up with Frames Travel,tobacconist and newspapers, sweet shop (possibly Westheads), florist (Highams or Waterworths he said),Frasers jewellers, an army and navy stores and Isherwoods shoe shop.
Then I found the picture which is earlier than he remembers but still pretty good!
The 'Pooles' you can see is probably an earlier version of Pooles Domestics which sold washing machines etc. in fact it says 'OUR TERMS' on the window , probably for hire purchase. Pooles Cafe is on the other side of the road. The leading car is just touching a zebra crossing and John said that's where Pooles Cafe was.
Hope that helps!

Brilliant photo i remember this occasion i may be on this photo.
My mam took me to see the queen i would be about 5 and was very excited. Thank you Cathy xx

There was a wine shop/off licence on the corner and behind that was the saddler who always had a saddle and tackle hanging on a fence come rail outside, overlooking the station carpark.I remember this visit very well and I lived in the first house under the bridge.The WHITE tiled bridge walls were cleaned up for the occation,the gents toilet was given a nice coat of green paint.Wallgate was very posh!!

Addison's was the wine merchant on the corner, and Robinson's saddlers were behind it.
To continue onto the approach to North Western station, you also had Jack Hurst's taxis, in a single story cabin.

The one next to the wine shop coming up was Gordon Isherwood's,the brother of Lawrence the artist.

Well Cathy please thank your hubby for his vision that is obviously still there within him, between your photo,his memory and the rest of the people of Wigan that added their memories I think all of the blanks pertaining to what will be at the forefront on my railway have been filled in. Now all I have to do is do it justice in the form of a hopefully recognizeable model.
Kevan

I seem to remember that the Pooles in this picture was a smaller branch of the Pooles department store, which was in Station Road.

My dad bought me a khaki coloured life-belt from the army and navy stores..I lived just under the bridge in Great George Street so it brings back happy memories for me.

Maureen did you realise George Formby's wife Beryl lived in Great George St when they married at Wigan Reg office..

I remember the Army & Navy stores being there, would be about mid 60s.

Gerry,no I didn't know that..but I know that George's relations lived at the top of the street right facing my Grandparents,and have been told of George turning up in a Rolls Royce.