Wigan Album

The Black Horse sign is the pub. Was still there until the 1970's.

I think the lower picture is earlier, more simplistic and also there are no cobbled streets, just grassed areas in front.

The Black Horse building still exists, it is the building next to the passageway that leads to the church yard.

Thanks Keith for putting these photos on WW;i have been researching my family tree and my ancestors where living in this area of Wigan around the 1800s.

Thank you for your observation Paula, I hadn't considered that fact.

In days gone by Market Place had a market cross, town stocks, a whipping post, the Moot Hall and the New Town Hall (built1720). In 1624 Bishop Bridgeman wrote “Also because at the wakes on the day after (Christmas Eve) it has been a use among ye townsmen to have that barbarous and beastly game of bear-bayting and the Bear Wards . . . might bayt his beares on the Market Hill . . . after my Monday Market were ended and the people had packed up their wares.” In 1715 five Jacobite leaders were executed here.

amazing insight into history jack... how much have we really progressed through the ages.. bear baiting in those days, dog fighting and more these days, and definitely man against man. We are indeed, still less than the animals in our appreciation and respect for our fellow-being. I think karma will eventually catch up with us humans, sooner perhaps rather than later.