Wigan Album

This is not New Springs Bridge.

Ken R, Dennis does not say its New Springs Bridge ! he says at New Springs which of course is right.

In the early 1960's as a young boy I used to go regularly on my own on the bus over this bridge to visit my Grandparents in Aspull. I remember one day the bus could not continue because a low loader lorry had got stuck on to pf the bridge with its wheels dangling either side like a cartoon picture. we had to go round cale Lane and on the Hall Lane to get to Aspull. Does anyone else remember this It was probably around 1960-83 as I would still hve been at primary school ?

Ken R, this most definitely is New Springs Bridge.

Many years ago, my Great Grandfather used to be the landlord of the Bridgewater Pub and his daughter, my Great Aunt, Agnes Darwin, used to live at No.2 Bridge Street, just
next to the pub, until she passed away in 1971.

23 Years at Primary Carolean. Hope you didnt have to go in short pants toward the end.

'Sacckys' pub - last time I went in there I was dressed as Batman ..long story... (was it Woodfield Street behind?

That's the CROWN pub and not the Bridgewater pub.

Carolaen, I remember that incident, I remember walking down from Aspull just to have a look. Must have been about 1959/60.

Carolaen, yes I remember the low loader stuck on New Springs bridge, it was in the mid 1950s I was only a small boy at the time, we walked down from Aspull to see it. The low loader belonged to 'Pickfords'. All motor vehicles (few those days) were diverted via Red Rock, Ladies Lane Hindley was not yet paved. Alternatively, vehicles went via Hindley and Westhoughton. I'll bet you remember that you had to get off the bus and walk over the bridge then jump on another bus which was parked for this purpose on the Aspull side of the canal, it took a couple of days to remove the low loader. Also, the old bridge was demolished sometime later and the one you see here was built in its place, the new one was not quite as steep and was straightened out somewhat.

I share exactly the same memory JJP.

definitley saccky's pub, crown before the bridge on the left as you walk towards ivy brow, still there serving sunday lunch

This bridge used to be the scene of New Years Eve festivities. the people on the Aspull side would go to the Wigan side for a visit to The Crown or The Prince Albert and the people from the Wigan side would go to the Aspull side and visit the Colliers Arms.About midnight they would all meet up on the bridge and wish one another a happy new year after which they would make their way home to 'Pratoe' Pie and red cabbage.

St Wilf. Ooh err that would have been a bit a nippy at the end (as they would have said on Round the Horne) Sorry about typo. We did have to wear short trousers in the first year at WGS so it was 1964 before my knees were properly covered from view.

Look like the Bridgewater to Me.

Was this pub on the Aspull (north) side of the bridge? Does anyone know When it was knocked down? I'm assuming it's not there any more.

If this is a picture of New Springs Bridge then that pub is not the Crown. The Crown is not that close to the canal. Check Google Earth or walk or drive past. Either there was a closer pub to the canal or this is a different bridge. Also New Springs Bridge had a more pronounced hump than this bridge and it was curved, not straight. The road past the Crown is steeper than the one in the picture and where the picture is taken from (the opposite bank and across the road, there is no towpath near New Springs Bridge on that side of the canal. Is this not the bridge along Cale Lane towards Kirkless Hall?

This bridge is bridge 59, it says so on the cast plate, so no argument there. The pub is not the Crown, sorry Garry, the Crown is approximately 150 yards to the right, going down the hill towards Whelley on the opposite side of the road , and I don't even come from Wigan. Regards. Ozy.

Haigh Brass Band used to play on the bridge to see the New Year in, in the 50s

Delivered papers from 1957 to 60 from Wildings shop near Prince Albert . passed The Royal the Crown the Bridgewater up to the Colliers walk over the bridge qite a lot during that time

This is new springs bridge , I lived in Bridge st from 1938 to about 1956 . Our house and my bedroom was behind Saxons pub at no three, on Saturday night I could hear the piano playing and singing when I was in bed, I remember hanging out the bedroom window listening, also Agnes Darwen lived opposite I used to grind her coffee for her ,fond memories

this is defiantly new springs bridge and the bridge water pub
used to swim in the canal there many moons ago

This definitely New Sorings bridge I webt over it everyday to school and back from Woodfield Street. The towpath was on the Wigan side, opposite there is no towpath just grass verges. The hump was levelled a bit after the lorry got stuck on the higher hump. The road has a turn to right coming from Aspull to Wigan, some didnt realise this and didnt turn quickly and hit the garden wall of the house on the corner of Wigan Road and Withington Lane where a girl called Norma lived and went to school with me. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind it IS New Springs bridge. Re New Year celebs, my dad used to go there to wait for the bells of the Parish church to ring in the New Year.

Quite right Julie, I lived at 137 Wigan Road from 1939 and I have cycled and driven over it untill I moved to Highfield in 1968. I worked at Walmsleys
till 1972 when our department was transferred to
Bury. So my route by car was again over the bridge
Via Horwich and Bolton. It was closed for quite a few weeks about 1973 which caused a longer detour via Hindley, Westhoughton and Bolton.
I remember Mr Saxon being the landlord and I have
a photo with my father in law Walter Settle and quite a few other customers outside the pub.

and through Horwich to Bury. The bridge was closed for widening and lowering about
I had lived

I'm a springer born bred I thought the Barrett councils estate the development was called new springs Park

Ozymandias.
New Springs Bridge is 59a. So there is an argument there. Ha ha.