Wigan Album

I remember that shop on the corner being the Square Deal Shop, but cannot recall what name it became when Billy Davies retired, the first part of the name is covered by the traffic lights, though even with part of the name showing nothing springs to mind.

Remains of Medieval buildings were discovered when the shops were demolished, apparently they had been built around them with some of the original wattle and daub walls left intact.

I've had a look with a magnifier and the name that is partly covered is Deal, must have been how I was skenning as at first the A looked like R. Been told that the shop became known as The Deal Shop when Billy Davies left.

Goodness I must be alot older than you lot.I went for a while to the Wesleyan School in Dicconson St. As you walked from the school around the corner there was a small sweet shop, where you could buy Tiger Nuts (awful things ) and stick liqourice, just like a root that you chewed on...what passed for sweets in those days !

Cyril, is Billy Davies the well-known character in Wigan? I only vaguely remember him but know he was well-known in Wigan. I believe he used to work at The Ritz/ABC Cinema at one time.

Cyril - some of the mediaeval timber studding recovered from the buildings can be seen in the old Bluecoat School building next to the parish church, which is presently open as a charity shop.

Irene - a different Billy Davies.

Helen the toffee shop was owned by Mr and Mrs Thomas, those liquorice roots would have kept you regular and Tiger Nuts are now a super food. I've always known the Wesleyan school to be around the corner in Dicconson Street, these had been shops in my memory and didn't know that the school was in these also at one time.

As Mick says Irene a different Billy, I'm sure someone once told me that as well as being a doorman/usher at the Ritz Billy Davies also worked at Woolworths - anyone remember.

Cyril,

nice that someone else remembers Wigan before it all went to pot. I have lots of memories of my Wigan.

Cyril, I only vaguely remember Billy Davies from when I was a young girl and didn't really understand when people said he was like a woman. I believe he did work at Woolworths at one point. There was a thread on "Communicate" once where Billy was mentioned....I think it was about people who lived in the old Wallgate community....and many spoke of Billy as a lovely man. I would love to know more about him.

Cyril, I have just typed "Billy Davies Wigan" in Google and the first three links that come up are about him. The third one takes you to the Communicate thread I mentioned, with people's memories of Billy.

I believe Billy came from the Bradford St area of Chapel Lane originally, Irene.
I remember an old family friend who used to work at Brown & Haigh's telling me she used to see him doing his front step in the morning, when she was on her way to work.
In later years, he lived in one of the blocks of flats up Scholes (Derby House I seem to remember). I worked up there as a police officer in the 1980s, and used to see him regularly. He'd never pass without stopping for a chat. A nice chap.
It must be at least twenty five years since he died.

It seems such a desecration to demolish those buildings to widen the road ....was it really worth it?.. I know if I go up to St John's or St Mary's and cross over the road at the bottom of what was Greenough St it feels like dicing with death! I suppose I should cross where the traffic light is on the photo but old habits die hard!

Thankyou Mick. I wish I'd known him. I knew a man called Joe who sounds similar to Billy when I was growing up in Ince, and a nicer man you couldn't wish to meet.

Billy lived on Wood Street about the third house down on the left..my friend lived on Queen Street so I'd see him often when I went there and yes I used to see him polishing his windowsill..he used to wear a little frilly
apron....I don't know about him working in Woolies but I saw him an awful lot chatting to the women there on some subject or other..he did at one time work at the GPO..

Irene, Billy Davies lived in Woods St. Brown and Haigs was at the bottom of Woods St. so people who lived there would have seen him regularly mopping his step. I lived in Chapel Lane, my aunt was the landlady at the Red Lion and Billy used to go in there for a chat. He was a very nice person.

Thankyou, Maureen and Anne; he sounds a lovely man and I wish I'd known him. Maureen, you can tell me all about him at Neil's next month. x.

I sure will Irene.x

I sure will Irene.x