Wigan Album
Standish
6 Comments
Photo: Barrie.
Item #: 29668
This may be of interest to Linda Massa and others from the Standish area in the 1950s/60s as this was a play area and access route to the old Prospect coal wash and flash that attracted us older children.
The tunnel was dark when you got to the middle and if memory serves me right there was a drainage manhole by the rail tracks that one had to be wary off. I am glad we were not "wrapped up in cotton wool" and we never came to any serious harm. (wet when one fell in the flash !!)
We were dared to go through on your own ,are you gam enough to go through in the dark ? Fricknin at the time .
The tunnel was at the back of our house and the times we played there. Memories.
This tunnel was on the robin hill colliery to gidlow washery line passing swire pit & prospect pit;you can still walk a lot of this line from gidlow to almond brook hotel [robin hill colliery]
Linda, thee, your sister,me,the Cheethams & the Speakman's all played at some point together or in groups around that area. I used to get a ride on the train going down to Gidlow at times depending on the driver & going through the tunnel was noisy. I think we all had great times during that era growing up and finding our way in our young lives.
No matter how hot the day it was always cold and windy in that tunnel and even though we were not happy walking through it we still did. One day one of our older friends gave us a cigarette and a couple of matches so we could have a go at smoking. Struck the first match but the wind blew it out and the same with the second so we never did get to smoke that cigarette. Good job my Dad didn't catch us.
I believe the other end of the tunnel is now in someone's garden and has been used for storage