Wigan Album

D Tease - The Bradshaigh House block of flats stands where numbers 2 to 18 Wigan Lane would have stood, and the block has Wigan Lane as a postal address - 'Bradshaigh House, Wigan Lane, Wigan WN1 2AW'.
The house next to them, going back towards the town centre, has the postal address 136 Standishgate, so I think that determines the end of one, and the start of t'other.

That is Standishgate, Standishgate goes up the hill past the old Wigan Girls High School and joins Wigan Lane opposite The Swinley Social Club.

Wigan Lane is behind you.

Standishgate starts outside the entrance to the Grand Arcade and finishes outside Mab's Cross primary school zebra crossing where Wigan Lane begins. This was the main road to the north before Central Park Way was built in 1987. This is where St Mary's and St John's RC churches are, and there used to be St Paul's united reformed church that is now offices. Also there was a convent that was demolished in the 1970s.

Upstairs at the Griffin - late 60s, or early 70s -, where we'd seen Haydock's Freddy Hill win the 'area final of the News of the World' darts competition. Top-notchers Fred Chadwick and Dickie Walls (wearing his signature flat cap) had also competed. Trade had been brisk.

In the 1960s the Whitesmiths ( and into the 70s) was a great pub and was one of the few places in the Wigan area where you could get a pint of Boddingtons - I think there was another in Newtown. At that time Boddingtons was a fantastic very bitter golden ale brewed in Manchester at the Strangeways Brewery. Then as we all know Whitbreads changed to beer to an anodyne tasteless "cream of Manchester !" Key beer brewed in vast quantities and sold in every other pub and all the supermarkets, and ultimately closing the original brewery down. I am sure there are some readers on here who like the modern stuff but you have no idea how poor it is compared to the original. In a weird twist of fate I don't actually drink any alcohol any more as I became allergic to it in my late 50s - who knew ?do I can't comment on how good the masses of New craft beers / micro breweries are but Good Luck to them, the industrial brewing giants of the 1980s have a lot to answer for.
PS the Griffin with Billy B was great as well and I have done memories of the Bowling Green pub further up Wigan Lane. Is it still there ? I moved away in 1970 so have lost touch with Wigan pubs.

Standishgate continues up to roughly where the zebra crossing on the bend at the top of the hill is situated. After Mabs Cross House, Bradshaigh House flats has a Wigan Lane address, but Mabs Cross Primary opposite is still Standishgate. Douglas Court just after the school is Wigan lane, and the property after the flats is 2, Wigan Lane. There are street signs either side of the crossing showing Standishgate and Wigan Lane.

From the town centre it is Standishgate to Mabs Cross primary school and Wigan Lane beyond that.

Carolaen. I remember when the Whitesmiths was a Swales ale pub. I think they were taken over by Boddingtons.

Roy how can Swinley club be the Border between Standishgate and Wigan Lane when all the shops and other buildings from the club to Mabs Cross school have Wigan Lane addresses.

I remember being in the Griffin one Friday night when Billy had it, the place was rammed, Wigan having just played across the road at Central park. A couple of the girls from work came over talking and one happened to say, that bloke over there near the door looks familiar, does he work at our place. I had a look to see who it was. It was Michael Parkinson !!

Carolaen - the Bowling Green was still there last time I was up Wigan Lane, a few weeks ago.
Used to frequent that hostelry in the 1980s, when Tommy Dickens was landlord. He kept an excellent pint of Draught Bass.

Jod. The property after bradshagh House flats is no. 20 not no. 2. Lawlesses paper shop 2 doors up from it is no. 24 Wigan lane.

Didn't they have a clock that ran backwards in the Bowling Green at one time? Very confusing at chucking out time.

Thought Tommy had the Royal Oak, didn't know he'd been in the Bowling Green as well

I used to go in the Griffin in the early 70’s and I think John O’Neal was landlord. Don’t know whose ale it was as I only drank DD in there.

Wn1 Standisher - Tommy Dickens kept both the Royal Oak and the Bowling Green at different times.I believe he also had the Dog and Partridge at Standish at one stage.
Broady - the Griffin was a Tetleys house when John and Agnes O'Neill were in there. I used to go in a lot in the 1970s.

played for wigan super league in the griffin phil.

That's hardly surprising, Whups, as you were up there with the best of 'em'.

Billy Boston also had the bush at the top of bell Green lane, also other ex players had it, Jimmy Bradshaw and Brian catterall.

Sorry ment Jimmy belshaw,

Tommy did indeed have the Dog & Partridge in Standish, it did a roaring trade. Bet he never thought it would be anything other than a pub

Regarding The Whitesmiths belonging to Swales, the Bowling Green at Newtown was also a Swales pub and the brewery was at the rear which was formerly Farrimonds brewery, and yes, the Swales pubs were later taken over by Boddingtons.

Carolaen, yes it was a great tasting beer enhanced, I was told, during brewing by the addition of honey, I'm sure Whitbread omitted this has it tasted completely different after they took over.

Pub next to Griffin is White Horse. Whitesmiths was across the road

Definitely the Whitesmith’s Stuart.