Wigan Album

There's more than 20 odd houses in that row, that certainly wouldn't happen these days. Yet if there had been a fire in the middle it would have been easier to contain. Unlike the multi- storey flats that went up in flames. Just a thought, it wasn't unusual to see all those houses in blocks at the time, more neighbourliness and community spirit as well. I wouldn't want to go back to living in a terrace, but neither would I like to live in a high rise flat, private or otherwise, in this country or abroad..

The land down to the canal in front of the houses was used as a rubbish by the Woodcock rowers

Don’t remember the rubbish but remember the wagon that used to go down weekly to empty the dry lavatories. I was at school (Crooke) with Elaine Wilson who lived for a while in the house nearest to the camera. She lived withe her mother Agnes who liked to frequent the Crooke Hall inn in the days when Buckley’s where the proprietors -(Magee ales on the back gates)

I bet that anyone who lived in the row could name all the other families living there. Not like today when most people don't know their near neighbours' names or have spoken to them

Your house has a red, modern door, now, Mary,
Through which portal we'd often sped to games of endless joy, and to see the mighty coal-filled craft as they sailed below, then, frozen prance.
And though yon' corvid caw might haunt,
This beckoned way still shines, brightly,
Throughout our loving, golden days.

I remember a girl in my form at school,Veronica Banks, lived here then.

Valerie - when you were at the school, do you remember a set of 11 photographs of former pupils from the school killed in the Great War? They were unveiled with great ceremony, and with the sentiment that they would inspire pupils for generations to come - according to the 1920 newspaper reports. However, I have not found any reference to them in any of the local histories I've seen. To my knowledge, they were the only memorial to the Great War in Shevington until after WW2, so their apparent disappearance, and the ignorance of them, is puzzling.

Veronica lived in a semi detached just before you reached Woodcock row. I don’t remember any pictures Rev Long. I attended Crooke school between 1956-1963 but don’t know of these pictures

Sorry,my mistake.Thought she lived in the row.

Rev have you s seen the Crooke Village website

http://www.crookevillage.co.uk/

My GG Grandad moved from Cornwall to Crooke around 1870

delivered newspapers to woodcock row in the 50s,no letter boxes; just used to walk in thru the back door and put the newspaper on the table.They had nowt but always tipped at xmas

my mums family(annie garvin) the garvins lived here until the council estate was built in shevington does any one recall them.my mum married william walsh from lower ground after her first husband ernie tracy died , sadly i christina am the only one left.