Wigan Album
King Street & King Street West, Wigan
9 CommentsPhoto: RON HUNT
Item #: 32805
In the early 60s my dad took my brother and me to the County when it was a cinema to watch "The Last Days of Pompeii". I also notice the Bier Keller across the street. Spent many a happy night in there listening to the Oompah band, standing on the benches and drinking those huge steins!
Definitely old wigan waterboard
King Street before it was dominated with bars and nightclubs. I remember the County Playhouse building and also the wallpaper shop on the right. There was also a Sue Ryder charity shop, and Dawsons music shop at Grimes Arcade. Behind is TSB bank, and two supermarkets, Lennons and Tesco.
The van is a Bedford HA that was based on the first Vauxhall Viva HA car (1963-66) that was a boxy shape, the later HB Viva (1966-70) and HC (1970-79) were more curvy. The Bedford HA had a long production run from 1964-83 and late ones don't look much different to early ones. There was an estate conversion of the HA van called Bedford Beagle, some being a small caravan made until 1973. So the registration of the van is not clear, possibly SBC103S, it could be a much older G reg.
Coming out of the County one night in the 60’s slipped on the stairs (the result of wearing killer heels) and went all the way down. My pride more than my body was hurt. Saturday dinner time, lunch at the Bier Keller, always good.
I don't think King Street has physically changed that much since this picture was taken, although it is less of a traffic route these days.
I think the night time economy era of King Street is over now - a lot of the familiar pubs/bars/clubs have gone in recent years and even when we see the back of Covid19, I very much doubt King Street will ever return to its popular hub days of drinking revellers flooding the street and queuing up outside licenced premises.
I do think in its current state, King Street looks like a dingy neglected forgotten part of town. I do hope Wigan Council try and bring some life back but sadly I think the economic gloom we are facing means many of our town centres will remain in a state of decline for a good few years to come.
ive walked up that street.
I've walked down it.
I believe the council have earmarked a couple of million for the re generation of the area, and refurbishing the old Court Cinema which now has some association with the OLD COURTS
I believe the council have earmarked a couple of million for the re generation of the area, and refurbishing the old Court Cinema which now has some association with the OLD COURTS