Wigan Album
Commercial Yard
8 CommentsPhoto: RON
Item #: 4091
I have to agree with you Ron. For the past forty or fifty years, the powers that be in Wigan have worked according to a widely discredited practice known as 'throwing the baby out with the bath water'.
Given the period in which much of this destruction occurred (the late 60s, early 70s), it would have been reasonable to think they would have seen the mistakes other towns had made, and learned from them.
I would bet that on the area coverd by the galleries. There where more shops then, than there are now??? Also they would be more indivdual. Why they couldn't have covered the Commercial yard with a glass roof and kept the character I don't know??? Well I do! MONEY.
As you rightly say Mick. The council keep on about Heritage. Yet they are the ones who have destroyed it.
I used to go for a pint and a haircut in the commercial yard, can't believe it's gone Wigan used to have Character and Wigan councillors past and present have turned it into well! you could be anywhere!!!! they all look the same.
The entrance to the offices of my first employment in 1964 were in Commercial Yard. My first job was as a trainee valuer with Wigan CBC. The entrance to the office was via a door on the left (near the man with the shopping bag) up three flights of stairs above the Wigan Transport offices.
Colleagues included Jimmy Strange, Vince Sayer, Brian Bond, Herbert Morton and Muriel Haworth. Fred Hankes was the boss - not a nice man. I was regularly sent to buy cigarettes for my colleages at the tobaconists (Ashtons - I think) on the right.
It seems a long time ago now.
I was a student at tec in mid 60s. We had some lectures at Parson's Walk, and some in t' Old Building. Only trouble was that the timetable did not allow for the 10 to 15 minutes that it took us to walk from one to t'other. On those occasions when the prior session over-ran we just gave up and (being a convenient mid point in our walk), we instead would go and have lunch in the Tory Club. Although I considered myself a sscialis then, I have to admit it was the best lunch option for miles around!
In courting days if the Ritz finished early you could just get to The Commercial for last orders ,10-30pm in those days.I think the Landlords name was Mr., Whiteman although I' not sure.
My first visit to a pub. If my dad had known I would have been in trouble, I was underage.
Could somebody give an exact location of Commercial Yard please? I was just a young teenager when it all closed down. I can see it in my mind, but not exactly where. Was it somewhere near Makinsons Arcade. Thanks.