Wigan Album

The coal was still brought to the power station by barge until the mid to late 1970;s

this is were we used to wait for a barge in the summer holidays, when we got through the swing bridge and locks at Poolstock the bargee would hand over the tiller and I would take the barge on to Plank Lane to fill up, and make the return journey to Poolstock locks the bargee then took over to the power station. the bargee's got paid one shilling per ton and the barge's held 56 to 60 tons and they worked 6 days a week, they paid us 30 shillings if we went with them all week.

Ah for the day when you could throw an electrical switch, and smile in the knowledge that you were burning Bickershaw coal, but in a comfortable and convenient way.

what a great building that was, I am sure it was designed by sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the man behind battersea, and Liverpool anglican catherdral, anyone confirm?