Wigan Album

What were the names of your grand parents? Was the shop just a Pie shop orwas it a bakers?

My granparents were Mr. and Mrs Bradshaw.They sold groceries and sweets supplies by Holland and Clough from Greatacre. The back room where the pies were made had a stove and a baking table. My mother helped them out.Upstairs was a stock room and the ceiling in the backroom had been taken out to allow for ventilatilon. We as kids used to hang over the edge to watch operations below until we were told off for doing so! Granddad took the pies out in a big basket to places like Coops and the Co-op Stocking factory, carrying with him a big jug of gravy.They took the shop when Granddad had to leave the pit due to nystagmus

What a story photos tell. I can just about remember going to my Granny & Grandpa Bradshaw's shop, having to stand on tip toe to see over the counter & getting some sweets. My Uncle Tommy Bryson is standing by the shop door. I think he & my Dad, Bill Bradshaw were keen cyclists in their youth.

Can anyone tell me if this place is now Walmsleys furniture store?

What is the BAY sign next to the shop?
It can't be Walmsley's as the hill is going down the wrong way.
Is it on the part of the street where the Bricklayers Arms is?

the BAY was part of the sign of the Bay Horse pub. When we were kids we watched the dray men as they lowered the beer barrels down into the cellar. the building is still there next to Harry Wallworks hairdressers

Bradshaws made the best meat & potatoe pies in Wigan (even...the World!!) I lived for many years 200 yds away just up the road at Church House Bishopgate; Dad (Bill Cowen) was verger at the Parish Church. The shop next door (going down Hallgate on the right) was a Cobblers Shop, as I recall. The Bay Horse pub is on the corner of Hallgate and Little Hallgate. (2 smashing chip-shops in Little Hallgate....Swifts on the R and on the L a bit further up was Jones's. On the opposite corner at the top of Hallgate to the Bay Horse was the Crofter's Arms pub. By the way...the best MEAT pies in Wigan were from POOLE's...up to top of Little Hallgate, turn right towards the Market Place, and it was just there on the right...just before LOWES Emporium.

I can’t place them photo at all for some reason, but I recognise all the other shops etc that you mention. I went to the Bluecoat school and remember the terrible accident with Enid Cowan, who I presume was your sister, since I remember your Dad being the verger..I was born in Hallgate and had relatives living there until it was wrecked for the bus station.