Wigan Album

had my first drink in there when i was 17 it was pale ale i thought i was very grown up happy days

If you walked past the step where the people are sitting and on past the white gate, didn't you come to the old Powell Children's Library, before they built the one in The Wiend?

Didn't realise you had to go outside for a smoke even in them days!

Great pub! Had many a great night there before hitting the bright lights! King of Clubs, etc!!!!!!!

I remember going to a wedding reception in the upstairs room. My friend and his wife came after the rest of us. When he came, I told him it was a Free bar and when he went to the bar to get a round in. There was about 10 of us, 5 men and 5 women. He orderd the drinks and brought them over. The bar man shouted after him, about paying for them My mate turned to him and said "What you on about it's a Free bar" everyone (not my mate though) was doubled up laughing. It cost him about £5.00 which was nearly all his pocket money for the following week. I can see his face now...L.O.L.

Irene...you are right, and there was also a small museum up the stairs in the Library. It was just a few miners lamps and helmets... and some portraits of severe looking gents. With one or two cotton mill bobbins thrown in.

played my 1st darts match in there circa1966 ,i was hammered in 11 or 12 darts they had a roaring fire near the board that made it hard as hell to stick the darts in wish it where yesterday

Does anyone remember the table football machine in the back room?

Just up to the left was the pub we used to go in,out of the "Emp" on a passout, the "Baths Hotel". Either that or Th'Owd Dog. on the Marketplace..;o)

Trying to date this picture the flats behind set the general timing. My family moved into Woodcock House when it was first released in around 1964/65. This is the block you see at the left side of the shot. The block at the right, Douglas House, was already built but I can remember watching the other blocks around there being built. So late 60's. My mum, Kath, worked in the Horseshoe. The landlords at the time were Frank & Sally Atherton. They sold Buttonwood beers. The street is Station Road which curved upwards past the Empress Ballroom, Wigan Casino to us youngsters, on the left and the Ritz picture house on the right. The central walkway of the Grand Arcade follows the general line of Station Road as it joins Wallgate. Most of the buses used to start in Station Road and the corner, WH Smith now but Woolworths back then, was a common meeting place. Happy days.

Correction. Woolies was on Standishgate.