Wigan's Victorian Quarter

web site

The shoe repairers there are collecting old or unwanted shoes for charity.

Every pair - no matter what condition - is put to good use.

Nice part of town.

And 1st class service in one shop in particular.

Awl say no more lest I get blamed for advertin.

How do you find that out, TOM?

No. I thought you'd found information about the registrant somewhere on the website, but I couldn't find it.

I'm not involved with it in any way, TOM. I found out about the web site through a FB link that mentioned the upcoming music events at Wigan Parish Church.

So you don't do tatooing and piercing, Jo Anne?

No, not me, Dostaf.
I was devastated when my daughters had their ears pierced.

I wonder if this 'Victorian Quarter' idea was why a question was raised on 'Places' about the origins of Jaxon's Court.

Here

what are the other three quaters

King Street area begs a question.

king st is just a dividing line

The Bohemian Quarter

There are a multitude of quarts in King Street.

What about the Market Hall/Mesnes Street area?

aye and thats only mad monday

don't stray too far tonker may be lurking

What about the Market Hall/Mesnes Street area?

I'll have to give that more four-thought, Dostaf.

there certain parts of wigan borough that don't have quaters, they must be just holes

I wonder if the Council have rubber-stamped this? Or if it's what the local traders have done off their own backs.

The place (Hallgate) looked great in the Summer with the coloured flags flying. But I think the idea was also to have Christmas trees at this time.

I'm trying to find 'Quarters' in Halifax. I've seen them, or at least one of them, as there are signposts on the street. Hence my question about the Council involvement.

Flags

From their FB page:

"Great news - we are well over half-way towards the £800 fundraising target for launching the Victorian Quarter. Well done to all the businesses so far chipping in - just shows what can be achieved when we all work together.

(10/12/10) The Victorian Quarter banner has now been put up in Marketplace - visible from as far as Standishgate, Grand Arcade and Wallgate - a very prominent position - thanks to the Town Centre Manager for doing this."

Found a pic of the Halifax Piece Hall Quarter sign.

Wonder if similar will appear in Wigan?

Mark Sunderland Picture

"The Banner lists the three areas of the VQ and has an arrow that points down in this direction... - we just need a small sign at the top of Hallgate to finish off (in progress)"

piece hall I once bought a screwdriver there

The Banner lists the three areas of the VQ

where are the thirds of the quater ????

Good luck to them.


I'm just wondering if that owd shop-bike is still there?

Top of Hallgate, chained to railings as an advert (travel agent??). There was some bother about a similar one by the junction of Mesnes Street and Standishgate.

dodecagon

I thought they were extinct.

No, they're still in great shape, Dostaf.

still about just like dragons

I was tempted.

Found the bike story;

Mesnes Street Cobbler

"On its own it might not seem too much, but if we turned a blind eye to advertising like this it would open the floodgates for others to do the same thing.

just like the council

see pic 6

Which is what the VQ people are pointing out;

"Pretty much the only shopping area in Wigan town centre that is almost 100% occupied (98%)"

Though how do you define a shopping area?

I think the Town Centre Management Team(?) will have been involved in drawing up these shopping areas:

The Galleries/Marketgate/Makinson Arcade and The Grand Arcade.

Marketgate is sadly 'The Forgotten Quarter'.

The flags on the shops are new ones with festive greetings on them. The baner is atttached ot one of the large lighting stanchions by the 'Wigan Marbel' as it is known, in the Market place (opposite Moon Under water by the benches.

Have you been to investigate today, Dostaf? Thanks.

Isn't it Wigan Marble?

Yes

And yes.

The Marble is another home spun name and nowt to do with the Council.

Cheers Jo Anne.

I was quite perplexed when some young whippesnapper once mentioned the place. I suppose to some kids it's always been there.

There was something there before The Marble?!
My mind is bogg-led.

I like Wigan's Marble Art - my teens often meet up with friends there.

We've seen The Victorian Quarter's Banner today - I'd have missed it, but for you saying where it is.

Flippin' eck, Jo Anne, I knew it (marble) was to commemorate the 750th anniversary of our royal charter. But forgot that that was in 1996. Doen't seem that long ago.

Art trail

So I suppose the chances of any teenagers remembering anything prior to it being there will be slim.

It seems they (young uns) have brought a place name/landmark into our vocabulary.

At one time there were a lot of folk who confused The Market Place with The Market Square when giving directions. Similarly with The Post Office and The Sorting Office.

The banner is not exactly eye catching is it? Though I suppose plain white lettering on a black background is much more tasteful than some day-glo signage.

I wish them luck.

Wigan Marble, eh. Dug out of the Wigan Marble Mine was it?

Ah, the voice of reason.

I was going to ask when The Marble came about, Dostaf.
(Installed in 1998.)

I wish them luck, too.

Was there a Marble pit in Elgin?

Are you asking did Lord Elgin lose his marbles?

Yes

Oh.

"The Coven, Wigan We allow dogs with well behaved adults! We are at 43 hallgate just near Wigan parish church and the bus station. If you want to see a map if the area, go to the "Victorian Quarter Wigan" Facebook page - there's a map there."

I thought you couldnt take dogs in to cafes etc?!

Ooops.

INDEED