Photo-a-Day  (Sunday, 31st December, 2023)

I have been a member of GHB&C Club for about 44 years and have never bowled at any time. Bowling keeps people young at heart and it is nice to see various ages on the greens

I never knew where this was. It looks a lovely place and quite secluded.

Thanks Brian, I put a message up earlier but it seems to have vanished into the ether.
Although I have never been down the lane I have seen the Bowling Club from a distance, it looks an oasis of tranquillity just off the hub bub of Wigan Lane.
Pity about the former Bellingham Hotel at the front, my parents had their Golden Wedding party there in the 80's and we used to go there to other functions. It had a nice bar and served good food. What will become of it I don't know.

Brian, has this got something to do with the Bellingham Hotel.It looks a lovely place..

Bowls was always regarded an old man's game, but these days played by Younger people too that's nice to see.

They have some tennis courts as well

My daughter’s wedding was at the Bellingham Hotel 20 years ago but it didn’t look like that around the back. It was a beautiful garden behind. I believe it’s gone downhill since those days. I remember staying overnight in a lovely room.

Arthur I'd like to say that just as many of us ladies play bowls here as do men, and yes all ages are very welcome.

Veronica, New Lodge and the bowling club is further down Wigan Lane, you're right there is a large garden to the rear of what was the hotel, but with the hospital trust having taken over the building who knows what will happen to it, though it was once said to be for patients to convalesce before going home and so free up beds in the wards, if so it would be a nice place to be if in a room overlooking the gardens in spring or summer.

Happy New Year everyone, all the best wishes for health and happiness to you and yours in 2024.

The new member sits in the dressing room
As the old player is leaving the green ,
At midnight he's making his debut
With qualities no-ones yet seen ,

Then boldly taking some bowls from the shelf ,
He steps across the perimeter fence
While the clock ticks slowly up to twelve
And waits for the game to commence .

Poet
( Wishing everyone a good match )

Thanks Cyril it would for sure make a good ‘after stay’ building for patients and freeing up beds. It couldn’t be any nearer to the hospital. I can see in my mind’s eye porters wheeling patients over the road. It’s massive inside but will need quite a bit of doing up I imagine. The wedding reception there was fantastic in 2000.

Alice, women most welcome, sorry.

I have not seen this view for > 50 years. It seems to be unchanged from the 1960’s when I knew it. A tranquil oasis then and appears to be so now. I grew up in Swinley, would go many places that were out of bounds but not here. It always seemed to be a revered place. The house in the middle of the picture on the left hand side was a school friend’s house but I lost contact with him and his two brothers many years ago. On a personal level this is a very nostalgic picture for me. Thanks.

My kids went to New Lodge Pre-School Nursery in the basement area of this building.

Merely to clarify …
although all three are adjacent to each other , neither the tennis club , the bowling club , nor the Bellingham hotel share a connection with each other apart from their geographic location .
And here’s an additional snippet of information for anyone who may be remotely interested …

Although the word Bellingham is normally pronounced “ Belling .. Ham “ around these parts , the residents of the village of Bellingham in Northumberland pronounce the name of their village
“ Bellin..Jam “ …

If affirmation is required please refer to Alfred Wainwright’s guide to the Pennine Way .

Furthermore , Bolsover in Derbyshire is pronounced “ Bowser “ by the locals ,
Foulridge near Colne is pronounced locally as
“ Foalridge “
The market town of Leominster in Herefordshire is pronounced “ Lemster “
and Milngavie near Glasgow as “ Mul Guy “

Just a brief introduction to the idiosyncrasies of the English language …in case you weren’t already aware .
……………….
Mission statement :
To cast light wherever darkness may reign .

( although I have yet to discover why I even bother ) .

When you say the Bellingham went downhill Veronica , that must surely rate as the understatement of 2023.
The place went that far downhill that rapidly , even Eddie the Eagle would have baulked at taking it on .

And when you state that you stayed in a “ lovely room ‘’ , I have to assume that the joyous event occurred prior to a certain unnamed member of the Showman’s Guild getting his hands on the place .

From being a thriving hostelry to being just a fond memory in less than a generation .

Talk about the kiss of death …

I do hope this statement isn’t libellous … as I’m merely stating as I find .

P.S. Kirkcudbright is pronounced Ker..Koo.. Brie .

Now you’ll just have excuse me as I’m going outside to witness the poverty stricken population of Wiggin send a couple of grand’s worth of pyrotechnics skyward .

I take it you mean the Company Director namely Silcock’s Ltd. Ozy?
He should be strung up from what used to be the ‘Big Wheel’..and sent round and round and round then stuck on a coconut shy. (S).

Plat Bridge is pronounced Plat Waz and Lamberhead Green, Lomra Green and Scholes Scowes! To name but a few.

Plattwaz is just a name some soft kids come up with, it not from the old days

Giro city comes to mind too.
(People on the dole)
Don't know how true that was.