Photo-a-Day  (Saturday, 20th January, 2024)

Another great photo Colin keep them rolling. I’ve been on jury service there early 70 ties.

I was just admiring these buildings on Google Earth from the same spot and was confused for a moment when your excellent photo appeared, it was as if I had taken a screen shot . I had been looking at the four old trees on the right encircled by little boxes and wondered what they were for.

I went in here once to see the Wigan MP Neil Turner when I was inquiring about tickets to go up the Big Ben clock tower and thought the inside was a bit of a old fashioned dump.

What an absolutely wonderful photo Colin. Now thats a building that Wigan can be really proud of. Great !

A handsome building but my attention is fully taken by that curious squatting fellow .

A Wigan view which hasn't changed much.
I always thought the law courts looked very "collegiate" similar to Keble College, Oxford and Royal Holloway College, London.
Excellent photo, Colin.

The turrets remind me very much of Balmoral... The far end of the building is where the County Court was based. I worked there for 12 months. The cellars were shrouded in cobwebs where all the old files were kept. If you spent 10 minutes in there you would be itching like mad!
The Parish church gardens and grave yard look tidy although not many folk are about. It used to be quite busy at one time with people cutting through and sat on the benches. It looks forlorn today..

It was Wigan County Magistrates Court and Lancashire Constabulary admin offices.

I can't believe what I'm seeing in today's photo that showing a gentleman defecating in the grounds of the parish church.
Last time I saw anything similar to this was when someone sent in one of a fox peeing on a grave.
Well captured Colin, its photos like this that get picked up and shown on TV shows like, Have I Got News for You.

Where are the people? I agree with V .
Have a look at Dirk Simpkin's recent picture of WN, how full of life Wigan used to be , absolutely buzzing with energy , brilliant !
Or am I not allowed to mention WN?

Colin nice photo at least I believe some repairs needed have stood the test of time

I see the bench that I sat on with my then boyfriend lots of years ago is still there...awww.

Loath to log on this morning after some of the vitriol yesterday, I was much encouraged by the comments entered later in the day and the words of encouragement by so many. Thank you to you all.
I shall continue to post pictures and engage with all those genuine people who post a comment and ignore those who appear to have some kind of grievance.
I'm pleased so far with todays feedback, thanks again.

Peter. The small boxes around the trees are lights pointing up at the trees.

Colin seems to have lost two thirds of his viewers today, perhaps they are having a world wide sleep in.

Dave I haven’t looked on the other site for a few days. It’s more than likely the photo you speak of has come from
this site. I know some of the nit picking on here can put people off..but you can learn from this site..that’s what I like about it really. It can get a tad boring on the other site because there’s no in-depth knowledge of some of the photos and they move off fast.. In fact the older the photo the less is known and a lot of guesswork goes on!
( Perhaps because there’s a younger element on there.) I don’t know if there is an Archive but on here the photos and information stays on here. If you get fed up of some of the bickering you can look further and delve into some good records. You probably know that though! ;o))

Good photo from that angle Colin, though the building does look good from any angle, is this still called Gerard Winstanley House?
Can see someone eating his lunch in there, it was once quite a popular quiet area away from the daily grind for folks to sit and eat their lunch.

I worked there in CID in the late 60’s and early 70’s.

Colin,you've put some good photos on ..and good for Wigans history books,don't let the moaners get you down..carry on love..we look forward to your shots.

Thanks Jembo, I bet the trees look beautiful when illuminated. Did you notice how cleverly Colin used the tree to fade the least attractive part of the building.

Yes DTease I noticed that Colin lost two thirds of his viewers today, after his little tantrum, but if like he said the extra viewing number did come from his pals wouldn't you think some of them would have said hello.
Yes Peter I noticed how professionally Colin used the tree to fade the least attractive part of the building.

Thank you V , but as Neil Kinnock once said , I am recognising my mortality!
The old Wigan are my memories, these are what I search for !
I am deeply grateful for all who post, where or whatever that may be , as is represent an honesty and sharing of themselves and when truly given , to me that flies !

I worked in that building for several years in the 90s- a typical depressing Edwardian building inside and out.

Peter, having no leaves on the tree I tried to mask out that awful structure that is an eye sore.
Looking at that map that Sir Bob provided that plot of land was the
Manor House with formal gardens that extended all the way down towards King Street West.
The Road between The Grand Hotel and Coops is Manor Road opposite to where the Manor would have been.
I found this fascinating, thanks Sir Bob for the map and to all. I think WW won out today along with the Latics!
Big kiss to Maureen for her encouragement, really gave me boost.

It’s very very unusual to have a jury serving in any court other than Crown Court.

I’m familiar with this dark place ,… I cycle past it frequently … and every time that I ride up Crawford Street, I admit that I’ll mutter a few profane satanic oaths ….

As it happens ,…
I’m also familiar with the interior of this building ,
as I was up before the beak there , aged 14 years , for a minor misdemeanour , the outcome of which changed my outlook on both the British press and the British legal system …

Allow me to elaborate…

Unlike today , whereby minors cannot be named due their age ,… this regardless of the fact that child murder may well be the charge in question , ……
my name was emblazoned across the national tabloids , for an offence not too far removed from that of littering .

So from that day until this , I rarely , if ever , believe anything that I read in any newspaper , whether it be local or national.

Neither do I unquestioningly believe any news item that appears on any T.V. channel , nor do I retain any shred of faith in the British legal system, or its interpretation of justice .

I suspect current events may well reinforce my opinion on that last point .

So ! … Putting engineering bricks , terracotta and design excellence aside for just a moment , This place , for certain folk at least , represents the birthplace of childhood disillusionment .

I realise this may sound a little melodramatic to anyone who hasn’t experienced injustice at an early age , although in retrospect , it may have been a good lesson in my life , a lesson learned early on … this lesson being …
Don’t rely on the law, as the law , as it exists , was never conceived for the likes of us plebs … ( For affirmation , look up Gerald Nabarro on your device .) … secondly …
Never ever trust lawyers … and above all else , don’t believe the media .

In short … don’t trust any bugger .

I’ll take this opportunity to wish you all a prosperous 2025 at this juncture , on the off chance that I may not be here by then .
Although you may rest assured you’ll be kept informed .

Ozy, Sad story and thought provoking. Hope it’s not too late to put that trauma behind you, I know it’s easier said than done. I think we all have something from the past we would rather forget, I have few.
Look on WW Album re Oliver Hart and see one of my recurring memories. Yesterday was not a good day!

Another good photo Colin. Don't be discouraged. Aww Maureen, lovely memories for you, with the bench in the church gardens. Sometimes photos stir up memories for people. x

Colin, and take very interesting photographs recording Wigan's change of fortune. Your efforts are much appreciated. Thank you.

Sorry Colin , I’ve read your response to my comment and the only thread regarding Oliver Hart that I’ve been able to unearth is the thread that’s logged under the headings … work … transport .
Perhaps you could be a little more specific .

And merely by coincidence , should you choose to view the said thread and scroll to the last shot on the second page , the guy wearing the green overall , Freddie Mason ;

Myself and several other friends and acquaintances attended his funeral yesterday at holy trinity church in Downall Green .

Nowt to do do with your photo by the way … just stating a fact ,… nothing more .

Regarding the trauma …
It’s carved in Carrara marble unfortunately .

The fact is, Keith despite what some of the comments were saying, I never criticised Colin’s photos. In fact I think his photos are very good. I was merely making a point and, having made it I will now leave it be.

I find It’s a matter of folk jumping to conclusions DTease….when - as in your case you were being comical. It happens a lot! Due to time zones you were correct anyway!

I find a lot of the folk (sheep) jump to the wrong conclusion on WW PADS, like Teasy said he said nothing except that ask how come the viewing numbers had gone up all of a sudden

Ozy, if you are still picking up on this go to Album and then click on recently viewed / commented, it should refresh and bring up the picture of him on a motor bike.
It is quite a coincidence that we should both have the same topic on our mind at that time, don't be too despondent after the funeral and keep posting.

I’m still wondering what poor Ozy did ..especially with it having something relevant to water…it couldn’t have been a water pistol ..no not that ! The mind simply boggles …

Oz,I too was up before the beak at a the same age for something that would not warrant a second thought these day but that smug git reporter Shryrane made a big thing of it and it did change my outlook on life and the media.

Did Ozy have a pee in the shallow end ?

The stigma of your name in the paper was far worse than the crime in those days.

You’re very naughty Dick Dastardly …but keep it up! :o)

The other thing I learned was that the police were liars and thugs,even in court.They beat my mate up,who was sixteen,and threatened to beat me up if we denied anything and they just made up charges.Even in court it was obvious what a farce it was but the the old biddie magistrates fell for the police lies.That little squirt of a reporter and the police nearly ruined my mates and my future.

That’s awful Pw how sad for you both. A lot of people nowadays would bring that up and try to clear themselves but I don’t know how you would go about it. You hear many things these days that have come out in the open from years back. I suppose that’s when the ‘softly ,softly’ approach came in.

Perhaps it was the comment made by Ozy and what has happened at the PO has stirred me up again.I nearly lost my apprenticeship and was shunned by by teachers at school,especially by the headmaster for nothing.When filling forms in and asked do you have a criminal record probably stopped me from getting jobs.All because of a set of liars.Things have not change and the police are to me worse than ever.

You survived Pw and that’s the main thing
despite the unfairness of it all. It’s still an unfair world we live in - in many ways.