Brick Kiln Lane

Brick Kiln Lane features in a BBC film: "Going For Gold" written by Wigan writer Brian Finch. Most of the film was made in and around Wigan in the mid/late 80s. Brick Kiln Lane is used as a setting for a scene in the film - very shortly before it was demolished.

I to went to st. johns school in the early 60's .I also remeber westheads toffee factory because me mum used to work in their toffee shop and my brothers and i used to stop by the factory and get free toffee when we got out of school.

A pupil at Wigan Girls' High School from 1958 to 1964, I sometimes popped across, with friends, to the sweet factory in Brick Kiln Lane for a bag of mis-shapen sweepings from the trays, after we'd watched the toffee being made. We never knew what flavours we'd have in our bags, which added to the fun.

From age 4 I used to go to school at St. Mary's in Standishgate, living in Pemberton, my two sisters and I would get off the bus in the Market Place and walk it up to school past Brick Kiln Lane. Sometimes calling at McCandlsh's bakery shop in Standishgate for Scotch pancakes or penny loaves. On my web site Wigan Photo Album (under Stuff) I have included a picture of the Whitesmiths pub showing Brick Kiln Lane by the side of it, I think there used to be a newsagent's on it's corner.

Sammys name was Clarke. The other lady teacher was a Miss Prior who taught juniors.The infants Teacher was a Mrs? Parkinson. By the way half of this lane is still there running from Dicconson Terr to the old school.

'Sammy' was Mr Clark. The Garage mentioned in the first reply was Stan Coxheads. The 'tunnel' also mentioned was the rear entrance to St John's Hall where all the school plays were performed, the front and main entrance being in Dicconson Street with the statue of St John being above the door. When I was about five years old I performed in a Nativity Play by pushing my lamb on wheels onto the stage and bruising one of the nun's ankles.

I remember this lane very well as I used to attend St John's School from infants to leaving in 1946. Headmaster was an old tyrant, Mr Baron, his second I only remember as 'Sammy' who used to send me out for his pipe tobacco. Miss Murphy taught there and another lady whose name I can't remember. We loved watching the toffee being made at the sweet factory but we never got any given us! Happy days! 'cos we wus young!

Saint John School was also up there and also a back entrance through some like tunnel buildings into the back of St Johns Hall where the amateur dramatics run by Father OConnell were. There also used to be a garage up there, who's I do not know.