Wigan Album

Ace picture.

The cabin, of course, wouldn't be called the Pier Cabin back then. Why would it?

The caption for the earlier posting of this scene says: "Goose Green crossing where the mineral railway from Winstanley Colliery crossed the A49 Warrington Road. The railway track is emerging from Clapgate Lane after which it bears left and onwards to the coal tippler at Wigan Pier."
'Pier Cabin' appears as plainly as here on the original image. It seems to have taken its name from its function in relation to the line to the tippler at Wigan Pier.

What year was this Ron and what became of Nigel Meal?

He reminds me of the enterprising 13 year old I was in discovering local history.

The name "Wigan Pier" only came into being in 1891 so, in 1800 it was unheard of. Also, the Winstanley colliery line didn't go to the original Wigan Pier.

Andy, I don't know the exact date, but I would think the photograph was taken around the early 1900's?

I don't know that it matters where the line went to in relation to 'Wigan Pier', or that that term only came into use in 1891, but the Winstanley Papers for the Bankes family record that Meyrick Bankes bought 'Thompson's Pier Head' on the L&L for £1960 in 1850 - the pier having been completed in 1845. Not quite 'the early 1800s', but early enough.
The tram line along the A49 was opened in 1904 - if the original caption puts the photographer on Clapgate Lane, and the road in view is the A49, then it was taken before the trams came through.

Andrew Lomax, Nigel Alexander Meal was born in 1973. The year would be 1986. There's no trace of him, after the registration of his birth, in the Find my past records. His mum is still living in the Goose Green area.

Hi Keith,

I've found somebody on Facebook who went to Whitley High and has the same unusual surname.
If it's the right person I imagine he would be delighted at this newspaper cutting popping up.