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Wigan Album

Frog Lane

33 Comments

Frog Lane
Frog Lane
Photo: Cyril
Views: 3,139
Item #: 34047
Photo of Frog Lane just after Colliers pub and railway bridge and before Prescott Street, I can't remember these houses and shops or when they were demolished. There's also a bobby on the beat too. Photo from Timepix Wigan west. 1951.

Comment by: irene roberts on 9th October 2022 at 11:08

Lovely, Cyril. It looks like a scene from the film "The Blue Lamp". I love the gas-lamps. Very atmospheric.

Comment by: Veronica on 9th October 2022 at 11:56

And what a rarity seeing a Bobbie on his rounds! A regular PC Plod strolling as if he's got all day!

Comment by: Andy Lomax on 9th October 2022 at 21:33

To be replaced by absolutely nothing!

Comment by: Cyril on 10th October 2022 at 00:13

True Andrew, I remember some years ago there was a window supplier in a shed type of building on the land though it always seemed to be empty with the land overgrown with scrub.

The sign above the first shop has two words that are unclear and next what appears to be Repair Specialist, so what they did specialise in repairing does anyone know?

Comment by: Dave Lewis on 10th October 2022 at 00:37

Hi Cyril, great photo the window shop you are referring to would have been slaters, he put my windows in a house off frog lane in 80s, sadly after he died the shop was left abandoned for some time.

Comment by: Peter Walsh on 10th October 2022 at 07:04

There could be a black high heel shoe in the window Cyril

Comment by: Benny on 10th October 2022 at 07:59

First shop was Archie Browns shoe repairs

Comment by: Brian B on 10th October 2022 at 13:29

The shop on the corner as you turn into Prescott street was Mr Swains news agents, I was one of his delivery boys in the early 50's. I think one of the shops in the picture was a veg shop.

Comment by: orrellite on 10th October 2022 at 14:04

photographer would have been stood at the front of the newsagents at the corner with Prescott st. Perhaps the policeman had just been for a comfort stop at the gents urinal near the bridge.

Comment by: Garry on 10th October 2022 at 14:28

A police man patrolling the streets was a regular sight in those days. Irene thanks for being concerned. X I'm fine.

Comment by: Alan Winstanley on 10th October 2022 at 15:09

Following on from a previous photo ,where i stated i worked for the O/Survey , but prior to me becoming a surveyor's assistant , my very first job on leaving school ,in December 1961 was a wee bit further along Frog Lane just past the Guardian's Pub and before Walker's /Walmsley's.
The Butcher's were ,J.MORRIS & SONS ,OF 136 FROG LANE . Strange isn't it how one's life is panned out ? .....

Comment by: irene roberts on 10th October 2022 at 16:02

Glad to know you're okay Garry. I have missed your comments.

Comment by: Orrellite on 10th October 2022 at 16:12

A W , on that same row was. Brennan's paper shop ,Post Office, Martin's electrical . and Hewson's pawnbroker maybe a little earlier than 61 what happened to all the local shops

Comment by: Julie on 10th October 2022 at 16:46

Missed you Garry xx

Comment by: Cyril on 10th October 2022 at 17:10

Dave, Slaters windows does seem familiar.

Peter, you've got good eyesight to see a shoe, I can't recall any of those shops, but as Orrellite mentions there was an assortment of local businesses, which I'd assume to have been essential and around there to also have been quite busy.

Comment by: Peter Walsh on 10th October 2022 at 17:46

Cyril, the shoe is under the first leg of the letter M.

Comment by: Edna on 10th October 2022 at 22:27

My sister in law lived in Prescott St. She married Bill Bootle.Did anyone know him.He passed away some years ago.RIP.

Comment by: Edna on 10th October 2022 at 22:40

By the way Garry, missed you as well.Like Irene and Julie. Good to see you back.

Comment by: Dave Lewis on 11th October 2022 at 00:15

Yes Cyril, I remembered his first name now it was joe, Alan I remember the meat company of Brian Morris and his son john, had many a pint with them both in Guardians, frog lane was very busy back then in good old days.

Comment by: Garry on 11th October 2022 at 08:30

Thank you Ladies, I've had a rough time lately, but I'm fine now, old age is catching up I'm afraid. X

Comment by: WCML on 11th October 2022 at 09:39

One thing is for sure is the arch railway bridge is still there.

Comment by: Brian B on 11th October 2022 at 11:10

AW on the same row was Bartons Grocery a chipie and "outdoor".

Comment by: G. Richmond on 11th October 2022 at 13:07

One of the shops was a shoe shop. We referred to it as Johns shoe shop. He also did repairs.

Comment by: A.W. on 11th October 2022 at 14:24

Orrellite / Sad to say that what you are referring to have all gone ,for example from 136 my old butcher's they are now new house's not to my taste and where the old walker's/walmsley's engineering factory was ,now it's springing up into a small estate , all round there including Field Street . Also all the way down on that side are new homes as faar as entrance to Boston House Medical Centre . But going back under the bridge you had The Colliers Arms ,a couple of shop's then there was a superb Chippie on the corner ,across from that The Peartree Inn ,then house 's all way up to New Market ST , which top half now look derelict .

Comment by: Edna on 11th October 2022 at 21:52

Glad to hear you're ok Garry, never mind, old age is catching up with us all now.Just have a sherry!!

Comment by: Garry on 12th October 2022 at 04:39

Yes still have my sherry Edna, and thankfully have a coal fire and now burn plenty wood that I chop up. Very cosy on these now cold nights that are approaching. X

Comment by: Maureen on 12th October 2022 at 13:14

Edna,my Mams stepmother lived at the bottom of Prescott St..she was married to Billy Rowe Helen Rowes brother,like your relatives they passed away some years ago.

Comment by: Edna on 12th October 2022 at 14:19

Maureen, Bill and my husbands sister Joan, lived in the next to last house,the one's that are still standing in Prescott St.Coming in from Frog Lane end.They saw many lorries stuck under that bridge.

Comment by: Maureen on 12th October 2022 at 16:07

Edna,the last time I was down that way there was a lorry that was stuck..I know there a warning further up but I'm sure it would be a lot safer if the warning was written in large white letters directly over the bridge.

Comment by: Ann Davies on 13th October 2022 at 10:08

I knew Joan and Bill Bootle My husband Ron Davies worked on the railway at the same time and we live close by, is Joan still living in Newtown?

Comment by: Pw on 13th October 2022 at 21:35

Garry,nice to hear from you again,

Comment by: Edna on 13th October 2022 at 22:23

Ann, no Joan has not lived in Newtown for a long time.She is now in a residential care home, in Platt Bridge.I remember her speaking of Ron,a long time ago.

Comment by: jayne on 10th November 2022 at 16:17

Hi. I am looking for a photo of gthe laying of the foundation stone at Frog lane for the "new cleansing depot, in May 1937. Does anyone have a photo of the ceremony please? thank you.

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