Wigan Album

Wonderful, aitch!Walking day pic was before my time, but I recall the houses well.In the early sixties my friend from junior school lived in Raven Street in the Viaducts (we called it "viredocks")area of Ince and I was always down there. Any more Ince Green Lane pics?Thankyou so much for putting this on!

Note the 'Roy Cafe Ltd' van parked up.

Sorry Irene, but that is the only one I have of Ince Green Lane,it was all cobbled in those days, by the way, I am the 2nd on the left after the lad with the shirt.

aitch have you got any walking day photos of rose bridge methodist about62-63

Isn't that Mrs Dootson's shop next door to the Bird ith Hand ?.

Dorothy, sorry but before my time with Rose Bridge Methodists, we only married in 66 and it was after that when my wife joined the church there.

Yes John, it is Dootson's shop.

Irene, this reminds me of one your PF articles... not to hap'enny's to rub together, but they made the effort to show off on Walking day, and put poverty aside.

Irene, this reminds me of one your PF articles... not to hap'enny's to rub together, but they made the effort to show off on Walking day, and put poverty aside.

That was the "Brass Bands and Kind Hearts" article.....I had a few letters and some very kind comments about that one..... I think people like to look back on a more innocent time when children on Walking Day LOOKED like children, and it was considered a very special day instead of a nuisance to impatient drivers.This picture captures it perfectly.

What great happy days.the preparation went on for months before...When ours mums saved the money to buy our new sunday best.I love the old cobbled streets which provided a solid foundation for the "Orrible" melting tar!!!

John and Irene,you are wrong with the shop on Ince Green Lane, the one you can see is Albert Harts shop and Mrs Dootsons shop can't be seen as it is behind the Roys Cafe van.The 2 ladies in the dark clothing are Mrs Traynor and her sister. The lady at the front was one of my Sunday School teachers but I am afraid I have forgotten her name.

Thanks, Evelyn.....do you know, you've jogged my memory about Albert Hart's....I'd completely forgotten it existed, and can't remember what it sold; was it a general grocers?

Hi Irene, Albert sold mainly fruit and veg,he had a few groceries but Mrs Dootson was the main one for groceries.Once Albert thought that he was being watched by the police for selling cigarettes because there was a young man on a motorbike in full black leathers and helmet waiting outside his shop. That young man was actually my boyfriend(now my husband)waiting for me to return home from work on the Ince Green Lane bus.Albert obviously realised his mistake when he saw me talking to my boy friend and he(Albert) told my mother the tale when she next went into the shop.

Where did you live, Evelyn?

Hi Irene, I was born in the house at the top of Patricroft Road(now demolished)(Annie Blinkhorns chip shop was on the other corner.)I have read all your articles in the Past Forward and feel I should know you,but can't bring you to mind.I believe you have put school photos on from Ince Central but still can't remember you.I think you have mentioned your brother who was born in 1940, well I should CERTAINLY remember him because I was born that year also and so we would both be at the old Central School at the same time.

Hi, Evelyn, My name was Irene Griffiths and my brother,s name is Colin. We lived in a row of houses in Ince Green Lane which stood back behind the wall of St. Williams' Presbytery, right opposite the Long-Neck pub. I remember Blinkhorns Chippy well.....have you seen the brilliant photo of the little lad on a bike in Patricroft Road on the Wigan World site? My brother's wife once worked at the box-works down Patricroft Road.You might remember the Grimshaws who lived in our row....Kenneth, Irene, Carol and Frank, or the Shaws who lived with their grandparents....Mary,Barry and Pauline. Mary married my husband's brother.Having read the Past Forward articles, you will know how much my childhood memories of Ince mean to me, and the Wigan World site has shown me things I never thought I'd see again.Iene.

Hi Irene,Yes I knew where you lived,this is why it surprises me why I just can't remember you.Yes I knew the Grimshaws,I see Irene from time to time,and also knew the Connors.As for the little boy on the bike did you notice who put the photo on WW??? He is my brother John,the same John who along with yourself got Albert Harts shop wrong.As he is 16 years younger than me I have forgiven him!!OK JOHN!!

Hi, Evelyn.....what a wally I am! I hadn't realised it was you who put the picture on; it's brilliant! You probably don't remember me because of the difference in our ages; as you get older the gap closes, but when you are children it makes a difference. In the Walking Day article, I mentioned the fascination of watching the older girls getting ready with their make-up and high heels.....they were probably only 16 or 17, but to us 9 or 10 yr.olds,but they were grown-up. My brother Colin was born in November, so although born in 1940, he may have missed the school intake the year you started at Ince Central,and may have been a year behind you. As you mention seeing Irene Grimshaw,are you still in Ince? Please remember me to her.Irene.x.

I married albert Harts youngest daughter