Wigan Album

Loads of history in this photo Margaret, lovely picture of you in the yellow dress, the Pemberton railway bridge and the Austin A40. Many thanks.

I believe the procession is on Warrington Road, on the Westwood Lane side of the railway bridge. Especially if the building that can be seen on the other side of the bridge, is the new St Mary's Church. I could be completely wrong.

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Didn't there used to be rows of three houses, one either side of the road, just before you went under the bridge? One row at the bottom of Westwood Lane and the other row between Malden Timber,or whatever it's called now, and the bridge. Quite big houses with bay windows?

Irene yes your right with the houses, the building you see next to the railway embankment was then new. Albert is also right, but then it was st Mary's school. Margaret is near Westwood lane junction. My home for many years and were I was born Lower Ince.

I think you're right, Albert. The electricity sub-station with the green doors is still there - the row of houses was between it and Laycocks. The building visible under the bridge is the original 1866 school, which was parallel with the road - the 1875 building which is the present church is at right-angles with the road, and just out of view.

Further along the road ,on the left hand side, as you look at the photograph, after the houses Irene mentions, there was a long row of houses, Miss Naylor, (she was a teacher at St Mary's Infant School, in the 30s, and 40s) lived in one of the houses. A gentleman named, if my memory serves me right, was a Mr Mosley. He was a coal merchant, he also lived in one of the houses. On the opposite side of the road was a grocer's shop, I believe their name was Cowaps, and further along was Mr Turner's milk delivery business. All memories of long ago.

Thanks Colin.

Albert, do you recall an old lady who lived in Crow Orchard Terrace called Sarah Langford? She was my friend's Auntie and at one time used to work for Mr. Bryson at the vicarage and also cleaned the two chapels in the cemetery. She had a son called Benny who worked at Springs Branch. My friend remembers her from around the 1960s when his family used to visit from London, and he recalls a large Alsatian dog called Major who used to lie out on the dirt road in Crow Orchard Terrace. He belonged to Crow Orchard Motors.

Sorry Irene, I cannot recall the lady you mention. You'll have to remind me where Crow Orchard Terrace is, or was. After I got married in 1961, I went to live at Pemberton, then Goose Green. In 1964, I went off to Kent. We now live in Blackpool.

Does anyone remember the little terraced house by Donkey Lane where you could buy flowers if visiting the Cemetery?

Albert, Crow Orchard Terrace was off Wilding Street and parallel to Warrington road on the left if you were heading to Platt Bridge. Near Black Diamond.

Thanks for replying, Albert. At the very bottom of Ince Green Lane, you have the side wall of the Black Diamond on the right. On the opposite side of Ince Green Lane, a street called Wlding Street went off to the left, and Crow Orchard Terrace was off Wilding Street. Near to where the medical centre now stands.

Nice picture Margaret. Taken when most girls wanted to look like girls.

Irene. I now remember Crow Orchard Motors. The gentleman that owned Crow Orchard Motors, lived in the row of houses I previously mentioned. My father bought a Hillman Minx from him, in the early sixties.

Irene and Albert, later the scrap yard took over from the Garage when it finished.

Thankyou Garry. This is what I love about Wigan World; this lovely photo has brought so many memories, not just of Walking Day but of the area in general.

One of the houses on the Westwood lane/Warrington road junction was occupied by Mr. Asbridge, a teacher at St.Mary's junior school. I do believe he became headmaster after Mr. Entwistle.