Wigan Album

Phythians farm?? I thought it was Southerns who had a dairy farm there in the sixties.

Im talking about the 40s/ early 50s Jimmy. At that time it was known as Phythians.

The Total Fitness building is close to where Phythians farmhouse stood.

Total Fitness? now I'm confused, I thought this photo was taken between Clapgate Lane and Poolstock Lane.

Excellent stuff George.

Was the procession heading towards Marus Bridge?.

Silly me. I see in the write up the answer to my question. I cannot remember, but was there a bridge there, or had there previously been a bridge there?.

KB is correct, Phytian's farm was located where Total Fitness car park now stands. Also, there was a bridge at Marus Bridge. The photographer taking the photo would have had his back to the farm owned by Billy Barker, although I'm not sure, but his wife's maiden name may have been Phythian.

There has never been a bridge there Albert.

Albert is correct, there was a railway bridge from Pemberton Colliery that crossed Warrington road where Total Fitness is now.
You can view it on the album if you go to places>Warrington road Goose Green.

Jimmy, a very good picture of the bridge. Do you have knowledge, relating to when it was taken down? I lived in Goose Green, in the early sixties.

The bridge was demolished around 1959.

It is possible that some confusion may have arisen here. There was a railway bridge near to the Total Fitness road entrance, the first two bungalows on the right, going towards Ashton, are situated on the original embankment. The bridge known as Marus Bridge was a road bridge crossing the brook that still flows through a large pipe under the current roundabout. The brook can be seen entering the pipe adjacent to the Homebase car park and emerging at the other side of the dual carriageway. Does anyone remember the Gents and Ladies toilets that where on the land immediately prior to the first house going up Warrington Road from the current roundabout? Also, does anyone remember that the brook, where it passed Marus Bridge Primary School was known as Jack Lyons?

Alex
I was referring to the bridge which ran between Garswood Hall pits and Blundells. The toilets you mention were by the side of the forecourt to Robinson's shop.

The toilets where as I mentioned, at the side of Robinson's shop was Fortune's garage and petrol station. Next to the petrol station, in the direction of Ashton, was the bridge wall (Marus Bridge), then a blue Police box.

KB, we obviously have a slightly different recollection. Mine is that if we face Robinson's shop then to the left of it was the house belonging to the garage and petrol station owned by Mr Fortune, then to the left of the petrol station forecourt was the red stone wall of Marus Bridge, and to the left of that was the blue timber Police Box. Opposite the police box, on the other side of the road were the toilets.

Sorry to have caused all this controversy, to pose a question relating to the bridge. It is still very interesting, and knowledgeable, to read the various comments.

I was always under the impression that Marus Bridge was named after a Roman General, but I don't remember who first told me so. I suspect it may have been Mr Richardson from St Paul's school. However, this current discussion has stirred my interest again, and I have found the following information on the Internet. :-

When I was doing research some time ago, I discovered that Marus Bridge was named after Marcus, the Roman commander of the district, in about 130 A. D., during the updating of the really bad road system. The traffic cut ruts in to the old road. This road was called Warrington Road and, actually, led to Warrington.
During that time, the Marus Bridge was built. Although his name was Marcus, the area was originally called Maurus Bridge, which has become shortened to Marus Bridge with the passing of time.
There was a small Roman outpost, which was situated on the site now occupied by Sainsbury's, to 'police' the district. Roman swords have been found on the site. Stones over a brook are reported to have been there since Roman tines. The last of the work was only destroyed during the building of the present dual carriageway, in the early 1960's. The walls were castellated (like a castle).

I remember Jack Lyons , Don Wood, yo-yo , enchanted wood (Blundells wood ) all back in the s50s& 60s..Goose green & most of area around was all fields and farms, beautiful country side ,, my playground ???? Sunday afternoon walks with mam & dad and all the kids in the street tagging along , a bag of toffee and a bottle of water between us all … oh what happy times …