Wigan Album

My first job was at Coops. I have some fond memories of the place.

Can anyone give more info on this pic, what? where? when?

It was a sewing factory that produced men's suits. It's in Dorning St, near Stilletos but when the photo was taken I have no idea.

Probably taken when it was converted into flats

Thanks Rubyshoes....great building

I am very interested in this building as my father was Mr. Anthony Marsden. He was the factory owner as it was left to him by his father. Does any-one remember my father Anthony James Marsden? I would love to know if any-one can recall him?

i left school and started at coops i think it was 1970

Charlotte, I rememeber a chap named Ian Pedrick as far as I recall his dad was the owner of Coops about 1970-1973

Antony owned the factory changed trade name to Comar family always called first born Anthony

My great-grandfather's 1st wife Catherine Mason nee Cunliffe worked at Coops & Co in 1921. She was 69 years old! God bless her. Info I found on Wigan Council website: "Coops & Company Ltd. was founded in 1862 in Wigan. Timothy Coop, a retail tailor, sought to reduce the unemployment caused by the slump in the cotton trade, by training local women and girls to use sewing machines for the manufacture of men's clothing. Coop was one of a number of local men involved in a relief committee, supporting those left unemployed by the impact on the cotton industry in Lancashire by the American Civil War.
After visiting America, Coop and his business partner, James Marsden, built new premises on Dorning Street, Wigan, opened in 1872. This was followed in 1879 with the opening of the Mantle Department for women's clothing, and in 1880 and 1890, new wings were added to the original structure. Coops produced service uniforms during both the First and Second World Wars, and was in business until 1990.