Wigan Album

When was this photo taken f.d. ?

this was taken in the winter about november look at the leaves on the road

Have the mobile libraries now gone due to the cut backs, the same as some libraries have now shut, I haven't seen any on the roads for a while now.

Saw one a few months ago Cyril, but I think it was just moving stock between libraries.
I don't know if they still operate in outlying areas.

the vehicle looks like it was a single decker bus at one time belonging to Wigan Corporation

The mobile libraries no longer run in this area, but I couldn't say if they still run in country areas. My daughter lives on Lewis, where one still runs from Stornoway to the outlying villages. We had one in Abram a few years ago when our library closed and I loved it! It took me straight back to my Ince childhood where the mobile library used to park every Tuesday on Smithy Green. I was once in the Abram one when a little lad came up the steps, and the librarian said, "Sorry lad, but you know you're barred", and the lad said, "Bur ah've changed mi ways, Mister", and everyone, even the librarian, was trying not to laugh! I prefer mobile libraries... there is something so homely about them, (and I still have my cardboard tickets!)

mobile library used to stop in county police street hugher ince as well as smithy green. there was never any bother then, it was outside police station. i remember the smell of books when you walked in, old ones you read before and the brand new ones you looked for, the red lino flooring ran all the way to the back, it was spotless, i can see the mans face who drove it and watched every move you made, he was always very smart in his grey buttoned overall, we thiught he was ever so official, think irene roberts knows his name

Is that you, Kath? I can only recall it parking on Smithy Green, but remember the smell of it so vividly, especially on a warm day. By that I don't mean it was an unpleasant smell.....just one of books, which the warmth brought out. The librarian was Mr. Westhead.

yes its me irene, i also remember it stopping outside the big school house in school street near flannerys shop, oh that toffee tray, they always had different toffee to the other shops in ince, i always thought i had really got a treat when i went there