Wigan Album

I see someone's managed to double-stack them as well. How did they do that?

Nev, there was a chain hoist (out of sight) fixed to the cellar roof beam that could slide on a small track. Once the reels were lifted, they could swing them in position for storage.

Thanks Colin. These photos are absolutely fascinating. It's amazing how this second-hand press carried on for so many years! Says something about the 'build quality'.

Fascinating indeed Nev. Liverpool engineers Duncan and Wilson built the press in 1869 at their factory on Spekeland Street in Edge Hill, Liverpool. It was first used to print the Liverpool Daily Post and later in 1879, it's sister paper the Liverpool Echo in Victoria Street. But the demand was too great and the machine was sold for a £1,000 (in todays money around £50,000) to the Thomas Wall company who founded the Wigan Observer. once reassembled in the cellar of the Observer buildings in Rowbottom Square from 1884-1966, it thundered into life every Thursday night and churned out a record 47,000 copies. It was also one of the first presses to have a folding facility for the 16 print sheets and it kept on rolling until printing it's last broadsheet copy on the 21st January 1966.

History shows that the Wigan Observer came out three times a week. Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

Hi Colin, just an idle thought, do you know if a certain Gaskell family were involved in the ownership of the Liverpool papers, especially The Liverpool Echo?

Not sure of Gaskell, Keith. The Liverpool Daily Post was founded by Michael Whitty in 1855, at Lord Street, Liverpool. The Liverpool Echo was founded by Axexander Jeans in 1879, at Victoria Street, Liverpool.

Apologies Colin, if I hadn't been so lazy I could and should have found this on Google. http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Holbrook_Gaskell
It's just that, although born in Wigan, I now live in a "village", if you can call it that (12,000 pop) and knew of the Gaskell family who moved to Pendrell Hall down here, I do believe they are members of the same "Liverpool Echo" family. Still living here but no longer at the Hall, some members buried in the local churchyard.