Wigan Album

I worked here from 1964 to 1985. Started out Spot Welding wire mesh panels on two shifts, 6 am 'til 2 pm and 2pm 'til 10 pm. Then moved to the Bar Reinforcement side and worked days and night shifts.
If there had been any 'Elf n Safety in those days they would have had a fit with some of the things we got up to.
Some great characters worked there over the years,. Seeing these pictures brings back some happy memories of dinner times in the Belle Vue, works trips to Haydock Park and Blackpool and the odd Retirement Party.
Seeing the place go from working round the clock seven days a week too how it is now is very sad.

The Wigan World Album is a place for old photos only.

Very sad site now(pardon the pun)a sign of the times i'm afraid. Stephen, are you related to Philip who worked at Heinz on maintenance?

I like dennis also worked there on the spot welding, unlike Dennis I stood it for half a day and walked out, ive never been as bored in all my life as I was that day

im not related to anyone at hienz and gary I no its not old picky but its been around for 50 odd years some carracters worked there and no doupt they will comment.not old picky but old factory don't think ull understand

You were not on your own aitch, in the 60s and early 70s many people started on the Monday but failed to make it to Friday, still, jobs were plentiful then and you could afford to be choosy. Boring yes, but the money was good.

Garry, get a life

sad,sad man.

NO I don't need to get a life nor am I a sad man. I'm just pointing out that this Album is for old photos only...not photos taken yesterday on 27 JULY 2013. I don't make the rules up! Lets keep this wonderful site in order.

No Garry .You want to shut up and stop criticising . It`s down to people like you that mambers are reluctant to to publush photos .Try to be positive and encourage people instead of behaving like a self opinionated bully

another piece of wigan's engineering heritage is about to bite the dust, and all you can do is whinge, saddo.

Garry your right, there's places both on the Forum and Messageboard for these type of photos,but some people will not make the effort to post them in the right place, I don't know how this photo got passed Ron & Brian as it would have made a good talking point in the other Messageboards

there were sightings of dolphins here at one time

It is not effort when you put things on the wrong board,some people just are unable to get it around,how to do it,I know I can't Dougie,I have tried.I don't blame Stephen,he might be like me

These photos are totally relevant because they evoke so many memories from folk. Former working establishments should be welcomed: they are a vital part of our heritage. I wish someone would put some photographs of Triangle Valve on here...My spiritual home: 1969-1981...Best working days I ever had...EVER. :)

Garry, How long have you been a "Mod" or "Admin" on WW?
Photos' don't go direct on these boards, Brian (Owner) & his staff of mods determine which ones to show.
Don't like it?.......Cya!...;o)

thanks Eileen,just put it on this part as it was a works photo does it really matter about how old it is ,there are loades of wigan rugby pikkys on and not that old .but im glad they got published any way its just showing how engeneering in wigan is going.ye dennis there were loades of job oppertunaties in the 70s when I started .finished scholl at 14 .turned 15 same weekend started this works,mon had 2 days hol [gap year].then that was it my working life 1971 till 2009.so yes gary it means allot to me .and allot more people too wrong site or not

hey shoulders we never found out did we who did them hehe,we have our suspitions.think dennis had an idea too

I used to be on contract, driving for Hill bros out of GKN in the early 60's. that yard on the left was full of 17' x 7' concrete matting mesh & inside was the bar shop. I remember an owd mate o'mine, Brian McTighue (WRLFC)being allowed to drive the Coles yard crane which loaded us. It was short lived however, he kept forgetting that the vehicle had a rather long jib...Which when maneuvering,he popped a few holes in the side of the building with..;o)

dolphins were often seen in traps 1 2 3 4regullar but we never found out who did em.art u work in bar shop long then if u did ull remember mel letherbarrow .john bennet dennis holleron may be they started after ud gone

steve, I didn't work in the bar shop, I was a driver, sometimes a 6 wheel Albion Reiver, other times a Scammell unit pulling a 40 foot pup... green wagons with Hill Bros on the side.
If I'm right, you lived in SLG at the time. Remember young John Finney who died in the plane crash, could have been a mate o'yours..

no I was in beechgrove beech hill before I got married in 83 moved to holt street at back of works holt street still there now .no I don't remember that guy .I only started in 71 was in beech hill.bey u no scotch dave who used to drive for hills

I used to go in lg labour club in 70s 74 till bout 83 maybe that's were u may no me

art, i knew john finney very well, played football with him, worked with him, tragic what happened.

Hey Ste we had some wheelers+dealers in this here place. hey ho old times.

According to my Dad who worked here for 13 years when it was GKN/Gridweld a mineshaft opened up just outside of the canteen be an interesting one when they come to build houses on it when it's finally demolished.

roy,theres already houses on part of the old works were the nocked old offfices down.i was working .there when the old shaft went.bet ur is ur dad called roy as well.if so he may have worked with my mate dennis .I remember roy

Hi Stephen, yes my Dad is called Roy and he worked with Dennis for many years. His pet hate was the dreaded "N.C.B. panels".
He doesn't talk much about his days there as he was glad to get out describing it as "a dirty 'ole!".
You may also remember my Uncle Tommy Howarth? Who carried on working there when it became Betafence until he retired. I doubt the rumored measures Betafence took of fixing cameras everywhere and linking them back to Brum would have suited my Dad he was quite a militant back in those days.

ur right there roy tommy was on the loading team before it finished. he worked with pey hoggy for a while .yes was a different place onece bettafence tookover sad sad all gone now roy just concreat .red brick builings still there well half of it