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Wigan Flood Alleviation (FAS) Phase 1&2.

7 Comments

Wigan Flood Alleviation (FAS) Phase 1&2 old Footbridge 1
Wigan Flood Alleviation (FAS) Phase 1&2 old Footbridge 1
Photo: Sir Bob
Views: 2,857
Item #: 31655
Barrie this is the old footbridge over the River Douglas which you mentioned.

Comment by: Veronica on 12th November 2019 at 16:36

That's the one! When you got to the other side it was a very clear path, there was always people walking along there, it's very overgrown, awful.

Comment by: pete on 17th November 2019 at 10:55

Is thier anyone who lived in the potteries remember did this bridge have a name.

Comment by: Barrie on 17th November 2019 at 17:27

Looking at some old OS maps on line (25" map 1929) and it shows that a bridge spanned the river at this spot carrying the Winstanley Colleries Railway to the canal at Wigan Pier. Alongside the line stood the Central Tramway Depot which became Wigan Corporation Bus depot and when I was involved in the FAS scheme 2007 First Bus Group occupied the building. I wonder if there are any old photographs showing the rail line.The wooded area in the photo was named Parson's Meadow in the 20's.

Comment by: wiggie on 20th November 2019 at 22:11

Barrie if you were involved with this new footbridge is there anyway you could find out if this bridge had a name if it was used to transport coal to wigan pier.
it would appreciated if you could.

Comment by: Barrie. on 22nd November 2019 at 13:06

As far as I can ascertain, there was no name given to this bridge but delving back through old maps on line, the original bridge show in 1849 that is was wooden and by 1929 that had changed but still part of the Colleries railway to Wigan Pier. By 1947 the track had been removed, Maybrick Street was built on the line of the track and the bridge was part of the footpath.Possible it was reconstructed as shown in the photograph. The bridge further upstream (on the bend leading to Fourteen Meadows Road is marked on the maps as Parson Meadow Bridge.The one downstream is marked Adams Bridge and the railway Viaduct has no name.Until 2007, I had never visited this area of Wigan before on foot.

Comment by: Mick B on 28th December 2024 at 21:12

Re the bridge(s) over the R. Douglas at this location, I found the following information on the Northern Mines Research Society website: "The Bankes family purchased the Winstanley estate in 1595. Meyrick Bankes Jnr. began to exploit the coal seams under his estate in the 1830s, sinking four pits. Bankes built a 4 feet gauge tramway to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, terminating at what became known as Wigan Pier." Looking at the old maps, it is certain that this line must have crossed the Douglas at this location. As a child in the late 1950's I recall that the upstream bridge consisted of wooden supports without gaps in-between, like closed up railway sleepers. And it didn't have any of the side railings shown in the picture. So perhaps this one was the old railway line bridge. Also was Maybrick Street named as a mis-spelt tribute to Meyrick Bankes?

Comment by: Mick B on 30th December 2024 at 00:48

With apologies for posting twice in 2 days, but I forgot to thank Barrie for his time in researching this topic. Also, I noticed from the 1849 map that the River Douglas followed a natural course then, rather than the obviously man-made course which it follows today, enclosed by stone walls. It's still a good bet that the bridge in the photo is a replacement of the wooden bridge that carried thousands of tons of coal over the river on to Wigan Pier. Good to see people taking an interest in local history.

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