Wigan Album

A lovely old van. Didn't vehicles have character in the old days...well I think they did !

They've obviously moved up in the world with the van. I bet they still kept the horse and cart though. As a child of the fifties I remember well the horse and cart kept by Humphries' green grocers at the top of Belvoir St/ Scholefield Lane. He galloped the horse over the cobbles, sat on top of the cart as if he was Gabby Heyes with his trilby on his head. The cart clattered down John St, woe betide any kids playing in the street! He must have been going to the Market Square to pick up the produce grown in the country side on the way to Southport. I remember those vans as well, my friend's dad was a butcher and he did home deliveries in one of those. In 1960 I was taken to the Lakes for the first time ever, four of us kids in the back of the van and the mum and dad in the front seats! It was very uncomfortable, but worth it when we got there! It must have taken a couple of hours, no motorway then...my first introduction to the glorious Lake District...never forgotten.

Andrew, I am fairly certain that this bread van is a Morris.
It was designed to carry about 10 cwt, (Half a ton), or 500kg
in todays language. Ray.

Yes, I think the ID of the van as a Morris is right . I found a photo from 1936 taken in Blackpool here .. http://www.motorgraphs.com/heritage/morris-8-10-van-1936_a156939.aspx

Veronica I bet you remember when women used to sit on the window sill to clean the Windows like the ones in this photo

Definitely a Morris. Our greengrocer in Whelley (Mr. Monks),did his rounds in the area with the side panels cut away and his goods displayed on a flat bed.

I certainly do remember Tom because I had to clean the upstairs windows whilst my mam held on to my legs! She would probably be sent to prison if that happened these days! Mind you it was the back bedroom windows not the front ones... A window cleaner called Ted did them... I can see him now with his ladder and bucket!

Veronica the mention of Gabby Hayes made me chuckle and brought back memories of the old westerns, never heard his name in years. Tom, the way those ladies sat cleaning those sash windows always looked to be so precarious.

If I did happen to fall out of the window, I would have landed on my dad's bird shed ! Yes Gabby Heyes, Scholes Pictures Cyril, on a Saturday afternoon.

In the early to mid thirties, there was a substantial building in St Clement’s Street, Spring View, that was a bakery. On the formation of the Home Guard, at the outbreak of war, the building was used as their headquarters. At that time I Iived opposite this building

If this is the drive in yard, to the bakery, in St Clement’s Street. The end terraced house, where you can see the upstairs window. That is where I Iived.

I believe these houses are still in existence. If so a photograph of the front of the two house shown would give some indication as to the whether, or not this is in fact the location. Having regard to the surround of the upstairs windows. I Iive too far away to oblige.

I agree with Albert S that it is likely his former home at No2 St Clements St is in the background of this photo and that the house is still there today.. see Google Streetmap here https://www.google.com/maps/@53.526859,-2.6105123,3a,75y,279.7h,86.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1st1PTGMTwfen5QcQNUwALZw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 . Numbers 2 and 4 may also be the background in the photo I recently submitted of the A Evans Wholesale Bakery horse and cart, see Wiganworld Album item 32017.

Andrew. The lady who lived at No 2, was Miss Edith Hesketh. I affectionately referred to her as Auntie Eadie. On her dresser she had a framed photograph of her brother, in uniform, a constable in the Manchester Constabulary. It intrigued me, and gave me the inspiration to become a police officer in the future years.