Wigan Album

It is indeed..
Walter was a real character in Hindley..once walked into the local undertakers, lay on the counter and shouted 'Shop !'....

I remember going here in 1972 with my son as a 2 year old to have some little red clogs made for him. He always wanted everything red in those days. It was the only place left to find clogs that I knew of.

Yes, it's walter. I did some work for him at his house in Waverley Road, a couple of weeks before he died.

Yes, Walter was a lovely man, and oh, Gareth, that story has made me laugh! I had some clogs made for my son Jamie when he was about three, (1979). and wish I'd kept them. Obviously, being hand-made, they were a bit expensive and when my daughter was born I just couldn't afford them for her. However, when she was 18 she had some made for herself by Walter and they are now by the side of my fireplace where they look very much at home in my old-fashioned living room! They have also been on the stage at Wigan Little Theatre years ago in Hobson's Choice, along with my Dad's old "Last" on which he used to mend our shoes when I was a little girl. Walter will certainly never be forgotten. An absolute Gentleman, God bless him.

Walter was a bit of a clever clogs too . He played for The Lychgate in the Standish Quiz League. Incredible the stuff he knew .

I once took a pair of clogs into Walters shop that belonged to my Mother to have new rubbers.When I picked them up he said give me a pound which I said was cheap,Walt said well give me a fiver then.He was once on TV on eggheads and their team had an unusual name which I can’t remember.He certainly was a character.

I didn't know Walter personally Irene He was in the same year as my Dad's sister at Hindley and Abram Grammar School and my Dad knew him quite well.
As regards Walter being clever, he once appeared on a tea time quiz hosted by Anglea Ripon on BBC 1. I forget the name of the programme, but Walter's team were called 'the Mugwumps'...

Just done a bit of digging, and the quiz show was called Masterteam...

I heard it mentioned that Walter tried to bribe the quizmaster into only asking footwear related questions?

Walter,my much missed cousin.He really was a great character.x

I took a photo of Walter's shop on the occasion of its centenary in 1998.
(item # 20232)

I too wore clogs in the 50’s. The clog maker was just a few doors down in Walthew Lane Platt Bridge, can’t remember his name but somebody on here will. That story you told Gareth I couldn’t understand why that was funny. I’ve always been slow but thorough and then it clicked and then I laughed. Have you still got the same sense of humour Gareth?

I'm told that I have a somewhat strange sense of humour, Linma. Like I say, I didn't know Walter myself (I'm only 53..) and only know stories about Walter via my Dad, plus I grew up in Abram, went to school at Park High, so knew plenty of people who knew Walter....

Sadly a dieing trade.

I used to love the smell inside the Clogger’s shop. I went regularly with my dad’s clogs to quite a few of them in Scholes. I have mentioned before the one in Scholes near the Chemist opposite Scholefield Lane. He would appear through a trap door in the floor .- made me jump out of my skin…:o)). There was some comics to read so I didn’t mind waiting for the clogs to be mended and sniffing the leathery smell…

I always liked going into Hursts cloggers and remember Walters dad Harry when I was very young.I think Bill Hurst who had the bike shop up Market St.was a relation.Walters uncle?

We still have the most tiniest pair of clogs made by Walter as a gift to my wife's uncle who knew him very well and he passed away in 1996, so goodness knows how old they really are. They are so tiny but perfect in every way, made by a true craftsman.

I also have a pair of tiny clogs probably made by Walter.

I too have a pair of the miniature clogs, as well as the full-size pair made for my daughter. We certainly won't let Lancashire Clogs, or Walter, be forgotten!

I just wish I had kept the little red clogs. I only got them because his Gran wanted to buy them. I wore them as a child. and I absolutely hated them at the age of 9 or 10. Black laced up ones that were supposed to be good for your feet. I can’t say my feet are a thing of beauty with the bunions on mine.

Why "Lancashire" Clogs, irene? I'm sure clogs were worn all over the country and Lancashire was no different. The same goes for flat-caps.

If you’d have smelled the inside of my clogs Veronica , then your opinion of clogs may well have taken a different aspect . That experience would have made you jump out of your skin .

The clogger on walthew lane was Sammy Rowland !

Some information about Clog Dancing, and apparently 'Clog' is gaelic for 'Time'?

https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Clog-Dancing/

There was a clog maker at the Bubble Factory in Oswaldtwistle Mills with Bill Turton and family of Skelmersdale, later becoming the Clog Factory, but according to 'We Are Not Alone,' the last clog maker Roger Dower has now moved on elsewhere.

http://www.treforowenclogmaker.co.uk/we-are-not-alone