Wigan Album

The pub like building on the corner of Chapel lane was the premises of Robinson's Wigan Brewery, untill it was taken over by Magee Marshall at the turn of the century. By the look of the Fire Engines I would guess at 1920's? Jackie, if you have the original photograph, can you look through a magnifying glass as to what is the lettering on the building?

Where abouts on Chapel Lane was this?

this was the top end.
the fire station was attached to the old town hall.
this land is now derelict

Ron i think the letters over the doors read "Central Fire Station" however thats my best guess.

sorry cannot help with the lettering on the building.It has
come off a paper negative.I have got some more and will put them on in due course.

What a joy it was as a child to walk past the fire station and peep in at the huge red engines with there shiny brass fittings.I seem to remember they had the name MERRYWEATHER in large letters on them.

Looks like the "Central Fire Station" to me as well

It was the lettering on the pub like building I was enquiring about. Having looked at the photograph again. I think the bit of grey over the houses in Chapel Lane may be the Cooling tower? This would date the photograph as late 1930's

Ron I had just seen the photos and was going to say just that but it would date the picture in the early fifties as the cooling towers were only built very late forties.

if the grey thing above the houses is a cooling tower it would date it after 1950. power station was constucted 1948-1950

So is the church in the back ground St James's then?

I lived just off darlington street up to 1953. and I can never remember there being a building at the top of Chapel Lane where the pub like building is? I always thought that the Palace picture house went to the corner of King Street and Chapel Lane? Come on Art you should know<g>

Is the pub like building the Brewers Arms pub? Although it's before my time I'm told the Brewers Arms was on the corner of King st / Chapel Lane.

The 1907 O.S. map of Wigan shows the Fire Station on the corner of Chapel Lane and also shown are public houses on both opposite corners.

Just looked on a couple more photos of King Street and yes there is a building on the corner. Just goes to show that your memory isn't as good as you thought<g>
Brewers Arms sounds likely, as there was a Brewey there. I'll check.

That pic, I would say, was taken probably in the '50s. The camera was in the terrace of houses, later to become the annexe to the town hall (housing etc). The fire station at the time was also the Borough Ambulance Station, housing a daimler & an austin, the one in the pic (both crocodile bonnets). The pub, is the Brewers Arms,next door another building, then the Palace Cinema. On the opposite corner to the brewers was the Derby Arms. The fire station later on was used to garage the new Panda cars when they were introduced. The Police station, round the corner was still in use during 1968, when I had to report there with cadavers to take to the police morgue in Sovereign Rd...HTH

i dont think the church is St. James`s
it looks too close
St James`s was way down chapel lane
there was a presbyterian church closer to the top but i dont think it was that either.
this building looks to have been this side of the railway

I can hopefully offer some more information. The picture was taken between 1950 and 1952. The appliance nearest the camera is a Commer with bodywork by Whitson registered JP8650. It arrived in 1950 and was named "Lewis". Next to it is a Ford Heavy Unit and an Austin, both which departed c.1952. The pub at the rear of the picture is the Brewers Arms but the church in the background, [name unknown] was demolished in the 1950s or thereabouts. Finally, the ambulance is a Bedford. Hope this helps.

The Presbyterian Church was behind the camera on this shot. There are no churches shown on this line of sight on the 1928 map. I think that what we are seeing is a group of chimney pots on buildings somewhere behind the Brewers Arms. Possibly the North Western Hotel.

Very impressive building but surprisingly, on the ground floor was occupied by the fire brigade.....the Police used the upper floors, the firemen used several terraced houses and a large wooden building which was down the street, across the main road across the road from the main entrance to the police station

The picture is much earlier than the fifties, I was in the Fire Brigade at Wigan in 1955. The doorway next to the Station led to the old Police Parade room. Next door just off picture was John Varleys, The house next door belong to the Fire Brigade and I lived next door for about two years at No25. We had a gable end on to the carpark next door.

My father, Les Martin was serving at the old station and then at the new station until the early 70's. How are you Harry I remember you were in Northampton Dad is now in Bedford and will be 90 soon. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers Dad.

The old fire station was at the back of the old town hall in Rodney St the building on the end is now francos