Wigan Album
victoria st newtown
13 Comments
Photo: Michael Ardern Mason
Item #: 25397
Our shop was popular for cooked meats, pies and cakes, and we also did outside catering for weddings and funerals. My auntie, Marion Moreman worked in the shop and was particularly good at listening to customers' personal problems. Because we lived next door to the shop, we were considered to be open for business at all hours.e.g. if there were events at the Bethel Chapel next door, people would regularly knock on the front door late at night to see if we had any milk left for sale. We regularly organised coach outings for customers to shows in Manchester e.g. the film, "South Pacific", and we also had big raffles for hampers at Christmas. It was my job as a child to draw the winning ticket, which was miraculously always won by someone who needed the hamper! Other good memories included hearing the St Mark's Church Choir singing carols outside the shop on evenings before Christmas, and also hearing the Bethel Chapel Choir singing "Hail Smiling Morn" in Victoria Street following their midnight New Year's Eve Watchnight Services.
Great memories of happy days Michael.
What lovely warm memories! Thankyou.
Ian & Irene have said it all for me...
I used to go out with one of those twin boys when I was in my teens. His name was Tom and his brother was called Arthur.
Lovely to read Michael, really interesting. Oh how we each hold onto our memories. I remember a tiny sweet shop at the bottom of Gathurst Hill to this day. Clear in my mind but now long gone..
I remember Mr Freeman's grocer's shop very well. Big sacks of potatoes in front of the counter and sugar weighed out in blue bags. He had a habit of whistling or humming nervously as he served you.
I also remember Bentham's chip shop and Ronnie McEvoy's butcher's shop. My mother used to send me there to get a joint of beef, enough to feed the whole family. "Tell Mr McEvoy about 10 shillings' worth," she would say. 50p for enough beef for a family of four! Old Mrs McEvoy, Ronnie's mother, used to make pies and tarts which were sold in the shop. I think Ronnie's brother was a teacher but I can't be sure about that.
These are wonderful photos, and very evocative. Thank you for posting them.
A brilliant description by Micheal of how things once were. When you consider today the terminology, Graffiti, Selfies, Twitter, Facebook, road rage and Hoodies, you get a real understanding of just how far down the evolutionary ladder we have fallen. I am just so happy to have the memories of a better time, and believe me , it was indeed a much, much better time!
I can still taste Old Mrs McEvoy's chicken pasties,the best ever. Also used to take a large cup that she filled with home made gravy to pour over. Oh and taking our plates to Bentham's on a Friday tea time that he kept warm before using them...happy days!
I used to live round the corner in Norfolk Street and remember these shops very well, particularly Mr Benthams Fish and Chip Shop. Mum and Dad always insisted that I get there at opening time (or earlier), so that I always got the best chips. Whilst waiting for the lard to melt, Mr B would sens me "running round the block" and time me. Lovely man
Wonderful picture Michael. Mum would send me down to your Dads for any cream she needed for baking....and also for the sherry trifle of course!
Such wonderful, evocative and tender memories. You great people...it must have been a pleasure to live 'down Robin'. The tales of home made food brings a tear to my eye. It was similar in Pemberton where I live, but I think you wonderful folk had something special: a sense of community and caring...We are so, so, lucky to have lived through times like those. Money wasn't our maker. God bless you all...
Fond memories of mr mason my mother in law Mary marron had a bakery in beech hill and we traded with him for a long time
Thanks for your comment Eunice - I do remember Mrs Marron from Beech Hill. She was a good customer!