Wigan Album
Poolstock Lane, Worsley Mesnes
8 CommentsPhoto: Cathy Bolton
Item #: 27529
Borough Engineer & Surveyor Municipal Buildings Wigan
April 1954
These houses are still there, between Snowden Avenue and St. Jude's.
Possibly planning permission was needed to build the garage coloured blue on the plan.
First name - Thomas Horrocks; was he the same Tom Horrocks who was headmaster at St James School Poolstock for many years ?
Yes, spot on Cordy !
Cathy, John's uncle Harry had a garage at the back of these houses. I remember being there when it was taken down to make way for the housing estate.
The gap in the houses was known as Fairhurst's Opening, I think. The Worsley Mesnes bus used to terminate there.
Hi Norman , This plan came from Auntie Kitty's house and as you say, construction of the council estate was started in 1954,so perhaps the allotment holders were hoping for some compensation.
Apparently Uncle Harry got a garage at the back of Ernie Heyes' house in Walpole Avenue afterwards.
John thinks it might have been 'Fairbrother' Opening rather than 'Fairhurst' because Fairbrother House was across the road, but he isn't sure.
By the time I first visited Worsley Mesnes in 1964 the bus turned round in St. Paul's, reversing into Walpole Avenue.
David Whitton (209 Poolstock Lane) was the local coal-man.
He used to do BRM BRM BRM with his lips when he was driving.
Cathy, John could well be right although I thought that Fairbrother House was higher up Poolstock Lane, opposite where Marus Avenue now is. Across the road from this opening was Scrivens' Farm. That was demolished when the estate at the back was built and a JET petrol station built more or less in its place. I think there may be a convenience store there now.
Hi Norman, This is what John has told me as it's before my time!
At Fairbrother House he remembers Jack and Lizzie Smith who farmed there and then, you are right, Scrivens had it as a pig farm and haulage business.
You may be thinking of Florence House up the road near Marus Avenue.
If you look on 'Places' then 'Hawkley Hall' you'll find a map 'Powder Works (Hawkley Colliery Explosives Ltd)extended'
you'll see Fairbrother House named on Poolstock Lane. Tesco Express now! You might also be shocked to learn that Marus Bridge roundabout is no more! We now have traffic lights! If you just happen to miss the lights they take ages to change again. So it's definitely slower, but I feel safer, especially when coming out of Highfield Grange Avenue which was always a bit risky.
Have you looked at us recently on Streetview?
Cathy