Wigan Album

When I knew Wigan, back in the year crumb...there used to be a shoe shop along the left hand parade of shops where my Mother used to take me to buy me very ' sensible ' shoes. They had a foot Xray machine to see where your toes were when trying on a pair of shoes. Also back in the area the photo was taken was Baileys, Scotch Bakers & beside it an alley way through to Dicconson St where I lived with my Aunt & Uncle for a while & I used to go to the Wesleyan School. Brings back not altogher happy memories for me.

Mesnes Street in the 1980s (will be photographed after late 1984 as the car is a low spec Mk2 Vauxhall Astra. I remember most of these shops including Motorist Discount Centre that is now an amusement arcade. This is where you enter and leave the Galleries car park and there was another shop called Regal Textiles. The Market tavern pub that is now a Thai restaurant had its most violent day on March 15 1986 when Wigan Athletic were playing Bolton and hooligans went on the rampage with every window smashed.

Great times wigan used to be in the late 60s and the 70s can anybody help me there used to be a bakery there I cannot remember what it was called as a young girl I used to go to wigan to do some shopping for my mum and she used to ask me to bring some pies and cakes home for our dinner on Saturdays what good times they were.

Julie - there were two bakeries that I can remember. There was Bailey's Scotch Bakery mentioned above by Helen, which stood on the corner of Mesnes St and Mesnes Terrace, where Smiths bookshop later stood, and also Watkins, which I think would have been on the left hand side of this photo, going towards Standishgate.

Julie I dont know if Baileys the Scotch Bakery was still there in the 60/70s, someone might be able to help with that but Baileys used to make & sell very tasty meat & potato pies & 'parkin ' a sort of big ginger biscuit made with oats, they were sweet & chewy, I loved them. I believe there was another bakery in Mesnes Street after my time in Wigan, Greenhalghs ?

Julie, the bakery was Watkins, Percy Watkins being the original owner, it was for a time from the early 1970s onward owned by Stuart Lace.

I remember the shoe shop, with the foot machine Helen, but can't remember the name of the shop.

That's the one Mick Watkins Bakery thanks Mick for rembering the name brings back good memories for me.

Helen of Troy
Was the name of the shoe shop Scott’s? I might be having a senior moment, but this name rings a bell. The shop subsequently moved into Standishgate, opposite McDonald’s.

Edna the name Scott comes to mind , but not sure.

Yes Veronica,I think it was,thank you.I love photos of old Wigan.They bring back so many memories.

Helen of Troy
Was the name of the shoe shop Scott’s? I might be having a senior moment, but this name rings a bell. The shop subsequently moved into Standishgate, opposite McDonald’s.

It was Charles Scotts shoe shop..used to sell start-rite and clarks shoes,and for lads,roughriders,with animal prints on the heels