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Photos of Wigan
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Wigan Album

Millgate

34 Comments

MILLGATE 1960s
MILLGATE 1960s
Photo: Frank Orrell
Views: 4,457
Item #: 32645
A view down Millgate in the 1960s with the Famous Army Stores on the left and the Ship Inn and Salvation Army premises on the right.

Comment by: XPat on 8th August 2020 at 23:52

Blimey ! This brings back memories . The Famous Army Stores as well . There was a fishing tackle shop somewhere here if I remember correctly . Thanks for the post Frank . Boots as well across the road which had a side entrance in the Big Arcade .

Comment by: Albert.S. on 9th August 2020 at 09:00

Is the car at the front, a little Austin seven?.

Comment by: Irene Roberts on 9th August 2020 at 09:49

Albert. Peter says it's an Austin A30.

Comment by: Garry on 9th August 2020 at 10:08

The car in front is a Austin A35, Albert.S

Comment by: Philip Gormley. on 9th August 2020 at 12:18

Our left-back bought a dinky Austin 'van' just weeks after passing his test in the The Sixties. It took some of the team to Goose Green for what turned out to be our 3-0 Cup-Final success. The funny thing - apart from the van's nose - is that we'd celebrated further afield, in fact, in Rainford North End Club, with the Cup in the centre of a domino table. We hadn't been club-members, nor old enough to drink, but were allowed a pint each before leaving. Wigan, and then back down to Rainford?

Comment by: Albert.S. on 9th August 2020 at 12:31

In the fifties/sixties, further along from where the cars are parked was an entrance to the Palais-de- Dance, part of the Empress Ballroom.

Comment by: Ray on 9th August 2020 at 12:55

The vehicle at the front is an Austin A30. The Austin A35 had a similar
radiator grill with a chrome embellishment around the outer edge.

Comment by: Bill on 9th August 2020 at 14:30

The front car is a Austin A35 two door estate .

Comment by: Albert.S. on 9th August 2020 at 15:22

At least I was part right. It is an Austin.

Comment by: Garry on 9th August 2020 at 15:44

The car at the rear is Austin A55.

Comment by: Albert.S. on 9th August 2020 at 19:37

The name plate on the wall. Does it read, ‘Cold Yard’ ?.

Comment by: John on 9th August 2020 at 21:49

Is it not Ship Yard, Albert?

Comment by: Irene Roberts on 9th August 2020 at 22:24

Is it not Ship Yard, Albert? The Ship pub was there.

Comment by: Albert.S. on 10th August 2020 at 08:49

Could well be Irene. Old historians’ of Wigan will know the answer.

Comment by: Joe Thomas on 10th August 2020 at 13:56

It is Ship Yard

Comment by: maker on 10th August 2020 at 21:06

car at the back could be a sunbeamalpine ?

Comment by: A.W. on 11th August 2020 at 10:40

Xpat, it was Ashcroft's fishing tackle you remember, just out of shot on the left.

Comment by: Albert.S. on 11th August 2020 at 13:07

There is much referring to motor cars. Just a question. Was a Jowett Javelin a British made motor car?. The only one that I recollect, was one owned by Dr Duffy, of Platt Bridge.

Comment by: XPat on 11th August 2020 at 18:52

Thanks A.W . I only remember those two , Pennington’s and a chip pie somewhere . What other shops there was further up left no imprint on my memory .
I often think I was living in the Twilight Zone when I lived in Wigan as I don’t remember half the stuff shown on WW . Cheers.

Comment by: Mr X on 15th August 2020 at 09:06

The vehicle is An Austin A35 van not a car that was in production from 1955, and continued in van form with limited production until 1968 long after the A40 and Mini replacements were introduced (BMC was known for keeping older cars and vans in production in small numbers and sold at a much lower price than their replacement models). The A35 car differs from the same shape earlier A30 in having a bigger rear window. Incidentally last week a black one new in 1958 was parked in Library Street that I have never seen before with London registration UYR162.
I don't remember the Salvation Army church building, and there was Ship Yard, an alleyway that went down to the Empress later Wigan Casino building. There was also Tom Whalley's pet shop nearby, don't know when that opened.

Comment by: Tony on 15th August 2020 at 14:59

XPat. Regarding the shops. Further up from Ashcrofts fishing tackle there was also a cafe everyone called Slow Joes (decent food at a decent price, but took ages dishing it up) and Mrs Jolleys shop. She sold all sorts of stuff, but mainly electrical kit like old wireless valves etc.

Comment by: Arthur on 15th August 2020 at 15:48

Mr X the Austin A35 is an estate car, Side Windows.

Comment by: Albert.S. on 16th August 2020 at 09:19

Arthur/ Mr X. Seeing that you both appear to be well versed in the make, and models of vehicles. Have you got an answer to the question that I have previously asked?.

Comment by: WN1 Standisher on 17th August 2020 at 08:33

Quite ironic the Salvation Army being there in Millgate with all the wayward souls falling out of the ship. I presume they moved to Scholes crossing when the butchering of Scholes was finished.

Comment by: Garry on 17th August 2020 at 09:08

Albert S, I'll try and answer your question.
The Jowett Javelin was a British made executive car of Idle near Bradford, west Yorkshire. The bodies were made by Briggs motor bodies in Doncaster and designed by Gerald Palmer in 1947 until production ended in 1953. So I hope I've answered your question Albert.

Comment by: Arthur on 17th August 2020 at 09:14

I've no idea albert, sorry.

Comment by: Albert.S. on 17th August 2020 at 09:55

W.N.1. Standisher.
One weekend night, in the very early sixties, Freddy Dyke, and I had a right battle opposite The Ship, in Millgate.
Freddie was attempting to arrest one chap, I believe his name was Farrell, and I the other, named Gallagher. We were both on the floor. He was biting through my little finger. I could see the bone appearing. I had to put his head against the wall, and hit him in the eye with my knee, to get my finger free. The doctor said there is only one thing worse than being bitten by a human, that is, being bitten by a camel. Punishment. Fined £5.00.

Comment by: Albert.S. on 17th August 2020 at 11:26

Thank you Garry. It would appear from the short duration of its manufacture, there was no future for this motor car.

Comment by: WN1 Standisher on 17th August 2020 at 12:00

Ironic you should tell that story Albert, my father in Law was an officer in the Specials in Wigan for 17 years in the 60's/70's, and due to his experiences in the RAF air traffic control in Egypt in the 50's, had a hatred of camels. ( dirty bloody things 0 he called them. Strangely years later, when on holiday with the family, he was offered camels for his Daughter, my Wife. This time he enquired how many ;)

Comment by: Garry on 17th August 2020 at 13:54

It would appear the car was too expensive at that time, Albert.

Comment by: Albert.S. on 17th August 2020 at 14:27

WN1 Standisher.
Did she get the hump?.

Comment by: WN1 Standisher on 18th August 2020 at 09:52

She sure did. He didn't get the camels though :)

Comment by: nightchap on 19th August 2020 at 18:28

I owned an A35 van in the early 70's. Brilliant little van. I had the deluxe version - it had a heater and fold down rear bench seats. Spent many a night sleeping full length in the back on visits to the Lake District and Cornwall.

Comment by: Carolaen on 20th August 2020 at 17:04

nightchap - the A35 vans were great. My dad had one in the 1960s. I learned to drive in it. You could go up to Burscough in those days and go on the old airfield runway and drive on it as it was "off road". It had the same engine that they used in the midget with a little stubby "Sports car" gear lever. If you had no load in the van it was quite a nippy vehicle.

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