Wigan Album
Millgate
19 CommentsPhoto: Frank Orrell
Item #: 32646
Where did Scholes end, and Millgate begin?.I believe that that is the Shovel and Broom, just showing on the left.
The chap on the motor scooter looks like he may be a bus driver or a
bus conductor. The white spot on his left lapel looks like a PSV badge
that drivers and conductors wore, and on his head is what looks like
a drivers cap.
Albert, Schole's ended were the Shovel and Broom was, because you then went into Harrogate St. Were the old police station was,and Millgate started were the old baths was.
Edna. I remember Harrogate Street, it ran at the back, and parallel with Darlington Street. A passageway led to it from Chapel Lane, opposite the old Wigan Borough Fire Station. You could also get into Harrogate Street from Darlington Street. The the old Wigan Borough Police garage was on the opposite side of Darlington Street.
Edna. One of the reasons that I remember Harrogate Street, is. I went to a domestic disturbance in that street, in about 1960.
The chap in the house complained that his wife had poured the chamber pot all over him.
He kept inviting me to feel just how wet he was.
I told him “ I have no intention of putting my hand on a load of pee” l may not have exactly used the word ‘pee’.
Is the pub just showing on the left not the Horseshoe ? at the bottom of Station Road ?
W.N.1 Standishisher.
You are correct. See Assorted. Traffic wardens. The Shovel and Broom must be further down, in that row. Such a variety of pubs.
Scholes began near the river douglas bridge; 1st pub on the left was Thatched House; then Rope & Anchor ; then Shovel & Broom.
Just looked on assorted Albert, thanks for the heads up. Great picture of the Horseshoe, played darts in there a few time before it came down. Also Arthur Stott pictured, I remember him on patrol around Standish in the 60's/70's. He ran a tight ship.
Davenport's clock and watch shop and repairer was in one of the shops on the left, I remember in the mid 1970s buying a Westminster chime mantle clock from there. I'm not aware of any clock repairers in Wigan now, and there was a few at one time.
AH is right. All the shops and properties between the Horseshoe pub and Scholes Bridge (Davenports, the newsagents, Palatine etc) had the postal address Millgate.
There was also a place called palatines they used to sell pop
It is definitely Millgate up to the River Douglas.
I worked for Palatine Mineral Water & Bottling Co. in the 1960s, and I've still got a job reference with their letter heading on
Their address was 96 Millgate and phone no Wigan 43082.
I was always under the impression that Scholes stopped at the Douggie
Ace. Great picture Frank.
Millgate finished at Scholes bridge over the river Douglas. It is the Horseshoe pub just visible on the left hand side and Douglas Street starts at the bollards on the right as Chapel Lane begins, Wigan Printing Company just out of view has the Poster Writing and Silk Screen Printing company on the top floor and bookbinding on the middle floor. The owners at the time were the Ostick Brothers, Bert and Jack who lived in Southport. Just further down Douglas Street was Lilly Gaskells shop.
Douglas Street lead onto Harrogate Street and before you reached Darlington Street there was Foy St. and Shelmerdine St. on the left and Atherton St on the right, it was from the top of Atherton St. that a ally way led onto Chapel Lane opposite the old fire station, at the back of Atherton Street was a little known collection of small terraced cottages, Gees Court.
Looking back down Millgate past the Horseshoe was Mrs Kelly's cafe and Davenport's Jewellers. The Railway bridge had been demolished at this time.
Guy on the Scooter is my dad going to work. Correctly spotted that he was a bus driver in uniform and wearing his PSV badge. He worked for Ribble buses and I've still got that badge
I have just sent a picture taken roughly from the same spot yesterday, what a contrast after Frank Orrell's photo from 56 years ago.
Hope this gets uploaded as a comparison!
Albert.S. and all.
The Shovel and Broom was on the left half way up Scholes and just before the junction with School Lane and Warrington Lane and had long been demolished when this picture was taken along with most other pubs in Scholes.
For clarity this shot is still of Millgate, Scholes only starts at the other side of the Dougals Bridge.