Wigan Album

RON , Banks's arms .the wheatsheaf was at the corner of queen st

AH thanks for the info. can't remember that pub. Been in the Wheatsheaf many times in the 1960's 70's as I worked at Plesseys which was just opposite down Willgoose Lane.

Willgoose lane the sign is/was on the railway bridge. didn,t know plesseys used to be there

Ron,I worked at Plesseys Wallgate, in the 1960's Were was Willgoose Lane?

I have never seen any elephants in Wigan, but years ago in Blackpool at around 6am there were often up to ten elephants that belonged to the Tower Circus to be observed on the beach near the tower being washed.

Willgoose Lane is the narrow passageway at the side of Wallgate railway bridge it ran down by the side of the embankment wall. I think its been blocked off now with a fence? Edna I worked at Plesseys from 1966 until it closed in 1973. Best place I have ever worked It wasn't like going to work. Enjoyed every minute of my time there.

In the early 1960s (no later than 1963) a circus was set up in the Playing fields off Darlington Street East, on the land where St Pats Rugby club now is. We had our primary school dinners in the canteen there and watched them out up the big tent. There was a parade of animals including elephants along Darlington St. My parents took me to one performance there.

Remeber this the the animals arrived by train then paraded to the ground on Scot Lane

EDNA, go on WW, Places, Willgoose Lane, and you will see what Ron has just explained.

Maureen and Sheila will know Willgoose Lane (Ropewalk) as they both lived in Great George Street way back.

Yes jont65, the circus was held on Laithwaite Park off Scot Lane Newtown in the 1950s, there was a big hoo ha at the time about the Elephants being walked down from the station to attract folks to come and see them.

Carolaen....I remember the parade coming up Darlington Street East. Do you remember animals in cages on the parade? I don't know for sure if there were or whether it was just my young imagination at the time. We lived on Darlington Street East.

This is the circus that I remember at Newtown in the 1950s, photos from off the Album: https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/showalbum.php?opt=8&gallery=Circus+comes+to+Town

So was there another visit by a circus as Ron states on the photo as being the 1960s?

Thank you Ron and Roy. I know were you mean now.I walked down that passageway every morning.Didnt know what it was called..I agree with you Ron, its the best place that I have worked as well.When I first started, it was Garard's record players.Then changed over to Plesseys. One of my best memories then was waiting to be trained,and everything to be set up.So for quite a few months we had no work, but was still being paid.We had a whale of a time, doing each others hair, nails, and reading.Best job ever.

According to Johnson Press the circus on the photo is Robert's Circus which performed in the town in 1969.

Johnston Press not Johnson Press.

Alan, instead of being PEDANTIC to others, try contributing something useful and helpful to folks on here.

But I am helpful to you, you got the name Johnson Press that is wrong, I'm only correcting you. JOHNSTON PRESS is the correct word. I thought you would have been pleased, merry xmas.

Brilliant picture, these are not on there way to the Hippodrome, there must be pictures of King Street somewhere.

They are on their way to the land in Scot Lane I think. Now Laithwaite Park?

Ron, I can't remember exactly where the circus was, but there was a circus held near Robin Park and there were elephants - this was definitely later than the 1950s, because I hadn't been born then.
Also, it was a large circus and, I am quite sure, it was Chipperfield's Circus. I know this because I went to the circus and I remember walking down Wallgate to go to the circus.