Wigan Album

The only original building still being used for same purpose is the Raven hotel.

I remember it well. Very much a 'shoppers' town then, unlike today unfortunately.
Rev Long, more info for you on Butcher boy.

I remember it well. Very much a 'shoppers' town then, unlike today unfortunately.
Rev Long, more info for you on Butcher boy.

I remember it like that so well, with the litter-bins on the lamp-posts and Ashton's Tobacconists where I used to buy my lovely Dad a cigar in a tin tube at Christmas and an ounce of Holland Hall Aromatic Tobacco for his pipe. My age was never questioned. The art-deco door- number "20" on the glass over Ashton's front door is still there. A lovely , nostalgic photo.

A great picture from long ago. The two chaps on the left are a
Wigan Corporation bus crew. One of them is wearing a light
Summer bus crew jacket.

Great photo Rev Long of a great time in bygone history. Just look at the quality of that newspaper from way back in 1967, printed by the new web offset press at Woods Street, just off Wallgate. Photo taken by the late great Arnold Hall, the papers photographer.
Thanks Rev.

Hi Reverend: lovely picture of my old Wigan, and how I remember it. It makes me sad to see it now.
The Observer was indeed a special paper back then too.

Wigan at its peak.. I always missed the town when I left to get married, nowadays it’s not worth coming.

Irene,it was Holland House tobacco,always smelled good.I think they still sell it.

You are absolutely right, Pw! I KNEW "Holland Hall" didn't sound right! Thankyou.

Bobbies on point duty!!!

Wigan as I recall. Not been there since 1960's.

Way back then, I used to catch bus home (to Bryn) every day from that stop.

Sad to hear all your comments about how much it has deteriorated.

If you were to stand at this same spot in 2023 to take a picture at the same angle, it would be a very very depressing image in comparison to the scene from the 1960s. Just a pity no-one has yet invented a time machine.

CJ

CJ , They have invented a time machine but it only goes one way . It's called life .

I remember driving up that hill to turn right into Library St and using hand signals to the policeman to indicate to the policeman that is where I wanted to go!! I think one could point your hand over the steering wheel or stick your arm out of the window. Happy days.

i wonder how many of todays young drivers would know how to make a hand signal to a policeman on traffic duty indicating that you wanted to turn left in a car

If I could turn back time.
Beautiful thank you.

I find the most depresssing aspect of the many changes to our once lovely town is how dirty ,scruffy and filthy it is now.

I am struck with the bank building at the top of Library Street, now Moon under Water. First of all by how dark it looks blackened by a century of industrial grime and secondly that the main entrance on the corner was open and supported by a pillar which I do not remember.
What I would say to Kath is that the Wetherspoon building these days looks far better and brighter than it did in 1967. That cannot be said for much of the rest of Wallgate
The building on the left which in those days was Barclays Bank before they moved to Victoria House, Market Place was for a long time Betting Shop. I walked past recently in it is now a Vape Shop!!! I don't know what the proprietors of Ashtons Tobacconists would have made of that. At least it looked clean, tidy and bright inside.