Wigan Album

It was in the old Picture Post magazine. It is already on the site.

Thanks Ron, I hadnt seen it so wasnt sure, its still a good photo though

It was Harry Williams (ford dealers) Filling Station opposite his car showrooms at the end of Miry Lane..

what a great photo of the era.. I dont think theres anything wrong with recycling some of these old photos for relative newbies like me! this picture looks surreal.

It does look surreal, Sheryl but it's a painting not a photo!

I dont think it is a painting Trewyth, the book I scanned it out of didnt say so, and to me there is too much actual detail about places and events, but if I am wrong, some one will sooon put me right.

The mist is rising from the canal so it must have been taken on a cold November or December day, remember those peasoupers when the buses stopped running.

Aitch, That is definetley a photo not a painting, I remember it from the past, Called here very often for petrol, or to get tyres further along to the right in picture

It's not a painting, I have the an original copy of this Picture Post, my father appeared on one of the photos, but I can understand the comment. I don't know what the printing processes were like in 1938 but it didn't do much credit to some of the photos.

Sorry folks, but its definitely a painting. It was probably painted from a photo or even painted over a photo but everything about it is wrong. The perspective on the canal bridge and towpath make it look like the canal is going uphill. Also the detailing on the bridge is too coarse, ditto the fence in the foreground. Look at the warehouse building on the right hand side, does that look like a photograph? One of Eckersley's chimneys is leaning ominously.

never a painting there is to much detail

It's a well known photo of Harry Williams' filling station, taken from the upstairs of his showroom.
I used to work from Middleton & Woods garage behind the showroom, & remember it well

I think it was common practice back then for an artist to highlight photographs - i've got a few encyclopedias from the '20's with a similar effect on the photos.

Hi Trewyth, no need to feel sorry for us. This photo has been "improved" (in fact the process usually had the opposite effect) before being published. I have press photos from as late as the 1950's which show the added lines and marks designed to make the photo look "better" or appear clearer when printed in the newspaper, it all added to its artificial effect.

The petrol pumps have shadows but nothing else has???