Wigan Album

This description of Scholes tallies with the tales told to me by my parents who in turn were re-telling stories handed down by an earlier generation who perhaps "were there" so to speak. Drunkeness, wife beating were all too common in those early industrial days (especially on Saturday nights) which were probably, in part, the result of an extremely hard way of life - balanced no doubt by kindness, neighbourliness and the gathering around in times of hardship by a community that practically lived on top of one another. My own parents ran a pub in the Scholes area from 1950 to 1956 and we found the people, kind, considerate and helpful - the "salt of the earth" is a description that would certainly apply to some. I totally agree it's impossible to imagine today just what the place was like all those years ago but I do know from my family research that my maternal grandparents, in the late 19th century, had 14 children, 9 of whom did not live beyond the age of 4. Times we cannot even begin to imagine.

I know/ knew Tom Penman. Met him a few times
I lived next door to his sister Mary for many years

John,thank you for posting this item,it is very interesting to look back,some of the public houses mentioned in the article were ale houses,only allowed
to sell ales and porter,The Rose and Crown was one such pub,and though several landlords tried to get a full licence,they were unsuccessful, I don't know what the criteria was to obtain a licence to sell liquor ,but I know one application was turned down on the grounds of only having outside toilet facilitys .Its nickname was the Dust Hole,I had a pint in there on many occasions,and it always seemed particularly clean.Has anybody got any idea ,where this title came from?,it would be very interesting to know

Another interesting fact about all of these pubs is that Malcolm Holland never bought a round in any of them !!

Only the Balcarres is still open from this list, but these pub's were just the ones on the main road in Scholes, others in the Scholes area included: St Patrick's club,(still open) The Wigan Arms, The Cotton Tree, The Vulcan, The Black Bull,( still open) The Silverwell (still open) The Stanley Arms, The Spotted Cow. Any others?

there is a more extensive list of Scholes pubs already on WW, look on stuff, pubs of the past and click on Scholes pubs, there are over 70 named.

Tuddy ,there were quite a lot of public houses to either side of Scholes including the Mount Pleasent ,The Regent(cough and cure),The Birkett ,The Bath Springs,The Prince of Wales,The Squrel ,The Grapes,The Princess of Wales although this was at the bottom of Greenhough Street ,but still within staggering distance,and before my time there was a fifth one in Wellington Street,The White Hourse,this was kept by Rileys of wrestling fame,it had been converted to two houses,when I was a child,I am sure there must be others that I can't remember,it will be very interesting to see if other people,can fill the gaps.

JohnAlan - yes the Penmans did live in Stanley St, and so did I, but the author is a different Tom Penman I am almost sure.

Thanks for that Tom, I love those nicknames that the pubs had, Dust Hole, Cough and Cure, where did that name come from? I forgot to mention The Foudry In Warrington Lane, also known as the Smoothing Iron. I was told this nickname came from the shape of the vault, can anyone confirm this?

Tom,I assume "dust hole" came from its proper name which was the shovel and broom.from the river douglas bridge going up scholes pubs on the left hand side where,Thatched House,Rope & Anchor,Shovel & Broom,Bold Arms,Travellers Rest,blue Bell,Horse & Jockey,kings Arms,Crown & sceptre,Black Swan,White swan,roebuck,Windmill,Bird I`th Hand,Balcarres,Jolly Carter,Red Lion,Stag, from Eckersley St, back down opposite side. Gibralter Inn,Rose & Crown,Harp Inn,Oddfellows Arms,Shamrock,Angel,Weavers Arms Fleece,Clock face,Free Trade Inn,Moulders Arms. I am led to believe all these pubs have been open at sometime after the 1900`s

The REGENT PUB in Greenough street was nicknamed the "KILL AND CURE" as next door but one was Doctor Hoey's surgery. My grandmother lived in the "and"

Re:- my earlier comment I should have said my great grandparents lived in the late 19th century - the pub I lived in was within the ambit of Scholes, just, i.e. The Crispin Arms in Birkett Bank, still there but re-built in 1956 the year we left.

In the late fifties, on numerous occasions, Scholes was on my beat, especially working round Scholes. On Fridays, and Saturdays, we would double up until midnight. On Scholes, Market Place,Standishgate, and Wallgate. I cannot remember, any occasion,being called to any type of trouble,in any Scholes public house. In those days the licesing hours were very modest. There were quite a number of fisticuffs, out on the street. They were very soon sorted out. No weapons, nor bottles, etc. were ever used.

Olly ,The Dust Hole wasn't tThe Shovel and Broom,its nickname was The
Spick and Span, The Dust Hole was The Rose and Crown,which was immediately opposite Greenhough Street,Regards Tom.

what about the mount plesant in scholofield lane

Tom Penman is my uncle, and i don't ever remember him or his sister (my mum, god rest her soul) living in Stanley St. If my memory serves me right, they lived in John St. Tom recently turned 80, and Sam, is older brother still lives in Rupert St.

One great Scholes landmark that was demolished in my teens, was the Royal George, I think it was called, mr grandfather referred to it as the "doss house" apparently it was some kind of transient lodging, all I remember passing throught there and seeing this huge building with imposing architecture.

My Gt Grandparents Robert and Mary Ellen Critchley ran the Crown and Sceptre Hotel, 94 Scholes until around April 1920. Gt Granddad died but not sure if Gt Grandma was allowed to continue to run it.

Hi,Scholes my ancestory lived at 2 and 4 scholes st. and were innkeepers of a beer house but the name of the pub is unknown does anyone know to name of this pub at 2 or 4 scholes st.

thank you
merry christmas
william

The Penmans mentioned must be from Stanley st.I was born directly opposite and I remember aTommy, Sammy, Richard and a few others I can’t name their mother was Alice.

The Penmans mentioned must be from Stanley st.I was born directly opposite and I remember aTommy, Sammy, Richard and a few others I can’t name,their mother was Alice.A good family and like mine as poor as church mice.

My grandparents William and Margaret Leyland were landlords of two of the Scholes pubs, the Blue Bell and the Shovel and Broom although I am not sure of the exact dates (probably the forties).I believe that my maternal great grandfather James Jolley was also a pub landlord in Scholes although I don’t know which one. Any information would be greatly received!

Does anybody know of any old breweries around whelley or scholes? I am looking to find old recipes from local breweries to make at home

Warrington Lane Brewery. Albion Brewery. Also there was Aireys Brewery. and Robinsons Brewery in Chapel Lane

My nan and granddad had the Conservative Club, not sure what year but a while back if anybody knows.. Molly and Bill Dawber