Wigan Album

Dogs without leads freely wandering around, we all remember those.

Why did they ruin it?

Why did the people of Wigan, over years, allow a load of Labour councillors, with their snouts ever in the trough, to destroy thriving, cohesive communities and to reduce the place to the ghost town it has now become?

I suppose it's a microcosm of what has happened to the whole country.

God help us all, for as far as I can see, we're on the road to perdition!

Just looking at the photos it's almost reminiscent of a stage set - only today they've changed the scenery and how bleak by comparison it all is, the complete loss of community, warmth and character - let's bring the old backdrop back.

Agreed. Thanks, Brian, your photos are brilliant, and have allowed us another glimpse of a vanished world.

I just love these photo's.. these places had so much character
and great communities..we've lost that to progress..one forward and three back..to me amyway..thank you Brian.

MEMORIES OF SCHOLES
A TOWN WITHIN A TOWN
BY TOM WALSH

I have very fond memories of Scholes and its people. Born in McCormick Street, named after the second parish priest of St Patricks, this in itself made it part of the history of the the township. I describe the area as a township because that was what it was, a separate community in every sense. People had a feeling of belonging to Scholes first and Wigan second.

The vast majority of men were miners, and many women worked in the cotton factories both in Wigan and further afield traveling to Bolton, Rochdale and other local towns by coach or train, putting hours on to the working day because the pay was slightly better. I remember hearing the knocker up rousing households and not leaving until a response was forthcoming from the inhabitants, the lady who filled that particular role in the streets surrounding my home was Agnes Wynn who charged the princely sum of a shilling a week, which was collected every Friday evening. Agnes, lived in Higham Street and because she had to be up and about her bushiness on the morrow, went to bed very early, children were told not play near her house as she needed her sleep, if she overslept half the parish would miss a days work!

Scholes itself had shops of every sort, so much so that many older people would rarely if ever go to the town centre as almost everything could be sourced locally, from ladies fashions, Vi Almonds, to motor bikes, Millers, we had two cinemas, countless public houses and grocers, a Chinese laundry Moy Toys later to become Wongs and a myriad of other businesses. Locals say that if they had put a roof over the street in its heyday, it would have been the first Trafford Centre! Many shops had nicknames, Pie Joe's being one, it's a wonder he didn't go bankrupt, I remember going there for more than one neighbour for a meat pie, they would send a large jug with the instruction to fill it with gravy, free in those days. I think the surplus was for use on the Sunday dinner! Another amusing name was Polly do out, a clogger, it was said she could put a clog iron on a bladder without bursting it! One of the less hygienic shops often had a cat sat on a flitch of bacon. Needless to say most housewives avoided that shop's delights. A temperance bar, though fair to say it wasn't the most frequented of venues. Public houses seemed a more tempting prospect to most. Similarly many of these had colloquial names the two most famous the Dust Hole (Rose and Crown) this establishment was reputed to sell the best pint in the district, and was one of the last ale houses, only licensed to sell ale and porter, and the Kill and Cure (the Regent) the latter because it was near to Dr Hoey's surgery .

Whilst times were difficult for many the feeling of community was tangible, even though many struggled and had little they would share what they had. Anyone without family who fell ill would be cared for in the neighbourhood. People could, and did leave the door unlocked, in my Mother's case she would leave the rent on the sideboard and the rent-man would let himself in mark the book and leave, I never heard of a house being burgled or of any dishonesty. When recounting this fact the reply often comes back "there was nothing to steal" on the contrary, every house had a gas meter full of money. After the gasman had emptied the meter and left the rebate there was unusually spare money in the parish, children armed with shillings bombarding local sweetshops.
No deed for ASBOS, a quick "I'll tell your mother", or a more a portent "I'll bring Farther Lappin, the highly respected parish priest of St Patricks, was enough to bring the most unruly youths to book.

The overwhelming majority of houses were very well kept women would mop the step daily, even an oblong area of pavement adjoining the doorway, and woe betide anyone who walked on their labours. Mondays was washing day, few had washing machines, boilers, dolly tubs and rubbing boards was the method employed by most households. It was said that there was a rainbow over Scholes on Mondays! There was great excitement when the first launderette opened, The Bendix, half a crown(twelve and half p.) for a 9lbs wash, the price alas put it out of the reach of many families, as an example that would have bought fish and chips twice over in the early 1950s! Every day a different task, bedrooms Tuesday, baking another day and so forth. Thursday in our house was the day Mother would black lead the Yorkshire range and tackle the brasses, I remember the cleaning agents Zebo and Brasso each with its own distinct smell, as had Mansion polish used liberally on well cared for furniture.

From an early age I was aware that people, not from the area, looked on Scholes with some misgivings to say the least, not aware of the warmth and honesty of its populous, believing the many negative comments made by commentators who had never visited the locality. Some who had choose to concentrate on the less pleasant aspects. George Orwell's book "The Road to Wigan Pier" certainly didn't do any favours for Wigan as a town and Scholes in particular. It was generally agreed in Scholes that Orwell, who calmed to be a socialist was a charlatan who used his so called socialism as a way of easing his conscience. Could someone who attended Eton (Scholarship or not) possibly have the slightest empathy with the beleaguered working class of the 1930's? His deeming comments prove that he didn't. On visiting Wigan, he sort out the poorest of the poor to suit his his own agenda. In the book, he says "If there is one man to whom I feel inferior to its the coal miner" that sentence, ought to have 'stuck in his craw', they trusted him and he betrayed their trust, I suggest purely for profit and self promotion. If there is an afterlife I think he'll feel he owes Wigan an apology.

I am very proud of my background, and wouldn't have wanted to be born and reared anywhere other than my beloved, and much maligned Scholes of yesteryear. Maybe you had to be born within the sound of St Catherine's or St Patricks bells to fully appreciate the wonderful atmosphere and sheer goodness of its people. I am often accused of looking back with rose tinted spectacles. I suppose there element truth in that, but better that, than looking back in anger.

That was a lovely little story thanks Tom

Tom, that was wonderful! Thankyou so much for sharing your childhood with us, and thankyou to Brian whose brilliant photos triggered those memories. Your pride in the place you were born and your upbringing there shines through every sentence.

Thomas(Tom) Walsh, what a brilliant picture you draw of old Scholes. My wife's Auntie , Margaret(Vanda) Hall worked in Seddon's shop near Scholfield Lane.Perhaps some of our older readers remember her. She was the salt of the earth, and would do anything to help anybody.Sadly missed.

Tom,I really enjoyed reading that story,and I must say you are
a very good story teller too..I've been told that I look back with rose tinted glasses like yourself..it has nothing to do with it,I also had a great childhood where I grew up ..
Wallgate..it's because we felt so secure as children..plus we had an awful lot of freedom whilst growing up.. like you I wouldn't have wished for anywhere else...P.S.your story should
be in the Wigan History Museum.

Siney's barbers just in shot on the right and (I think) a branch of Sherrington's ironmongers in the left forefront. Thank you Brian for posting these photos, and to you also Tom, for your memories of Scholes. I was born and spent my early years in Whelley and these bring back so many happy memories.

Thank you for a very evocative picture. My nan used to like in Jacksons square which was down by the side of the gable end in the Picture. I wonder if the second person up was going down there or to Critchleys chippy on the corner.

so true , well said. Fully agree from born n bred scowser .

and yet there is only wigan council would honour orwel after slagging wigan off

As usual Tom your story is told with honesty and credibility. Do not like to say "told you so" about your talent for story telling - but I told you so!!!!
Keep it up and you will become Scholes official hitorian!!!

I used to stand near McCurdy's every morning at 6 15 awaiting a coach to take me to Euxton ROF from 1966 to 1970. If I missed the coach which wasn't very often I would chase down Greenough St to the Market Square to catch a bus to Chorley and then Euxton. I made sure I was never late for the coach because on a cold winters morning when you are only a 19yrs old girl it wasn't very nice especially if I had been out the night before - no cars then for me!!!I can see myself now looking at the picture with a group of mixed aged people who had worked at Euston during the war and beyond. Great times! Great picures too to stir the memories.

Vbiggadike..My Mam used to get that coach at that time to go to Euxton.

I probably knew your mam Maureen. I loved the work I did there. The only bug bear was if you were late and had to catch two buses. Then when you finally got there you had to pass the police at the gates - then when you eventually got inside you had a mile to walk to where you worked!!** You didn't ring in with a "sickie" as they do now because you didn't have a phone. By the time you got to work you felt as if you had done your shift already. Anyway it was all part of what you did then you just took it in your stride and it was well paid!

Hello vb..my Mams name was Ann,she was.. do you call it a blue band..but believe she was very fair..she was small and lived in Beech Hill..she loved working there,and was there until her retirement.

I might have known her by sight Maureen. There was different sections and I was on Inspection. People from Beech Hill got on a different coach though. I did work with one or two people from Beech Hill. People came from far and wide to work there and there was a lot of interesting characters too if I recall. It was one of the best jobs I ever had. As soon as I saw McCurdy's on the photograph it all came flooding back. Thats what is good about this site and there is now a very good collection of photos of Scholes. I wish someone would come up with a picture of John St!!!****

VB..I don't know where John St is..I've always hoped someone
would have photo's of Great George St Wallgate..hopefully
someone reading this will be able to oblige one of us.

We can but live in hope maureen. I am always pleasently surprised when I see new pictures. By the way John St was off Vauxhall Rd which is still there albeit the old side and the new side!!!I am surprised there are no pictures of Gt George St. (That is where my mother was born.)

VB..I lived at the top of G.G.S.no.23..which end did your Mam live.

My mam was born there I think and they moved to Pemberton before the war. She was a Yates and was one of five girls. Not sure what number they lived at. She always spoke about GGS.Her mother died young and her and her sisters were brought up by her father -perhaps thats why they got a council house - I dont know . It must have been very hard for him Maureen to be left with 5 children from age 2 to 14. It must have been well before your time.

Yes v.b.it was well before my time..I could cry for the way
some folk had to survive..but for a man to be left with young ones must be very hard..how on earth did they survive..we don't know we're born do we..my heart goes out to them..they
earned their place in heaven.

I'm sure you are right Maureen - but I suppose people just had to get on with daily living. My grandfather had fought in the Great War and that would have been a great leveler. They didn't expect much anyway in the working classes.

For Tom Walsh. I have just read your reflections of being a proud Scholeser and can empathise with it 100%. Like you I was brought up in Scholes, living first in Golborne St then Scholefield Lane and can visualise how Scholes was in the good old days. That is until those philistines in power decimated and spoiled it forever in the late 60s. My mum's and dad's families were born and brought up in Scholes too. We attended St Catharine's and still go to church there. On that basis I have been covering Scholes over the years in the church magazine and wish to include your reflections in the next issue. I hope you don't mind.

My mum (Lillian Fisher) was born and bred here she lived at No 16 Gaskell St just off Schofield Lane.
I remember my dad taking me to Siney's barbers, He used to put a plank across the arms of the chair and sit you on it, and if you moved your head while he was barbering you, he used to clout you of the side of the head with his scissors!
Ohh.. Happy Days!.