Wigan Album

Duncan that is a lovely photo of a once elegant arcade,as you say it is very neglected now..how have we come to this,King Street,a once very respectable one now a seedy part of town,this beautiful arcade now strewn with vomit and urine the last time we had to go down that way,I never want to go down there again.

Thanks Maureen, what you say about King Street is absolutely true. It was once one of the best streets in Wigan and is now probably the worst!

Yes the council seem to care for the pubs/clubs and junk food outlets than for real shoppers and business.

Well the bricks and mortar of the old Court Cinema,County Cinema and other buildings haven't changed. It's sadly the people who have ruined King Street.

I,m sure others on this forum will know more about this than me but the best way to preserve something, like this arcade , or any other valued structure,was/ is to get it listed under the title of historical value or whatever. This is why I value PAD and appreciate those who contribute. In many pictures we can see the Wigan of past and present. I am sadly desperately holding onto the past and the Wigan I knew, but ironically , those building over my memory will have there's built over also in their future,such is progress, such is life.

I have no doubt that King St used to be a nice place with the cinema and this Arcade, but sadly of course now is full of clubs. I believe that the Northern Soul scene (in our case, Wigan Casino) played a big part in the rise of night clubs, and as a result, runined what was a great town centre and brought in a culture of disco dance clubs with rubbish music, filth, drunks and junk food. It's one of the most overrated aspects of Wigan's history. Of course others will disagree.

Al, your spot on!

The 24 hour drinking as a lot to answer for,when Blair brought it in,he said it would discourage binge drinking,and Wigan council should never have allowed so many clubs in the town.

I loved Grimes Music Shop you could listen on headphones to records before you purchased them spent many a happy hour and money there; thanks for the memories

King street used to be a decent street
I well remember going to the court cinema and the county cinema
Had many a pint în the Shakespeare and quite a few meals in the turnkey
Sadly íts now be one a no go area for decent people with the bars and clubs taking over

I was born and bred in wigan, so I am especially sad to read that Wigan is how you describe it. No go areas? What has happened to my beautiful Wigan..

It's not just King St, its everywhere..Hindley, Ashton, Leigh, Pemberton to name afew.

I remember this arcade and Grimes Record Store. Bought many records there in 60's. I remember an elderly lady (old to me) asking for Pins and Needles by Searchers!

Fred,another stupid remark from that idiot Blair, we all knew different,on par with WMD

Garry, even Pem as well? This surprises me , especially when you look at the comments about Pem in the other forum.

Pauline
I lived in Pemberton in late 60's. Great little community. Shops and bars, all fiendly. Like everywhere all declined!

I used to work in the late 60s early 70s at Ellis Sayer & Henderson who had all the floors over the top of Grimes Arcade. We used to come out at lunchtime down the steps leaving by the big door in Grimes Arcade. The main entrance was at the side of Grimes at 24 King Street. Our room was (looking at the picture) top floor on the left hand side second and third window in and I shared an office with Anne Duckworth ( now Mawdesley)The first window top floor was the office of Bill Linton who sorted our wages and underneath on the first floor was the cashiers office run by Doris Standish from Shevington and Mrs Holmes, and next door to them was Mr Cockburn Office Clerk, he was a grand little man I can see him now on his old little black typewriter. I worked for Graham Byrne other Solicitors were John Hopwood Sayer the Coroner for Wigan,his son who we called Mr John, Tim Ellis, Peter Henderson, John Green and Clifton Barker. Can't remember all the girls but these come to mind Jean Martland another Jean can't remember her surname,Pam Boardman,little Pauline, Sandy Connor, Gail Whiteley. Many of these are probably no longer with us but they were happy days. That was when King Street was a well respected street where the Solicitors would tip their bowler hats to acknowledge you as they passed you by in the street

Hi Maureen I used to work with you I was Clifford Barker and John Green's PA. What a small world. Would like to hear from you and have a catch up if you would like. You seem to remember more names than I do.