Wigan Album

Lime Street would be to the right of the Wigan Little Theatre, My mother in law lived at 20, Lime Street. Mrs Doris Ashcroft. A lovely lady, very good hearted.

Derby Terrace is the street along the side of the River Douglas

I must correct Albert, the street next to Wigan Little Theatre (or the Canada Pictures as it was called) is Orchard Street.Next on the right is School Street, where I lived at No.32. Then came Lime Street. Later we moved to No.9 Bold Street which went from Derby Terrace to Crompton Street. The roof of No.9 can be seen in the photo.

Hello norman my grandad lived at 33 School street Arthur Johnson do you remember the family.

Yes,Anne, I remember the Johnson's very well. They lived right across from us. I was often in their house. It is Mrs Johnson I remember best...why,I don't know! Somewhere in Wigan World I think there is a photo of a group of boys and girls (one of them is my sister,Joan); I'm sure the photo is taken outside Johnson's house. I will try to find it.Nice to hear from you.

Thank you for correcting me Norman. A good friend, and former work colleague of mine, at the Maypole, Abram, did live in Derby Terrace, in the forties, and early fifties. John Lawless. Another friend of mine lived at the Bath Springs Pub, where his parents were the licensees'. Reference the Canada cinema, went there, with my parents, on numerous occasions during the war. A lady correspondent on this site, Irene, on an earlier occasion, also commented that the Canada was also known as the (I am almost sure) she said the Albion.

Sorry Albert, I must correct you again, or rather I should correct Irene. The correct name for the Canada Pictures was The Alliance Cinema. In fact the name can still be seen on the frontage of Wigan Little Theatre.There was an Albion Hotel that used to be at the top of Millgate.

Hello Anne, I found the photo I referred to but I'm sure you must have seen it. But just in case you haven't: go to Street scenes, then scroll down to School Street off Greenough St. The first of 3 photos is taken outside No.33.There are more people in the photo than I thought. I'm sure you'll recognise some of them. Just for your interest, I'm talking to you from Thailand.I'll be leaving the sun behind to come home for Christmas.

You are correct again Norman.

Having been reminded by you, Norman. Irene did refer to it as the Alliance, not the Albion. My apologies.

Received from my friend who now lives in the south of France. In the forties he lived in the Bath Springs Hotel. His memories of that period.! Played on the Stashy Brow a lot, rugby, football...
If the ball went in the water, a quick run down stream, climb
over the railings, hang by fingertips and scoop the ball out with
the feet... Collect cigarette packets from under the trains...
Dangerous and didn't really know... Lawless (on our pit group
photo) lived in one of the houses facing the river... Can make
out the Alliance Pictures (Canada Pictures), but not quite the
Bath Springs Hotel... The cattle arrived at Central Station, then
were herded through the streets to the abatoir in Scholes...
and yes, memories... Central Station was built on a slag heap.
On the other side of Compton Street there used to be
the Alliance Pit. In my day it was called the Pit Yard,
again a place where we played a lot. There were two
disused, flooded mine shafts with high circular brick walls,
walls we climbed and sat astride, looking down on
water and wooden debris. Again, we didn't know the
danger...
What once was Victoria Colliery, Boar's Head (where I worked) is now a
beautiful housing estate... I was there recently...
haunting...

hello Norman bet your having a better time than us here in Lancashire Ihave put a few pictures on under the name of Johnson family see if you remember them hope you dont mind me asking you my mum Irene is 83 and lived at no 33 do you remember her Anne

Reference the comment made by friend re. the pit photo. If anyone wishes to see it, go to work, scroll down to mining, and go to page 9.

Hello Albert, I'm amazed we didn't meet all those years ago. I spent many hours on the Pit Yard, and on the Big Yard in Lime St. where the air-raid shelters were built.We always enjoyed, with a bit of trepidation, watching the cattle being driven up School St. then turn right into Lower Morris St. and up to the slaughter house in Scholes.
The Bath Springs also came into my life but it must have been either before or after your friends had the pub. The Landlord's son was a boyhood friend of mine. His name was Ben Bennison. Later in life I was very surprised to see him on TV with his own children's programme. Keep the conversation going;we might find something else we have in common!

Hello again Anne. Your Mum and I are the same age so we must have known each other but I'm afraid the mists of time have caught up with me and I don't remember her; apologies to you and your Mum.I can't find your photos, if you have only just put them on, maybe they'll arrive soon. I will keep on looking.Having lots of sun isn't always a good thing. The time is now 12.45 a.m. (we are 7 hours in front of you)and the thermometer on the wall in my house is reading 84 degrees.

Norman. That is my friend, Benny Bennison, it is he that sent me that script. As I commented, he now lives in the South of France. If you wish, you can see him on the photograph, if you go to where I've indicated in my previous comment. Best wishes, Albert.

Hi Norman i'm not a bit jealous the pics have been on ages have alook under people Johnsons wedding x

Found them, Anne, and I recognised Mrs.Johnson immediately. I'm wondering if I don't remember Mr.Johnson because perhaps he had died before I arrived on the scene or maybe I was too young.I was born in 1932. Norman

Hello Albert, I've just looked at the pit group and recognised Benny as soon as I saw him. I wonder how he progressed from the pit to TV ?

Norman. Sent your question to Benny. This is his reply. I was a fan of Gene Kelly, went to tap classes at Tommy and Hilda Moss.
Joined Wigan Operatic Society, did Carousel etc... For my performance
in White Horse Inn, the local critic headlined SHOW HAS A GENE KELLY!
It turned my head. I quit the pit and went to the Big Smoke... And a big
big door opened for me...I do believe Benny eventually became a producer of shows.


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Many thanks Albert. That is a real rags to riches story....
if Benny will accept that description.I wonder if Benny remembers me as I remember him. We knew each other very well and we were friends but I wouldn't say we were close friends.

Norman. This is one other of the comments I received from Benny. The only Cunliffe I knew lived in Low Street, next to my
Aunt Alice Foster. He was a tall good-looking lad, we
were in the Boys Brigade together.

Thanks again, Albert. Yes, Benny and I were in St.George's Boys Brigade together.He was almost correct saying I lived in Low St. I lived in Bold St ;Low St. was the next street. We were one minute's walk from the Bath Springs. But I'm not sure about that 'tall, good looking lad' he remembers!

Norman. I've sent your last comment to Benny. Kindest regards. Albert.

Albert, I'm in Thailand at the moment, back in the UK mid-December. I would very much welcome meeting you for a chat if it could possibly be arranged.Norman

Hi Norman. I haven't lived in Wigan since 1964. After five years in the R.A.F. I joined the Wigan Borough Police, in early 1958. It became apparent in the early sixties that the future of Borough forces were numbered, amalgamating them with larger county forces. I jumped before I was pushed . I transferred to the Kent Police, in mid, 1964. I was happy to finish in the rank of inspector, having such a strong Wigan accent (Spring View/ Lower Ince) in a southern police force. Wishing you a very happy, and joyous Christmas, and a peaceful, and contented, 2016.

It would be difficult to meet, wouldn't it!! If you were in the Wigan Police in 1958, it's possible you knew Superintendent(?) Gordon Saunders, my next door neighbour at that time. Anyway, even though we can't meet, I hope we can keep in touch from time to time. It is always good to roll the years back and talk of yester-year.

Norman. There was a Saunders came to Wigan just as I was leaving. He came from the Lanc's Constabulary. Didn't he take over as Acting Ch/Constable, from Bill Taylor, just prior to the amalgamation took place?. It is such a long time ago.

I think you are correct, Albert. I know Gordon was a high ranking officer in Wigan. He came from Rochdale, maybe that was where he was a member of the Lancashire Constabulary. We should be moving towards winter here but the temperature in my house at the moment is 28 degrees.

Hello Anne. I've been talking to my sister, she is older then I am and she remembers your Mum Irene very well. She reminded me that a member of the Johnson family lived at No.35 also. Norman