Wigan Album

A mantle clock was bought from the clock and watch shop over the road from here and I can't remember the name, anyone recall it, I remember Palatine's which was the pop factory but not the other shops.

the shop that sold clocks was davenports

I can recall the Paradise night club being near here and Bluesville, converted from a cinema! Am I right?

did davenports move to library st ?

The Paradise club was about half a mile up the road in Vauxhall road. I remember one of the shops on the left hand side being a news agents, I think that the lady who ran it was called Annie. There may have also been a driving school's office there.

Thanks tuddy. After 40 odd years, your memory is hazy a bit like those b***dy town planners who've destroyed our town!!

The portion of the pub on the extreme left. Would that be "The Horse shoe"?. Is it still there?. Millgate was directly opposite. What was the portion of the road shown named, was it still Scholes?. It is so long ago since I was there, I forget.

Yes Tuddy, Annie Clarke was the lady who ran it, and she was a lady. I worked there for years delivering the papers. The owners were the Bradshaws, Sammy and Florrie who both took driving lessons in purple Wolseleys. Sammy took my dad and Florrie took my mam. On my mam's first lesson Florrie had a heart attack in the car and a coal driver came over to assist and get an ambulance and the police. She died later in hospital and it put my mam off, she never went for another driving lesson after that.

Albert the Horseshoe pub is no longer there. That part of the road was Millgate if I remember.

Johnny, didn't the Mc Farlane brothers run the Paradise club?

Millgate as far as the River Douglas Bridge, then it becomes Scholes.

tuddy
The names familiar but I only went a couple of times. I mostly went to the Casino or King Of Clubs! Not forgettin the Las Vegas - King St West!

Bill & Joe Macfarlane were the doormen at The Paradise club & King of Clubs.

I know Bill passed away. May he R.I.P. Is Joe still around?. When I worked at the "Maypole" with Bill, he didn't know what fear was. One day when they were winding coal, he opened the gate at the top of the shaft, grabbed a metal rail running across the top of the gateway, and swung himself out, trying to touch the winding rope with the toe of his boot, fortunately he couldn't do it. If he had, the friction most likely would have pulled him into the shaft, then a drop of 900 yards. I was terrified for him.

according to ordanance survey maps millgate ran to scholes crossing then became scholes

Albert,
Neither Joe or Billy are with us any longer. I've heard stories about them having their own club in Millgate, but it was before my time.

The "CLUB" you refer to was known as the "GREEN CURTAIN" It was next door to the entrance to the PALAIS, it was about as big as someone's front room. I can remember going in there one Saturday afternoon in the 1960's I must have been about 16 or 17 and Joe or Billy?, decided he wanted a sing song and said anyone who doesn't sing will get a smack<g>

Sounds like it was as inviting place Ron. Was it a Hermans Hermits or an Elvis number ya had ta belt out?

On the left just other side of bridge. the Shovel and Broom pub .. a good after hours place.

nopa1000. One afternoon, in 1960, I had to go in this mentioned pub with the sergeant, at 3.45 pm. Booked all the boozers, plus the landlord, then had to carry all the evidence, on trays, back to the station. At court, all guilty pleas. all nominal fines.

Albert ,,, sooooo you were the one lol

Nopa1000. When a Wigan Borough sergeant gave you an order, you didn't question it. They had a big, "G" after their name.

Albert you must have been sorely tempted despite Big G.! Our next door neighbour who worked on the railway always nipped in there for a quick one on the way home. It had to be quick because his wife did not approve!

My father knocked about with Billy & Joe macfalan, 50 year service for Rugby league became unprotected! Michael Murphy tree started unprotected for O'glouglin. My family tree is part of Manchester with extra sports. So I know what I had to do!