Wigan Album

These "past and present" photos are fascinating. Thankyou.

Good one Keith.

Excellent Keith. So interesting to see how things change.

Keith, the photographer was Blackburn I went along this street 4 times a day to Warrington Lane school and his daughter attended too at that time ( Wartime)

Thank you AB, for correcting me, I now remember my father mentioning him to me when Wigan photos were discussed.

Great photo Keith ...

Here's a tester for you petrol-heads!
What are the make and models of the cars featured in both pics?
I haven't a bloody clue! :O)

Ab, this would be the same person, found on wiganworld archives..."Mr. J. Blackburn, of Wigan, related his war-time reminiscences as a photographer to members of Wigan Round Table on 31st March 1936."

The car in top pitchur is either a Morris 1100 or it could be a Wolsley 1100 as the grill is to posh for a Morris

top photo looks like austin 1100 and the corner of the building on the right was the co-op late 40s and 50s had to carry shopping back to harper st they used to give divi

Austin 1100 and looks like at the back, Ford Zephyr.

We had our wedding album taken by Molly Blackburn,this was in 1958,and she lived at the first house on the Darlington St side,there used to be a plaque on her house wall with her name on it.

Keith. It would be, I think he took a number of Wigan R L photos too . As I Recall, a quiet unassuming, yet well known as a photographer

Keith. It would be, I think he took a number of Wigan R L photos too . As I Recall, a quiet unassuming, yet well known as a photographer

Thanks lads for reviving my dead brain cells!

Great memories Keith ,Do you have a photo of the bridge what used to run across Wigan Road near the old Lancashire Union pub on the Whelley Loop line .Not seen one on my travels.

Colin,if you go on Album, places, Hindley there are a few photos of the bridge but they are not very old

Interesting photo and comments. James Blackburn the photographer lived at 7 Walmesley Street. As Keith said, he related his war-time reminiscences as a photographer to members of Wigan Round Table on 31st March 1936, having served in the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War. The daughter who attended Warrington Lane School, mentioned by Ab, would be Jean, the daughter of Molly Blackburn.

Thank you for that fascinating info" James - I presume you are a relative of his. Apparently the average life expectancy of RFC pilots in WW1 was measured in weeks, a great uncle of mine was also in the RFC but "fortunately" denied the opportunity to fly as the Great War finished just as he was about to participate. About half of new pilots were killed in training incidents - James must have been some survivor.

Colin I share your indelible memories of this place having been brought up in Higher and Lower Ince and Scholes but I'm indebted to cindy for this image.

I may have mentioned this on another thread in the past but I remember working in a house on Hall Lane Hindley,on the left past the station and there was a Mr Gerrard in the house where I was working who was a photographer or cameraman,who had films of Wigan RL and Billy Boston.Probably 1970,s Inwould think!

Further to my previous comment,there is a man buried at Hindley cemetery named Thomas Gerrard aged 87 who lived at 45 Hall Lane ,Hindley and I think that was the man who showed me the films!

Fascinating responce to this Keith I was born and lived %0 yards from where these pictures were taken In the older one the dark across the bottom corner is the top or the railway coalyard whilst the bulding on the right was the comer of the Co Op Whist the 3rd panel of the railings had a bent rail through which we could just squeeze as kida.

I had a studio photograph taken by Molly Blackburn in the sixties. When I am on the bus sometimes I look at the house where it was taken and can see where the plaque was on the wall stating the name and credentials.

Remember Jean Blackburn and her mother Molly well. Jean worked behind the bar at The Raven pub for a long time in the sixties and married a man named Frank but I can't remember her married name

Was the coal yard not on Warrington lane.

It was number 7,Walmsley St were J.Blackburn lived,I've posted a card from our album which Molly did.

Just a minor correction. It's Darlington Street East. Not Road.

I have just found a photo with the J.Blackburns details stamped on the back with his address of 7 Walmesley st along with phone number, no idea on the year mind

Great picture Keith, top one must have been taken in the mid 1960’s as you can see the block of flats in the background.
On the other side was the Foundry pub on the corner of Warrington Lane know locally as The Smoothing Iron. On the right hand corner I think Lawrence Isherwood’s brother had a shoe shop. Then at one time I think they sold fabric.