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Photos of Wigan
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Wigan Album

Wigan CO-OP

27 Comments

WIGAN CO-OP
WIGAN CO-OP
Photo: Frank Orrell
Views: 6,146
Item #: 30322
The Wigan Co-Op store on the corner of Standishgate and Powell Street in 1971.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 20th March 2018 at 19:20

What a great Art Deco style building it was.

Comment by: Wiggin Lad on 20th March 2018 at 19:45

Aye it was a gradley owd building was this, it even had those vacuum pipes were money was put into a container and it disappeared but soon to return with your change and receipt.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 20th March 2018 at 19:47

I think there is something very comforting seeing a store all lit up on a miserable, dark, wet, day. The woman crossing the road looks like a figure in one of Lowry's paintings.

Comment by: irene roberts on 20th March 2018 at 19:59

Well-said, Ron, and spot on!

Comment by: Maureen on 20th March 2018 at 20:06

It was a lovely building,why oh why did we have to lose it...Ron..you're so right about the woman crossing the road.

Comment by: DerekB on 20th March 2018 at 20:58

Ron, I can't make it out from the photograph but seem to remember the date set in the brickwork above the apex of the building was 1938.

Comment by: Veronica on 20th March 2018 at 21:01

I loved the store .... Always called in there first when going 'up town'. It wasn't all that old either when it was demolished. An old school friend worked there and we always had a quick chat if the boss wasn't looking!

Comment by: Sniltub on 20th March 2018 at 22:12

Wigan lad,,the Co-op didn’t have the vacuum cash system, I worked there in the 60s and 70s. I think it was Pendleburys that’s had them and Oxleys in Station Road, possibly Lowes as well but not the Co-op.

Comment by: Ken R on 21st March 2018 at 01:18

I have deep memories of this junction of roads. Just before 9-00pm on a Friday night, I was going to meet my girlfriend ( Now Betty R ) she was a trainee nurse at the Infirmary. I was coming from Greenhough St.to turn right to go up Standishgate to the Infirmary, the roads were slightly wet and I slowed coming to the lights, they change to green and I prepared to turn right, there were two Police Constables standing directly across the Rd from me as I turned, whilst looking at the PCs I saw out of the corner of my eyes headlights coming down from Standishgate, I braked and put my motor bike over on its right side and slid into the intersection and under the rear wheels of the truck, the bike was torn into two pieces & I was thrown off the bike,hit my head on the passing truck and then landed on my feet. Just a little bruised and scared. As I said before there where two PDs so they were perfect witnesses, they sked if I wanted a lift home and I said no, I have to go to the Infirmary, and they said why you are not hurt, I said no but I will be if I don't go for my girlfriend. They had a good laugh and whisked me off in a cop car.

Comment by: Pw on 21st March 2018 at 06:57

Burtons the tailors had a pneumatic system in the shop further up the road.I worked at one place and they were called Lamson tubes .

Comment by: Wiggin Lad on 21st March 2018 at 08:10

Sniltub, I'll take your word for it but I still remember the tubes running around the shop floor unless - it could have been Debenhams. I worked at several of the small branches around the district but each Friday I had to collect items for customers from the "Co-op Emporium", then upto Standishgate office to hand in the weekly takings. Back in 1962 any of the small stores that achieved a weekly turnover of more than £100 (yes £100) was considered busy, "aye, busy store is that" they would say. OH fond fond memories !. Thanks Frank, keep them coming.

Comment by: WN1 Standisher on 21st March 2018 at 09:04

Great photo Frank. The reg No of the Triumph Herald/Vitesse has a Wigan EK plate with a H reg which if memory serves me, dates it at 1969 I think

Comment by: A.W. on 21st March 2018 at 11:10

This building replaced a much older Victorian or Edwardian Co-op Emporium that stood on the site, I have a promotional; tin tray somewhere dating from around 1908 that depicts the older building.

Comment by: Bewley on 21st March 2018 at 11:17

Sniltub,
They definitely had a vacuum payment system.

Comment by: Cyril on 21st March 2018 at 14:05

I was based there and was on the delivery van in the 1960s, there were drawer tills on the counters and payment booths in the furniture and electrical departments, electronic tills were installed after the merger with Bolton I seem to recall, the only vacuum tubes in there were connected to the Electrolux, Goblin and Hoover vacs.

Comment by: Wiggin Lad on 22nd March 2018 at 08:17

Sniltub and Cyril, whilst I'm sure you remember your days of working there in the 1960/70s and the Till system was by then up and running. I also remember going into this store as a very small boy in the very early 1950s and I'm certain I watched those space ship containers disappear up into the far beyond, only to return moments later with customers change and receipt. I would have thought that most departmental stores of that era had the old system. Thanks for your memories.

Comment by: Wendy on 22nd March 2018 at 09:21

Can remember my mum taking us in the cafe for a Zing lemonade..happy memories

Comment by: Elizabeth on 22nd March 2018 at 14:33

I remember passing this on the way to Wigan Rugby Club on Thursday nights.

Comment by: Ticsmon on 22nd March 2018 at 19:05

My memory is early morning, waiting in the doorway for the 'WOO' bus to Parsonage Pit.

Comment by: Veronica on 25th March 2018 at 10:16

I had forgotten about the pub next door - I can't remember what it was called either.

Comment by: RON HUNT on 25th March 2018 at 10:34

Veronica, it was the White Horse

Comment by: Veronica on 25th March 2018 at 10:57

Thats right - thanks Ron. Can soon forget when you don't live in Wigan anymore.

Comment by: Dave,c on 25th March 2018 at 16:36

Ron I think the pub in view on the photo ...was The Dog Ith Thatch

Comment by: watchalot on 25th March 2018 at 18:56

h plate was 1970

Comment by: j.harrison on 25th March 2018 at 21:54

quite correct Ron, it was the Dog I'th,Thatch,(a Walker's house), the White Swan was little further on and that was an Almonds"s house

Comment by: Veronica on 26th March 2018 at 14:00

Have checked there is a better picture of the pub item 4050 and I remember it now. I had completely forgotten it. Thanks all.

Comment by: Colin Traynor on 4th March 2024 at 08:35

Cracking picture, you can see a Christmas Tree in the window.
When you made a purchase you got a little strip of paper, some sort of savings voucher, was called ‘Divi’?

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