Wigan Album
Church Street, Wigan
29 CommentsPhoto: RON HUNT
Item #: 33276
That's a very familiar scene from when I lived in Scholes. I always walked up here on a Saturday afternoon to go into town. I remember the Co-op building on the left going in the side door.
I can't remember what the building on the right was. Looking at those buildings you just wonder why they had to pull them down... yes I know it was because of the road system! The Co-op building wasn't that old, it was a great store. All great postcards and very interesting.
Am I right in remembering in the 60s going to a wedding reception in a hall on the right of this street looking down from Standishgate. Would it perhaps have been St George's Church Hall .
I was christened in St George's church
I just don't recall that at all. Fascinating photo.
I wonder why it was called Church Street?
The building on the right, the front part anyway, was a pub, 'Dog in't Thatch'.
Called Church Street because it led to St.George's Church Street at the Bottom.
The road that went across the front of the Church is Water Street.
The building on the left just pass the Co Op was the rear of the Drill Hall, the entrance to the Hall being in Powell Street.
Do you not recall the Dog i'th Thatch pub on the corner of Church Street and Standishgate Irene, with the Co-op, as Veronica mentioned, situated on the other corner, the building on the left is the Drill Hall. If you remember The Square Deal Shop this street was opposite.
The building with the arched windows may well have been the original St George's Parish Hall as these buildings were demolished and a modern pre-fab type building became the Parish Hall, until that too along with the Dog i'th Thatch was demolished to make way for the horrendous Bryan House. When demolishing the pub they came across parts of the original medieval pub building within.
Wonder when the top tower with flagpole was taken down, just the lower bell tower now remains, though with no bell.
I remember now the pub 'Dog i'th Thatch'. How could I have forgotten - maybe because I had never been inside. I went in the Co- op quite a lot. I recall the first Supermarket as well in the mid 50's... That was a novelty !
I remember going in one of the doors on the left, 1959/60, to a buffet in the Co-op upstairs, after my grandmother's funeral.I can see the waitresses in my minds eye, dressed in black and white uniforms,black skirt, white blouse, with a small black and white hat.Looking back now, it was like something out of Downton Abbey.
I worked at that Co-op in the late 1960s and I hated it and was glad when I left in 1971, some years later when the BBC aired Are You Being Served it just reminded me of there, the menswear especially, except there instead of are you free they would ask another assistant if they were available.
Edna, those women were still wearing the same uniforms in the restaurant when I left, the comedy sketch Two Soups by Victoria Wood so reminds me of them.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04zcmt2
If memory serves me correct it was St George's hall on the right at the bottom and I was there for a dance one night when the news came through that President John F Kennedy had been assassinated. As they say, one of those events you always remember where you were. It was November 1963 and I was 16.
I remember the Co-op and I vaguely remember the Square Deal Shop. I am certainly of an age to remember them but wasn't familiar with them as I rarely went further down Standishgate than C&A's, (now Primark). But I just can't get my bearings on here at all! Are we looking down from Standishgate? I know there is still an alleyway somewhere near Primark which now leads to a car park....did that alleyway used to be this street?
I said - "I wonder why it was called Church Street?"
Because St. George's was a 'chapel of ease', not a church. Should it not have been called "Chapel Street"?
Irene if you walk past Primark to the end of the block you can still see St George's Church from there.
St Patrick's Church was built as a chapel of ease George and there was a Church Terrace next to it. It is still described as an RC Church.
I'm with you, Veronica, but I still can't get my bearings as to where the street pictured was. If I could do a "Gary Sparrow" and walk into that picture right down to the church door in whatever year it was taken, , then turn round and walk back up to the top and find myself in 2021, where would I be?
If you just stand 'reet' facing the church it was directly in the middle at the end Irene. There's a car park down there now.
Irene, you would, more or less, be facing Iceland, hope that helps with your bearings.
The alley near Primark you're thinking of will be Marsh Lane and is between the White Horse pub and Bryan House, go past Bryan House and Church Street is on your right.
(I've been informed that the White Horse is now named The Ukulele.)
You would still be on Standishgate Irene. ( I think) so many changes have happened since those days. I start doubting myself.
Thanks Dolly dear, and Cyril. Think I've got it.
Yes there was a caff on the second floor and the up market restaurant with the side entrance on Church Street, ladies in black and white serving on silver service, made a change from the Wishbone and King Als Kitchen.
Point of interest. The church has a much taller “tower” than can be seen today. It can be compared with other photographs of the present building.
I too can remember a building on the bottom right hand side. It could probably be compared to a large scout hut. Are there any photographs of this building.
Yes Cyril, your right about Victoria Woods comedy sketch, I had forgotten about that.
In 1956 I lived at 24 Church Street and then Marsh Lane and Actons Yard. I remember the Drill Hall and Mr Thom the Co=op dentist, whose dentistry was the back door of the C-op in Church St. We queued all night for the C0-op sales !
I remember a few terraced houses down at the bottom, also around the corner unless I'm mistaken.
My dad was christened at St George's. I remember when they closed the dog it thatch, all the old copper topped tables were taken up town to the Crofters.
I drove past here today and that bell tower, minus bell, doesn't look as tall now as it does in the picture
Has anyone any photos of Marsh Lane when there were houses on it, my family lived there in the 1860s. Thanks