Wigan Album
Lodging House
12 CommentsPhoto: RON HUNT
Item #: 33621
I always ran past here, but always noticed out the corner of my eye there was always a roaring coal fire blazing away.... doors wide open!
Was this aways a common lodging house. It always seemed a building built originally for a much more special purpose.
Veronica, I too would have ran very quickly if I had to pass by, it looks very despiriting and I could imagine that it had "All hope abandon ye who enter here” over the doorway before Royal George was painted on.
I've heard tales of folks sleeping in there with their arms over a rope that was tied between walls and at the time I didn't actually believe it, but it's so true and was called a tuppeny hangover.
https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Two-Penny-Hangover/
At least they had a roof over their heads Cyril. Even if they don't have the fancy trappings these days that the immigrants have in the old 'new' police station Hotel.
So sad and so grateful for what I have today.
Cyril I heard it referred to as a tuppeny lean. I was told that the last resident was a bloke named Joe Gough who ended up living in worsley mesnes.
Worked with Joe gough on cortaulds new factory when it was being built in skem, he looked after the canteen he used to put 2 eggs in a sock put them in the boiler which we brewed our tea .
That's him Tom ha ha.
He also had a son named Joe
Tom that's right, he lived on Worsley Mesnes as well.
I am an ‘ex-pat’ and have only just found this site.
Just looking at this picture I can smell the Royal George. The place fascinated me. The front door was always open. I desperately wanted to look inside. Never did though.
My Grandad & Grandmother owned it
William Lees & Mary Lees
My dad grew up there and still alive today! John Lees Age 97yrs
I’m just in process of writing a book about it..
It was very well kept & clean a lot Irish immigrants came over looking for work & lodged there..
My grandad owned house on Silver Street and ran this mostly on his own..
Some fantastic characters and my dad helping me now with his stories so many..
Prior to what people thought it had its own little shop inside home cooked food inspected every week from inspection officers and very well looked after & clean ..
I remember going there to visit grandad in 1960s seeing all the tiny little cubicles.. over 68 people could stay and my grandad sent them to have a bath at Wigan Baths if they were dirty before they could stay!
My dad has such fond memories and made lots of money from the Irish coming over to work but most went back home few stayed on.,,
Soooo many stories to share and hopefully open people eyes and show people what it was really like unlike the old tales.. There was a blacksmith too in there and made clogs!
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