Wigan Album
Chapel Lane, Wigan
17 CommentsPhoto: RON HUNT
Item #: 33869
Yes Ron I used to always use the same wall
I have an admirer Ron, some one likes my I D.
The number of summonses I used to type for men urinating in a public place. !
I was once on duty ( police) in King Street when 2 of Wigan’s wrestlers came to me and said, “ Aubrey there was a car blocking the road outside the toilets in Chapel Lane, but it’s ok now we put it on the footpath.” The road was quite narrow at that point.
I always thought it was just before the bridge, level with the bottom of the photo?
And some folk keep saying Wigan was better in the old days......I dont think so!
Can someone answer Ron's initial question. I would be interested to know myself. I can vaguely remember there being a urinal in this vicinity.
I'm not sure Ron, though with looking on the 1894 map on the link below of that area there is something written on the building just before the bridge, though I can't make it out, but Tom Clancy does mention that a gents toilet was on the left just before Chapel Lane railway bridge on a photo on the Album of the Derby Arms and part of Chapel Lane.
https://henryharoldharrison.name/places/ancestralhomes/chapel-lane-wigan/chapellanemap1894/
https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=4&id=20170&gallery=Chapel+Lane&offset=0
I've looked on a 1907 map and there's nothing marked on that, though none of the urinals that were around town are marked.
Cyril I've just looked at the map and just above the BM 119.7 at the end of the row of buildings there is a small rectangular building. I wonder if this could be the urinal?
Just spoken to my friend, who lived on the canal bank in Chapel Lane and he said the urinal was where I thought it was. as marked on the photograph.
That's one more to mark on your map Ron. I must have gone along Chapel Lane numerous times and knew there was some toilets at some point along there but couldn't place where they actually were.
Cyril Now the search goes on to find a photograph<g>
Where the arrow is pointing was a row of shops including a hairdressers and I'm sure the urinals where at the end?
I think you are right Ron in your indication of where the urinal was.
Ron have a look on Wigan Album Chapel Lane (34 photo's ) picture by Brian Laithwaite shows what looks like the urinals
Joe, yes you could be correct The entrance at the side of the building with the large advert on the wall, led to the Urinal which, if memory serves me, was just set back
Stan your right,what we have now there is a 6 lane exhaust fumed major road,oh and 2 large car parks,thank god for progress. lol