Wigan Album

Fantastic photo, and look how well-dressed the people are! They probably hadn't much in the way of clothes OR money, but they made an effort, just to go shopping in Wigan for bedding plants, even to the hats. ( No shopping in pyjamas and dressing gowns for them!). My son Jamie had a Saturday job on a bedding plant stall on Wigan Market when he was about 15, to earn a bit of money, and, when he got there, the owner used to start setting up the stall and would say to Jamie, "Come on, lad.....let's gerragate and mek a doo-er!". Jamie is now 47 and still says that when he is about to start a job!

The lady in her best coat and hat looks like Lizzie Green who had a shop in Hardybutts. It can’t be though because Ellis her husband was half the size she was.
Didn’t we have respect for that generation though. The man with the walking stick could have been injured in the 1st World War for all we know.

As it says Preston's furniture in the background on Market Street, they have been in a few premises around town, I can remember the shop being on the corner of Standishgate and Marsh Lane, and with orders posted for that row of shops and pub (Dog ith Thatch) to be demolished, they then moved over the road to Dicconson Street and into the old Wesleyan School and chapel.
The front wall of the old shop on Standishgate later collapsed onto the pavement, luckily no one was walking past at the time.

Was that market pitch Barlow's of Laurel Nursery Hindley at that time?
I know in later years they did have a pitch all about there.

Yes Cyril I remember the chap wearing his beret and ‘slurring’ his clogs over the cobbles. I used to go to the nursery as well at Hindley Green. I miss that garden centre with the old fashioned cottages at the front.

They would be dressed the same on holiday, sat on the beach.

Such a wonderful image of the Wigan I remember.

It was a good garden centre Veronica and very popular too, I was very surprised the first time I went to there as to how big it actually was as from the front it didn't seem to be, and you could spend quite some time having a browse, and the man was very knowledgeable and gave advice about any plant you asked about. The cottages are still there, but the rest now looks to be covered with housing.

There was a nice cafe as well Cyril. I-think the owners were his children
who ended up running the garden centre.

Cyril Barlow had the nurseries at Laurel House,a reet down to earth bloke.The building looks like it’s having a lot of work done to it at present.

My Nan only lived about 10 minutes walk from the town centre but she would get dressed up to the nines to go to town, even if she was only going to the bank.

Looks like my dad in the trilby but I could be wrong and either Ena Sharples or Bessy Braddock in the foreground. They always wore a coat like that!!

Colin those coats are not much different and still in fashion today especially the length - but nice on a slimmer lady wearing boots. You can bet it was made from a quality material with fine wool. When it was hung in the wardrobe there would be a strong smell of mothballs! ;o)

This photo has ‘ passed’ onto the other site as usual..! And the other one.

Veronica, I have left the facebook site where these photos are blatantly copied daily as the man who runs it started dictating to me when I could add comments!

Thieving Rogues with no scruples Veronica.

Irene, I just looked on there morning as I put a comment on the photo he pinched from here. I thought I would have been banned but nothing has been said. So I posted two of my Scottish paintings on there and said we need a bit of colour! Also a school photo. So what Jolly Roger will say to that I don’t know.
Ps Clog Iron won’t be allowed on there with his many aliases! ;o))

Great picture. My Dad used to buy bedding plants there.