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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Penningtons of Ashton and Golborne

4 Comments

Peter Pennington, aged about 40
Peter Pennington, aged about 40
Photo: Angus Graham
Views: 1,949
Item #: 11885
My great-grandad, Peter Pennington, born 4 May 1859 (Little Sankey), killed by roof-fall, 19 July 1924 (Seven Feet Mine, Golborne Colliery). Worked forty years in the same pit. Photo taken by Turner Bros. and Raymond, 45 Mesnes Street, Wigan, around 1900. This photo hung over the hearth at 60 Bridge Street, Golborne, his son's house.

Comment by: Angus Graham on 22nd September 2009 at 19:30

Actually, he's off to his wedding, isn't he? So the photo is 1888, and he's late 20s.

Comment by: Helen on 22nd September 2009 at 20:09

What a handsome young man. Thanks for sharing your family photos with us Angus

Comment by: Dave Taylor on 23rd September 2009 at 14:47

I agree, and just about ready to retire too (if he could afford it of course at sixty five). What a poignant reminder too of the fearful human cost of winning that black gold out of the earth - on the back of which many a mine-owner’s fortune would be made; and the largest Empire the World has ever seen built!.
We shall never see the like of that generation again I am afraid.

Comment by: Angus Graham on 23rd September 2009 at 16:06

An irony, Dave, is that on that day he was working away from others underground, putting in props so that his mates could work safely.

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