Wigan Album

i used to know a joe rooney from darlington st east many years ago

Hi how old would this Joe Rooney be, My Uncle Joe lived at 153 Darlington St. East He is in his 70s now.

Hi Joan, I didn't know your uncle but I do remember, as a boy, having my haircut at what I now know as 153 Darlington Road East - if my memory serves me right the barber was a McFarlane - but can't be sure. My haircuts coincided with occasional visits to my grandmother who lived in Clarington Grove,

Ooops! Sorry I meant 159 Darlington Street East.

Keith. Quite a few years ago, a coat hanger came into my possession, how, and when, I do not know. I am aware that 153, is a long way from ,No. 11 Darlington Street, On this coat hanger is stamped. " John W Wright. High Class Tailor, 11, Darlington St. Wigan". It has always intrigued me, as to how long ago they were in business there. Have you any idea?

I was born at 153 Darlington St East and I also remember the barbers shop, also Powells the hardware shop.

were the 2 barbers one on the corner of Rupert st and the other on the corner of spring st were the second hand shop is now

Yes there was a barbers at the end of Spring Street now a second hand shop I lived in Spring St. and can remember going there for my haircut in the late 1940's early 1950's.

There was a Peter Moylett who worked at Stones pit in Garswood. Would he be any relation?

Hi Albert, I'm afraid I can't help with your query but in the 1881 Wigan Directory, it has "Wright Joseph, travelling draper, 36 Dicconson Street" - just wondered if there was a connection, perhaps a family relative.
My other recollection of the barber was that he not only cut my hair, in the late 1940's and early 1950's, but my father's as well and I understand a few other ex-Wigan RL players.
He enjoyed a chat about rugby and would quip that my father was the only one of Wigan's ex-players who was in "one piece". Testimony to the fact that Rugby League is one of the toughest games in the world of sport.

Just to get back to you Albert on the same point, I notice this has been posted on a different wiganworld site "My Uncle was a Tailor and had a shop on Darlington Street in the 50's.He later turned it into Post Ofice which eventually moved accross the street. His name was Richard Smith." Perhaps this may have been the same shop in Darlington Street, that Mr Wright had his business, only guessing.

Thank you Keith for you reply.