Wigan Album

Bill.Please excuse my ignorance but where is or was The Royal?.

Is The Royal in Hindley? The name Aldridge makes me think it may be; I remember someone from school called Aldridge. If so, I had my Wedding Reception there but the pub is now demolished. When it was pulled down, they found a gravestone in the cellar, as if someone had been buried there; I think it was that of a child.

Is this New Springs?.

Top of Castle Hill Hindley (opposite the cemetery - now flats)

Memory might be playing tricks, but I think I recognise a few of these blokes. Second from left at back looks like Charlie Priestley; the bloke in the middle with glasses looks like Jimmy Brennan, and the tall one on his left shoulder at the back could be Tony Easterway, who used to own Westhoughton dog track. My mum and dad used to go in the Royal in the fifties when we lived in Sandy Lane.

i have seen this photo on wigan world before there are some crown green bowlers on it from st benedicts there is only one who is still with us of the ones i know

The man with a cap and muffler is my grandfather, George Bennett. He lived at Marsh Brook, just along the road from the Royal, which was opposite Hindley cemetery.