Wigan Album

Lovely photo Alison. Hope your Mum is keeping well.

Recent photographs show how much Wiganers enjoyed their visits to Blackpool, in the fifties, sixties, and even seventies. Now in the modern atmosphere, I am not so sure.

She is keeping well thanks Stephen ...

I was only 8 in the Summer of 1960, but I recall that café in the background advertising "Jugs of tea to take on the sands".

I remember being taken in the wax works and having nightmares afterwards! For some reason Mrs Merrifield who murdered her husband played on my mind. I can still see her now along with the torture chamber victims. Looking back I would never take my children in there - let alone my grand children! The Jugs of Tea sign was a landmark as well as Blackpool Tower!

Mistake Mrs Merrifield murdered an old lady -she was her housekeeper!

Off topic somewhat, but since you mention Louisa Merrifield veebee, I wondered whether or not you were aware that at one time she lived in Back Skullhouse Lane in Appley Bridge and also in Park road in Wigan if my information is correct. At that time however her name was Ellison. By all accounts she was something of a character. Outgoing and friendly and active within the Salvation Army, she appeared in court in Wigan on several occasions. On one particular occasion evidently, she appeared in the dock clutching a bag of coal that she'd stolen from the coal scuttle in the court waiting room whilst waiting for her case to be heard. She was hanged at Strangeways in 1953. ( nothing to do with the coal theft obviously ). I believe she was the last woman, apart from Ruth Ellis, to be hanged in this country.

Thanks for that info Ozy. I didn't know of the Wigan connection only the Blackpool one! Somehow her husband was involved -and he was a wax figure as well as her! Scary!

Interesting how people used to dress up for a day out to Blackpool, I can remember in the 60's my Dad sat on Blackpool sands wearing a suit and tie, unthinkable now.

When Mrs Merryfield was a girl, she lived in Raven Street, Higher Ince, next door to my grandmother. My father told me that, as children he had sat eating at the same table as her. The foul deed took place in a bungalow, on Devonshire Road, just on the Bispham side of Warbreck Hill Road.

The gentleman looks very much like an old school friend of mine, Phil Mason. Any relation ?

Dave C ... i don't think so.

Correction vb mrs merryfield did not murder her husband she poisened an old lady in blackpool so that she could get her bungalow.

I remember Alan (splosh) when he worked as a fitter at springs branch I was a apprentice at the time.He also played in a band

Thanks for your message Gibo, my Dad worked at Springs Branch from leaving school & loved his brass bands, he sadly passed away in 1973 aged only 37.

Hi Gibo. Do you know why Alan was nicknamed Splosh? My dad Tony Price said it was something to do with a joke he once told

That amusement arcade in the photo was called the BEE
I once found a transistor radio in there when I was about 10 I handed in to the pay box chap.. 2 mins later a girl came asking for it he said no one had handed one in.........so I told her I had handed it in The pay box chaps face was a picture when her dad appeared to claim it back....he obviously was going to keep it for himself

I used to play in Skelmersdale Prize band with Alan, C.1965.
He was one of the best trombone players I have ever heard.
I recall him doing solos, without music when we used to play concerts.

Hi Allison - just wondering if I could include this photo and a bit of the info beneath for an article about seaside holidays in the 50s/60s in Local Life Magazine? My email is editorial@locallife247.co.uk in case you want to get in touch!

Any news on Notley Hall in the 1980svprp7