Wigan Album

Shop windows l suppose, to some extent, reflect our economy. I recall walking with my parents in Wigan town centre just a couple of years after the end of WW2 On the corner of Standishgate as you turned left into Mesnes Road was a shop with a large glass window and on passing l saw a largely deserted showroom, except for one notable exception. It was a pedal car, a jeep no less with a star on the side. It was a case of instant materialism, l’d never seen anything like it, but of course it was wishful thinking. Shop windows in the mid 1940’s were quite different to the one in the posted photo.

Now it is colourised, (and beautifully done!), I can make out a Bayko Building Set.....they produced little houses that were always like 1930s semis. Whenever I pass a street of 1930s semis, I always think of them as "Bayko" houses. Our telephone in our house is just like the one in the bottom of the window, under the "Buy British" sign.

If anyone had their money's worth from a toy. I did with my BAYKO set. I had it for years and regularly played with it. Spent hours building houses etc. A friend lives in the first house, going up Wigan Lane. next to the community garden, next to the Cherry Gardens pub. It reminds me of the type of house I would build. Just like the one on the box lid..

I always wanted a Doll’s House but never got one. My daughter had one though and it passed down to my granddaughter. I loved playing with it! That was a 1930’s style. There’s so much to choose from in that window. Weren’t we grateful for what we got …sigh! The photo is even better in colour.