Wigan Supermarket on king st 1969 -70


Was it Tesco? Who worked there in 1968 -70
Started: 31st Dec 2024 at 19:42
Last edited by lanky11: 1st Jan 2025 at 01:48:42


Lots of info on Wigan Today about it : Lennons/QuikSave and Here
Replied: 31st Dec 2024 at 22:23
Last edited by Pewfall: 31st Dec 2024 at 22:26:58


Thank you but I am almost sure there was a Tesco Looking for a lady that worked there
Replied: 31st Dec 2024 at 22:48
There was a Tesco in King Street, it was there from the late 1960s. I think it's a bar or a night club now.
Replied: 1st Jan 2025 at 21:59
Tesco moved into the old court cinema building
Replied: 2nd Jan 2025 at 11:26
Last edited by PeterP: 8th Jan 2025 at 09:23:24


There was a Tesco on King Street in the late 60s. It was alongside the old Court Cinema to the left where there had once been a sweet shop.
I worked in King Street from 1965 to 1972 so I remember it clearly. It wasn’t very big, but there was an upstairs where they sold other things rather than food, which was downstairs. I can’t remember everything from upstairs, but there was some ladies underwear, jumpers etc. I remember buying some undies in there but, remember, I was only about 16 or 17 then.
I never knew anyone who worked there though.
Replied: 2nd Jan 2025 at 19:27


Mollie, Tomplum says that's where you got your Rain-Mate from!
Replied: 2nd Jan 2025 at 20:19


Shurrup you about Rain Mates. Never worn one in me life!
Replied: 2nd Jan 2025 at 22:57


I know this is a long shot I am looking for a woman I think her name was Linda she was 19 around 1968 she had a very young Baby called Linda She lived with me and my son John at the time in Cambridge st She worked there at Tesco I babysat her baby she had dark hair and wore glasses she was single.
Replied: 3rd Jan 2025 at 23:26
Last edited by lanky11: 5th Jan 2025 at 02:12:56


Mollie m She would have been there when you was at that time she would have been around 19.
Replied: 4th Jan 2025 at 19:56


Sorry lanky11, I wish I could help. I worked for a solicitor further up the road and only called in that Tesco a couple of times, so I never got to know any of the staff.
Have you tried the Electoral Roll? If you know her surname, maybe it's worth checking there.
Replied: 6th Jan 2025 at 20:07


Mollie m I just can not remember her last name it is driving me nuts trying to remember it. Thanks anyway.
Replied: 7th Jan 2025 at 08:06

I used to live in Warrington Lane so I used Tesco a few times a week..their little peoples clothes were very nice..the managaress name was Maureen a very dark skinned young woman..but I believe she has since passed away,plus I’m sure I wasn’t dreaming but Helen McCourt worked there but I don’t know for how long…I swore I saw her on the till nearest to the door..so Lanky I’m very sorry I haven’t been much help for you.
Replied: 7th Jan 2025 at 13:41
The King Street Tesco was further up King Street than the Court Cinema, it was a different building.
Replied: 7th Jan 2025 at 20:17
Wasn,t Lennon the first one on king st?
Replied: 8th Jan 2025 at 16:36


Yes, it was, in or around 1963/64, but it was as shown in Pewfall's second link. It stood on the old Hippodrome site facing Rodney Street.
The Tesco I went in in the 60s was definitely at the side of the Court Cinema.
Replied: 8th Jan 2025 at 18:37
Last edited by mollie m: 8th Jan 2025 at 22:48:43


Hope this answers the confusion.
Tesco King Street
Replied: 8th Jan 2025 at 18:43
Last edited by mollie m: 8th Jan 2025 at 18:44:45
mollie m
You are indeed correct, the Tesco store was next to the former Court Cinema and the Lennons store which was the first supermarket on King Street was next to Brocal House on land which is now a car park.
Replied: 9th Jan 2025 at 08:26
On the "friends of Downall Green "facebook page there id a good photo of Lennons
Replied: 9th Jan 2025 at 09:18


Owd Codger:
Yes, I may be old now, but there's nothing wrong with my memory.
Where that Tesco stood there had previously been a ladies fashion shop called Maison Modes. Because I worked down King Street from 1965 to 1972 I can pretty much remember all solicitors' offices, architects, estate agents, etc down there at the time, and I could probably name them all, in no particular order.
Replied: 9th Jan 2025 at 14:25


I think there used to be a church there prior to it being Tesco.?
The sweet shop was never knocked down as it was adjacent to the Court cinema. If I remember correctly there was also another sweet shop further down opposite the Trustee savings bank? I seem to remember that sweet shop when my mum used to go into the bank opposite to empty our piggy banks which you needed a key to unlock them! I would have been about 6 / 7 years of age at the time.
Replied: 9th Jan 2025 at 15:25
Last edited by cheshirecat: 9th Jan 2025 at 15:26:49


Yes, the sweet shop was adjacent to the Court cinema, under the canopy.
The Baptist church was on the other side of the road, almost opposite the Court which, when it closed in 1969, it temporarily became a TSB bank, until the newer one opened (across the road, I think).
On the site where Tesco stood was definitely Maison Modes ladies shop, but I've no idea when that closed.
Replied: 9th Jan 2025 at 17:40
Last edited by mollie m: 9th Jan 2025 at 18:32:47


I think there were two churches in King Street. One baptist church, and one Methodist church. The Methodist church site ( I Think ) was where Tesco was built?
I remember reading an article on line by the Rev David Long who is a member on here, mentioning this. Unless Ive dream't it
I think the TSB bank in King Street was an old pub building, The Shakespeare? Which then became the council rates office, which is now solicitors or accountants offices.
Replied: 9th Jan 2025 at 19:03
Last edited by cheshirecat: 9th Jan 2025 at 19:04:38
Lanky11, I worked there on Friday night and Saturday but I'm sorry I can't remember Linda. The manager at the time was a Mr Taylor who had alopecia, I think his wife worked there also?
Replied: 18th Jan 2025 at 23:50


King Street history fascinates me. I have researched old phone books. In 1972 There were two confectioners in King Street. Close to the Minorca Inn (Berkely Square) was Lavells at No. 14. Today it is ‘The Godfather’ :
Lavells
Keep walking along, on the same side , Maison Modes/ Gowns & Mantels was at 42 King Street, part of Victoria Buildings (36-44) that still exists today.
Maison modes was behind the bicycle pic here : Maison Modes
More history of (36-44) here :
Victoria Building
Planning permission for 36-44 has recenly been granted for a food area downstaris with flats above.
Next door stood Tesco at 46 – 48 King Street. This was previously the site of the United Free Methodist Church that closed in 1960. On this photo you can see today’s Royal Court Theatre to the right at No. 50:
Utd Methodist Church
I recall the current building at 46-48 being new in the 1990’s and it was a theme Bar. It has been named Chicago Rock/Mortys/The Hub.
Chicago Bar
Next door is The Royal Court Theatre - 50 King Street
Royal Court Theatre
The other Confectioner was F Hilton at 56 slightly further down. Today F Hilton is the right hand building of Madame Geneva’s gin bar
F Hilton.
Immediately opposite F Hilton sweet shop was the Trustees Saving Bank head office at 47 King Street. It was in the BT phone directory until 1980. This building is now Platt & Fishwick solicitors :
OLD Tsb/P&Fishwicks
Next door down was the other church at No.49. This was King Street Baptist that closed October 1969. The congregation merged with Scarisbrick Street church that was renamed to become Wigan Baptist Church. It’s the red building to the right :
Baptist Church
At the far right you can see the pillars of No.47, TSB/Platt and Fishwick.
More info : here Baptist history
Today No. 49 is now the site of the Revolution Bar, previously the newly built Litten Tree :
Revolution
The white building to the left is Brocol House.
After the Baptist church was demolished and before the Litten Tree was built there stood the the new TSB bank between Brocol House and the old TSB / later Platt & Fishwick. The new TSB first appeard in the 1982 phone book.
New TSB
Further down and prior to the new TSB building, stood the Shakespeare public hotel at No. 53?.
Shakespeare Hotel
Further along at No.57 was the other supermarket, Lennon’s. It is listed in the 1982 BT phone book. This was built on the sight of the Hippodrome that burnt down in 1956.
Lennons
Lennons became Fine Fare and was purchased by the Dee corporation in 1986 when it was rebranded to Gateway. It changed identity one last time to become a short lived Kwik save. Kwik Save soon moved out to Gower Street to the building that is now Home Bargains. Lennons area is now a car park :
Former Lennons
The very last building on King Street where it met Chapel lane was the Brewer’s Arm pub:
Brewers Arms
This is the same view today:
Chapel Lane
Here is a map that dates to around 1947 :
Old Map
Replied: 26th Jan 2025 at 23:28
Last edited by Pewfall: 29th Jan 2025 at 20:46:33


Thanks for that, Pewfall.
Very interesting read
It confirmed what I thought that there used to be a church on the site prior to Tesco being built on it.
Replied: 28th Jan 2025 at 14:51


Thanks for the feedback Cheshirecat. Yesterday i found a photo of Tesco King Street. I notice bottom right there is Lyons Maid's 'Good Time Sign' (3 dancing children). This logo was only invented in Jan 1973 so this photo can't predate then. I actually remember visiting this Tesco but had forgotten it ever existed until half way through this thread. Memories.
Replied: 28th Jan 2025 at 23:06
Pewfall, I'm not arguing with you but I remember Lovell's sweet shop and tobacconist being nearer the top of king st. The entrance was slightly stepped back in a V shape and there was a large pink letter L in the tiled floor as you went in. I would say it was opposite P,A,Kinleys, this would be 60s to early 80s. Hope this is of some help?
Replied: 29th Jan 2025 at 10:25


Thanks Riocaroni. I got the 2 sweet shops names the wrong way and I have corrected the post. Lavells/F Hilton/PA McKinlee Lavelles first appeared in the phone book in 1962, lastly 1977. F Hilton dates between 1964 & 1978 and PA Kinley between 1951 and 1982 (my last latest search). PA Kinley was at No.21, the Taxi office here
PA Kinley The orange shop front almost opposite was Lavells, as you pointed out.
Replied: 29th Jan 2025 at 21:13
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