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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 15th September, 2020)

Round the Bend


Round the Bend
Park’s Forge and Bulldog Tools, Ince.

Photo: Dennis Seddon  (Sony DSC-WX200)
Views: 2,375

Comment by: James Hanson on 15th September 2020 at 00:28

Actually, what you see there is not Ince, it's Wigan.

Comment by: m on 15th September 2020 at 02:52

Mi dad said its champion I'll get thee a job,
three pound and ten, it said in the log,
overtime too , saturday half day,
give thee a start, be set on thi way.
Forget all your dreams what you hoped to become,
years in the factory will make you someone,
they don't accept skivers, posers no way,
you just keep your head down, and pick up your pay.
Day after day it will make you a man,
numb you from pain , well most of it can.
Teach you a trade and then you move on.
next day the same, and more same to come..

Comment by: Derek Platt on 15th September 2020 at 03:39

Nice photo, very clear. I didn't think the top of Darlington Street was in Ince. I lived on Nelson Drive in the late 60ies early 70ies.

Comment by: Walt(Nth Yorkshire) on 15th September 2020 at 08:18

Good photo is that Dennis and a reminder that over 40 years ago I bought a full set of gardening tools under the Bulldog brand, well used and still going strong, best quality by far !.

Comment by: Mick on 15th September 2020 at 08:42

This is a very rare view of the top of Darlingtoin street under a cloudless sky, not often you see that.

Comment by: Dennis Seddon on 15th September 2020 at 09:05

O.K, I give in, it IS Wigan, mea culpa.

Comment by: Veronica on 15th September 2020 at 09:28

Good photo and a very familiar scene for me.

Comment by: irene roberts on 15th September 2020 at 09:50

Such a familiar part of my bus journey to Wigan when I was growing up in Ince. I can recall going to Wigan when I was maybe nine or ten with my childhood friend and we fell out and she had my bus-fare and I had to walk it! What a long way it seemed along Darlington Street which I was only used to passing through on a bus! I can recall turning round that bend on the photo and seeing Rose Bridge and the familiar road home to Ince Bar and feeling so relieved! Isn't it odd how a photo can transport you back, not just to childhood but even to a particular afternoon? Good photo, Dennis!

Comment by: Tony on 15th September 2020 at 10:12

Actual boundary between Wigan and Ince is just around corner, past the pickup truck, just past Kirkless St,

Comment by: Cyril on 15th September 2020 at 12:38

James I and probably many others too would have thought that, but it seems Bulldog Tools agree with Dennis as they put their address as Ince. Rollins Bulldog Tools. Clarington Forge, Darlington Street East, Ince, Wigan, Lancashire, WN1 3DD.

I know the council had half of a couple of the streets off the top of Darlington St as being in Ince, so this too must come have under the old meandering political Ince ward boundary in much the same way as Worsley Mesnes was classed as being in the Pemberton ward boundary.

Comment by: George (Hindley) on 15th September 2020 at 12:45

If the photo showed the back of the building, it would be in Ince.
The brook which forms the boundary is culverted under the building.

Comment by: Ann on 15th September 2020 at 13:09

Mick your such a fool with comments like that.

Comment by: Garry on 15th September 2020 at 13:14

The area is Clarrington Brook or Birkett Bank.

Comment by: Garry on 15th September 2020 at 13:22

Before Bulldog tools in was known as Clarrinton Forge.

Comment by: Mick on 15th September 2020 at 16:09

Last year when they were closing the manufacturing part down. I rode round the back on my bike and they were chucking some stuff away.
I got a Billhook for Hedge Laying and a stainless steel gardening trowel

Comment by: Helen B on 15th September 2020 at 16:54

Just to confuse the issue, there is, or certainly was, also a Darlington Street, Ince, not to be confused with the one in Wigan.

Comment by: Veronica on 15th September 2020 at 17:16

As it goes around the bend in the opposite way It was Clarington Brooke. Birkett Bank was where Jack Tomorrows was and the Crispin.

Comment by: George (Hindley) on 15th September 2020 at 18:54

Clarington Brook is the name of the brook which runs under the road and buildings, creating an ancient boundary between Wigan and Ince.
The Forge was sited over the brook in order to use the water to drive a mill-wheel.

[url="https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/e/e7/Im1848Sl-Bim2.jpg"]Spades AND Shovels Made Here[/url]

Comment by: Elizabeth on 15th September 2020 at 20:04

Yes,Darlington Street,Ince (sometimes called little Darlington Street)was near to the level crossing on Manchester Road,near to where Darlville is now.

Comment by: Veronica on 15th September 2020 at 20:30

No that's not right Jack Tomorrows would be Clarington Brooke As it was directly the opposite side.

Comment by: Pat McC on 15th September 2020 at 20:48

My husband served his apprenticeship at Thomas Gaskell, which was just behind Bulldog Tools

Comment by: Edna on 15th September 2020 at 22:03

I remember Jack tomorrow. He was quite a character, but kind and helpful, and become a friend to many people.

Comment by: George (Hindley) on 15th September 2020 at 22:10

You can argue untill the cows come home about localities, but Clarington Brook is purely the name of a brook which runs between Wigan and Ince.
Clarington Forge was in Ince and this became Bulldog Tools. The buildings shown on the photo are not the original forge, or the factory. They are just offices and are in Wigan.
Bulldog started life as Bimsons. If you copy and paste the link I posted above, you'll see an advert for shovels made there.

Comment by: Edna on 15th September 2020 at 22:36

My husband worked at Thomas Gaskell's in 1968.

Comment by: Stan on 16th September 2020 at 17:15

Birkett bank was top of the hill where the Crispin pub is.

Comment by: Helen B on 17th September 2020 at 23:17

Just to confuse the issue, there is, or certainly was, also a Darlington Street, Ince, not to be confused with the one in Wigan.

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