Issue No. 39 March – July 2005

Produced1 by Wigan Heritage Service FREE Welcome to DIANNE TESKEY From the Editor WE would like to welcome a new member of staff to FIRSTLY, welcome to issue 39 of the Heritage team, Dianne Teskey. Dianne took up the role of Heritage Officer (Community Outreach and Past Forward. That’s an amazing Education) – a bit of a mouthful we know – in January number of magazines, over, 2005. She is thrilled to be with us and is keen to incredibly, 13 years - where has make lots of contacts out in the community very the time gone? I think it’s safe to soon. say that Past Forward continues to As the job title suggests, Dianne’s role is to take go from strength to strength - the Heritage out into your communities as well as infusing everything we do with learning. A tough results of the recent questionnaire task, so we would clearly be delighted to have your (see p19) certainly confirm that. help and support. If you do have any ideas of how we We also received some very useful can get involved in your community or indeed how you can help us, then why and positive feedback regarding not give her a call. She is based at the History Shop, tel: 01942 828124. the Heritage Service in general. Dianne comes to us after four years working at Wigan Pier, helping to deliver All in all, an extremely valuable their award winning education programme. We are confident that this area of heritage provision is now in very capable hands. Look out for a new series of exercise, and many thanks to all holiday activities, talks and walks from our service over the coming months. those readers who took the time Finally we are reliably informed that ‘cowgirl Dianne’ is one mean line and trouble to complete the dancer. However, we are happy to report that she has promised not to wear her questionnaire. Congratulations Stetson to the office! We will also be keen to get her assurance that line dancing also to the lucky winners in our workshops will not be filling the galleries of the History Shop! prize draw. Welcome Dianne, we wish you every success. I am sure that you will find that there is something for everyone in this issue, including a number of Wigan Heritage Service articles relating to World War II, The Heritage Service has three main outlets – the History Shop, Archives and particularly appropriate this year, Leigh Local History. Please note that all telephone numbers have a 01942 code. as we commemorate the 60th If no individual email address is listed, please use [email protected] anniversary of VE-Day and VJ-Day. There are also articles looking at Wigan many years ago, one from The History Shop regular writer Fred Holcroft on ‘The Library Street Wigan WN1 1NU. Plague in Wigan’ and another from Tel: 828128 (general enquiries), 828020 (local history desk – research enquiries and bookings). Fax: 827645. Email: [email protected] a new contributor to Past Forward, Opening hours: Mon 10.00 -7.00; Tues - Fri 10.00-5.00; Sat 10.00-1.00 R. Evans on the ‘Poor Law in Atherton’. Archives I will always try my best, space permitting, to publish as many of Town Hall Leigh WN7 2DY. Tel: 404430 (general enquiries). Fax: 404425 Opening hours: Tues-Thur 10.00 - 4.30 (by appointment) the articles I receive as possible in Past Forward, so if you’ve often Leigh Local History fancied putting pen to paper but Turnpike Centre Leigh Library Civic Square Leigh WN7 1EB. Tel: 404559 Fax: 404567 never actually got round to it, Opening hours: Mon, Thur, Fri 9.30-7.00, Tues 10.00-7.00; Wed 9.30-5.00; now’s your chance! The writings of Sat. 10.00-3.30 many regular contributors - including, for example, Irene Staff Roberts, whose charming and Alastair Gillies – Heritage Services Manager (and Editor of Past Forward) – Tel: unique style of writing is so 488468 Fax: 488479. Email: [email protected] enjoyed by many readers - would Philip Butler – Visitor Services Manager – 827594 – [email protected] have been lost for ever if it hadn’t Yvonne Webb – Collections Development Manager – 828123 – [email protected] been for Past Forward. Heritage Officers Tony Ashcroft – Local History, Leigh – 404559 Alan Davies – Archives – 404431 – [email protected] COPY DEADLINE Mike Haddon – Industrial History – 828121 Please note that the copy Dianne Teskey – Community Outreach & Education - 828124 deadline for issue no 40 Christine Watts – Local & Family History – 827404 of Past Forward is 1 June 2005. Heritage Assistants Elizabeth Fairclough – 828128 Hilary Fairclough – 828128 Stephanie Tsang – 828128 All comments and correspondence should be addressed to: Editor, ‘Past Forward’, Technical Wigan Heritage Service, Observer Buildings, Len Hudson – Senior Technician & Photographer – 404432 Wood Street, Wigan WN3 4ET Email: [email protected] Terry Meehan – Museum Technician

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art from our collections, we present the changing face of Wigan from the early Exhibitions & Activities 19th century to the present day. New Leaflet! The Taylor Gallery Coming Soon! Watch out for our new The Secret Life of Textiles Exhibitions and Events, Routes to Your Roots 19 March - 20 August 6 March - 27 May 2006 March - December 2005 This exhibition takes a look at the leaflet. It has details of 2005 A travelling exhibition from fabulous wealth of design and textile forthcoming exhibitions, history hidden away in pattern book and children’s and adult the National Coal Mining Museum for England, collections throughout the North West. activities at the History Produced with Lottery funding, it Shop. As usual, it has all supplemented by local material. features our own collections alongside our contact details, those of Bolton Museum & Art Gallery, opening hours and a map Do you want to find out about your ancestors who Macclesfield Museum, Liverpool John showing the location of the Moores University and Quarry Bank Mill, History Shop. worked in the coal mining industry, and how they lived and will help you decode the secrets their lives in the heart of the they hold. A catalogue of the collections Wigan Casino: The coal mining community? Then will be on sale in our shop. Don’t know Heart of Soul this is the exhibition for you. what a pattern book is? Come along and This exhibition, which Using photographs, artefacts find out! closed on Saturday 26 and documents from our collections, we February, has been one of our most explain the sources available, and how successful in recent times, attracting to use them. Younger visitors can use visitors from all over the country, Events & Activities our special storyboards to learn how to Bookings 01942 828128 including Newcastle, Coventry and become family and local history Nottingham! The most popular exhibit detectives, and play the ‘Back to Your Family Fun was undoubtedly the archival video Roots’ game. To complement the Arts and crafts activities for families footage of dancing at the Casino and exhibition, we will be presenting two with children aged 4-12 years. Sessions scenes from around Wigan during the lunchtime lectures on the history of coal start at 2pm and 3pm, and last for 1 Casino era. Visitors were encouraged to mining in our area. See Events & hour. All children must be accompanied write down their thoughts about the Activities for details. by and adult. Booking essential. For Casino (or the Empress Ballroom) and details, see our web site (www.wlct.org) what it meant to them. We ended up and leaflets nearer the time. with a book full! Typical of the remarks - A Feast of Photography! “it wasn’t a building - it was a temple Wigan Photographic Society Annual Easter you had to go to”, “my husband and I Show Wednesday 23 March & Wednesday 30 would come from Liverpool after he had 27 August - 10 September March 2005 finished DJ’ing in a club at 2am”, “the Summer Half Term Casino lives on in our hearts and minds Atherton Photographic Society Wednesday 1 June 2005 Annual Show and we will ‘Keep the Faith’ until the day Summer Holidays we die”. Strong stuff indeed! These 14 September - 1 October Once again these two talented local Each Wednesday throughout the contributions to the history of the Casino summer holidays. will join other archival material in our photographic societies will be presenting local history collections and will be their best work for you to enjoy. If you Family Learning Week available to all with an interest in the visited the Wigan show last year, and Wednesday 12 October 2005 Casino and the popular culture of the voted for your favourite picture, come Christmas Holidays 1970’s and 80’s. along and find out which was the most Come and find out more about our popular. The Atherton show, with its Victorian ancestors, and the way they experimentation in the field of digital used to celebrate Christmas. photography, is a must for those of you Exhibitions at the with a technological bent. Adult Learners Week History Shop 21 to 27 May 2005 The Changing Face of Wigan Lunchtime lectures at the History 15 October 2005 - 11 February Shop by our Archivist Alan Davies -1pm The Wickham Gallery 2006. - 2pm Admission £1 - bring your own Wigan on the Map Can you remember what Wigan lunch, free tea and coffee. Booking The Wigan Borough Parish Map, 28 looked like 20 years ago? The town essential. textile panels which weave together the centre is currently undergoing many tales of local life, past and redevelopment to build a grand new Monday 23 May 2005 present. shopping centre. We have taken this A Photographic History of the opportunity to explore how and why Lancashire Coalfield Free talks and tours available for Wigan has changed over the years, and groups and societies. Advanced is still changing. Through old maps, Friday 27 May 2005 booking essential. documents, photographs and works of Women and Children in the Mines 3

Plague in Wigan

THE Great Plague, which in by to prevent the abode of travellers in 1665 wiped out one third of our town.” London’s population, is very Fred Holcroft well known, but plague was This entry shows the nature of prevailing attitudes towards the not just restricted to London, plague: its initiation period was “I sent James Pilkington, Mayor nor indeed to that year only. known, its symptoms all too well and gave him directions and orders Plague was prevalent known, it was deadly, came swiftly to be observed now in this throughout England from without warning from who knows dangerous time of the plague, where, those suffering were medieval times until the end namely that the townsman should charitably cared for while the of the 17th century. Even a watch daily and let none lodge in Rector had draconian powers with small town like Wigan was not the town that would not voluntary which to enforce measures to deal exempt. take his oath that he came not from with it. Plague comes in several forms. any infected place within a One month later in September Bubonic was the most common. A fortnight and that himself (to his 1625 another journal entry few days after infection the victim knowledge) was free from the appears: developed fever, tiredness but infection: that they should provide difficulty in sleeping, high an out room out of the town from “I gave another order to the temperatures, giddiness, such to lodge in as coming from church wardens of Wigan that restlessness and finally delirium. London and going further had no none should be buried in Wigan Within six days the lymph glands place to live in, and another room church during the time of the swelled and became inflamed and for such as may chance to be plague, for the infection is now in painful, while bleeding under the infected; and some ale houses at Mary Bibby’s houses and two of skin caused purple blotches; the the upper end of Wigan Lane to her children are dead of it and a ‘ring a ring a roses’ death occurred deliver passengers‘victuals for their third now has the sores running on within seven days, killing a half to money when they came from him, yet her sister and two of her three quarters of those affected. London. And because when they children are escaped out and Amazingly it was possible to watched in other parts of the town, wander the country one Grimshaw survive. strangers and wandering beggars (who is to marry her) has also Pneumonic plague inflamed the came over the field up to my house gone out of that house and is victim’s lungs with frothy blood, and hung about my gates more lodged in Haigh, so it is now causing difficulty breathing, than before. I also charged them to uncertain what places in the Parish coughing up blood and sneezing, provide a watchman daily for are free from infection.” the ‘atishoo, atishoo’ could come Hallgate, to stand at the lower level quickly, followed by death in nine of my causey (2) that they might So despite all the Rector’s efforts cases out of ten. Septicaemia not be unprovided of monies in and the programme that was in plague directly attacked the blood time of need. I caused two taxes to place to prevent or contain stream, moving swiftly to the brain be laid generally through the outbreak, he had been foiled by and normally causing death within parish by the overseer of the poor, human nature and the desire to three days at most. where of one was to be reserved in survive! Wigan Archives hold two sets of the hands of Edmund Winstanley Five years later, in November documents, which tell how the local church warden in the town, the 1630, the Rector had to use officials and ordinary townspeople other in the hands of Richard another weapon in his armoury of responded to the outbreak of Worthington of Pemberton the measures to be taken against the plague. One is the journal of Church warden of the parish, and I plague: Bishop Bridgeman who, as Rector charged them not to disburse any of Wigan Parish Church in the penny of these two lays but only “It hath pleased God to visit years before the outbreak of Civil upon such as might chance to be diverse places in this country of War in 1642, played a prominent infected, and such others as Lancashire so dangerously with role in the local government. The concerned by plague. Likewise I the plague of pestilence as I have of second is the records of the Court advised them to choose out some to times seriously considered with Leet, held in Wigan throughout the be searchers of the bodies of men myself whether it more better for 17th century, where citizens were dying and to agree for their wages the common good to hold my fair at prosecuted for infringements of weekly, and to tell me what men Wigan this Ascension Day now local by-laws and where any claims were fit to be allowed to keep ale following or to forbid it. Some of for compensation could be lodged. houses that I might suppress the you lately represented to me the In August 1625 Bishop rest, and I caused the signs of the Bridgeman wrote: inns to be taken down for a while Ô 4

necessity of the people who are at John son of Edward Orrell de cabin Ellen wiffe of Robert Lee in this time to buy and sell cattle and Elizabeth wiffe of Thomas Brockell Standishgate by a disappointment of this fair de cabin John son of Oliver Leigh de cabin may be much prejudiced. But on Robert Whittle de cabin Mary wiffe of Oliver Leigh de cabin the other side when I consider that Elizebeth Trelfall de cabin Grace wiffe of Ralph————— the safety of their persons is much Jane daughter of Thomas Whally Oliver Leigh de cabin to be preferred before any de Wallgate Anne daughter of Robert Lee de commodity in their estates, and Thomas Brochell de cabin cabin that the extraordinary confluence Ellen daughter of Edward Lee de Elizabeth daughter of Oliver Leigh of men from all parts to such a fair Wallgate de cabin may bring some infection to the Robert son of James ffinch de town, I thought it fitter to forbid cabin The usual methods of containing their meeting than endanger the Gerrard ffinch de cabin the plague were in place and once inhabitants and do choose to lose Ellen Gregson de cabin again human nature influenced my present profit than to bring Edward Lee de Hallgate events. In 1649 the Court Leet was that place into peril of utter Mary daughter of Jeffrey Crochley petitioned by John Catterall a local undoing and therefore I have de Hallgate Wigan cooper: resolved to cause proclamation on Jane wiffe of James ffinch de cabin to be made in divers market towns Mary daughter of James ffinch de “That your petitioner lately of this country that there shall be cabin before the sickness called the no fair held.” Anne daughter of Thomas plague or pestilence fell amongst us Pilkington de cabin took a cottage and garden in The Rector’s fairs were a Ellice son of Hugh Mather de Gidlow Lane for which your valuable source of income for him Wallgate petitioner paid £7 consideration, so that this move was a genuine Jane wiffe of Robert Whittle de intending to have come to lived at sacrifice. cabin it at May last, was disappointed in The next reference to plague Elizibeth daughter of Thomas Scott the making of cabins for sick occurs during the aftermath of the of Pemberton persons of the same cottage so that Civil War. By 1648 six years of William Barron the younger your petitioner was constrained to warfare, bad harvests and food Roger Orrell de cabin pay rent for another place during that time, and since the sick shortages had left local population May 1649 weak and prone to disease. Once persons or some of them pulled Ellen wiffe of William Barron de down some of his walls and doors again plague broke out and the cabin (senior) 1649 victims’ names are listed in about it and burned them to his A poor woman in Hugh Bullocks great loss and hindrance”. the church registers. There had new house been an epidemic in 1648 but the William ————- de cabin senier records have been lost. Wooden ‘plague houses’ for ————— Crochley de cabin those infected already existed just ————— daughter of Robert March 1649 outside town (the present Shaw de cabin Elizabeth daughter of Richard Woodhouse Lane is named after A poor wench in Hugh Bullocks Rycroft de Wallgate them) but the size of the outbreak new house Anne Penkieman widow de must have led to requisitioning of Robert Pennington de Millgate Millgate more buildings chosen for their Katherine wiffe of Robert Richard Rycroft de Gidloe lane isolation. The generous officials Pennington de cabin Alise wiffe of Edward Preston de gave Catterall 15s.8d.(78p today!). Ralph son of Lawrence Anderton of Hallgate Again in 1649 James Finch, one Hallgate of the town administration Elizibeth wiffe of Thomas Starkey Robert Townlee of Hallgate de Hallgate servants, asked for financial Peter son of Humphrey Gregson de compensation from the Court Leet: cabin April 1649 Thomas Starkey att de cabin “Your petitioner in these late Burials in June 1649 distressed and distracted times of Elizabeth bast(ard) daughter of John son of Robert Mollinex de Anne Brockells at de cabin the great visitation of the sickness cabin that was amongst us called the James ffinch de Wallgate Thomas son of Robert Townlee de John Aspinall de Millgate plague and pestilence, was cabin constrained to attend Mr Mayor Elizebeth daughter of John de Anne Orrell of Gidloe Lane Millgate and do what service he could in John son of Robert Townlee de that behalf. Having a wife and a Elizebeth daughter of Edward cabin Prescott de Hallgate number of small children sent them Gilbert son of Ralph Leigh of into the country upon great cost Elizebeth Banks att de cabin Wallgate Ann wiffe of Richard Crochley de and charges until such time as the Robert son of Ralph Leigh of town by God’s providence was set Millgate Wallgate Humphrey son of Robert Crochley clean. Notwithstanding it was de cabin Burials in July 1649 reported your petitioner had Grace daughter of Robert Whitle de Margret daughter of Robert Lee in allowance, which was not true. cabin Standishgate Continued on page 6 5

the lately restrained poor”. Even hath the plague of pestilence been the Doctor had difficulty getting raging these last three years and Plague in paid! upward. There is a very great Some indication of the paranoia scarcity and dearth of all Wigan which filled people’s minds during provisions especially all sorts of these times is shown by several grain which is sixfold the price of other court records. In October that it of late hath been. All trade ––––– 1652, although there was no is utterly decayed. It would not Continued from page 5 plague in Wigan: meet any good heart to see the numerous swarms of begging poor “Information of Thomas Scott of and the many families that pine Wigan, shoe maker taken upon away at home not having face to Please commisserate his great oath that on the 16th day of this beg. Very many now craving alms charge and losses he hath instant October he met Henry at other men’s doors were used to sustained for want of his wife’s Reynolds of Wigan in Windle at a giving alms at their own doors. industry so long confined from place called Fox Bank and on To see paleness nay death him”. enquiring of him his travel or appear in the cheeks of the poor occasions of whether his travel and often to hear of some found There are three aspects here: his then lay the said Henry Reynolds dead in their houses or highways missing wages, his extra expenses him answered he was then going to for want of bread. In the town of and his wife’s lost income, Whiston to help the poor infected Wigan with the neighbouring parts probably from handloom weaving. people there visited with the plague are full two thousand poor who for Nevertheless the town officials or infectious sickness.” three months and upwards have declined to pay, coldly advising been restrained. No relief to be had Catterall to apply to the Mayor Another entry in 1652 records a for them in the ordinary course of himself (Ambrose Jolley) who guilty plea: law. The collections in our presumably would have to congregations (their own supply remburse Catterall out of his own “Confessed. James Molyneux, hitherto) being generally very pocket! Some chance! school master for going into slack and slender, those wanting It might have been expected that suspected places and dangerous for ability to help who have hearts to the doctor who attended the sick the sickness contrary to Mr pity them. would have been treated rather Mayor’s commands.” There are no bonds to keep in the better. Later in 1649 William infected hunger-starved poor Getenby (“Physician and servant There is no record if he was whose breaking out jeopardises all to your town in these late and punished but John Hudson was not the neighbourhood. Some of them distressed times of sickness so lucky: already being at the point to perish amongst you” as he put it) also through famine have fetched in petitioned the Court Leet: “John Hudson confessed by and eaten carrion and other himself for sending his servant unwholesome food to the “At the mention and request of towards infected places where the destroying of themselves and the last mayor Mr Jolley and some plague was known to be and not increasing of the infection. others of his brethren and burgess making the officers of this town And the more to provoke pity did undertake with his best acquainted with his journey and and mercy it may be considered endeavours to visit the sick persons for hawking about in the country that this fatal contagion had its and to minister to them as occasion with pans, contrary to the statute.” rise evidently from the wounded should serve, and was to have for soldiers of our army left there for his pains and industry until such Hudson was sentenced to two air. times as the town was set free and hours’ incarceration in the Moot Of Wigan…… Ministers…….. at liberty, 30s. [£1.50] a week, in Hall, or longer if he refused to Ambrose Jolley James Hyett which time the said William publicly acknowledge his guilt. In received in part payment £13 and addition he was fined 20s. (£1) James Bradshaw John Tyldesley served 24 weeks. The premises mitigated to 2s.6d. John Standish Isaac Ambrose considered, the said William in Conditions were so difficult that Ralph Markland Richard regard that he was constrained to in 1648 public meetings were Hollingworth send his wife and children to banned and the fortnightly Court Standish to dwell and inhabit Leet not held between 4 February Has a more pathetic plea for help being at charge of two houses and 1649 and 1 September 1649. A ever been written? The Civil Wars losing his practices in other petition was sent to Parliament had exacerbated already existing places.” signed by the town’s officials and problems to reduce Wigan to the endorsed by four church ministers: depths it was not to experience So, Gatenby was entitled to £36 again until the 1930’s. Slowly the but had only been paid £13, and “The hand of God is stretched town recovered and, by the time of was therefore owed £23. Generous upon the country, chastising it the Restoration in 1660, it was on as ever the Court Leet paid him £7 with the three-corded scourge of the verge of an economic change, “out of such monies as shall come sword, pestilence and famine all at which was to transform Wigan into the hands of any for the use of once afflicting it …. In this county forever. 6

Lost at Sea ON 11 January 1889, a Settlements, where Darbyshire cablegram was received by was due to take up his the owners of the British position as manager of the screw steamer ‘Priam’ from Penang Steam Railways, for Corunna, via Barcelona, which he had been engaged by informing them that the Kerr, Stuart and Co. of London, vessel had been wrecked on the well known tramway one of the Sisargas Islands, contractors. The work was PRIAM lying midway between Corunna and expected to take two years, for Cape Finistere. Evidently during Local Board who was later to become which Darbyshire had been offered a heavy storms the ‘Priam’ had been Leigh’s first mayor. He had lived in salary of £700 p.a. forced onto rocks before being Wigan and, when a student ,attended The couple had four children, broken in two. It finally sank in 40ft the Mining School there, during three of whom were attending the of water at low tide. which time he was closely associated Sheffield Roman Catholic School, ‘Priam’ was the sister ship of with C.M.Percy, the writer of such whilst the fourth, a boy, was at ‘Diomed’. It was built by Scott and volumes as ‘Mining in the Victorian Catterick. Co. of Greenock in 1870, the year it Era’, and ‘A History of the Wigan Should anyone want further entered into service. Its gross Mining and Technical School’. details then please contact me. tonnage was 2,039, whilst its Although the couple had many Tony Ashcroft dimensions were recorded as 313.6ft friends in the area, they were Local History Officer x 32.8ft x 27.9ft. Greenock Foundry actually living at the time in Leigh Library Co. was responsible for the steamer’s Bradford, where Darbyshire had (tel: 01942 404559) engine. For 18 years ‘Priam’ had taken up his duties as manager of traded between Liverpool and China. the Bradford and Shelf Tramways. On this fateful voyage the vessel Prior to this he had been employed was carrying a valuable cargo of a by the Manchester, Bury and general nature (which was plundered Rochdale Tramway Company as a before salvage operations took locomotive fireman, a similar place), as well as five first class position to one he had held earlier in passengers and a crew of 42. Coventry. Unfortunately, whilst the majority of The couple, together with their the crew survived, five died. Out of servant, were en route to the Straits the five passengers, four died, including Mr and Mrs Darbyshire of Wigan and their female servant Miss Elizabeth Smith, also of Wigan. John Darbyshire was well known in both the Leigh and Wigan areas. He had married the eldest sister of John Fairclough, a member of Leigh

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Come To Healthy Wigan, Spa Town Extraordinaire!

Ancient tradition convinced of the healing powers of As bathing in the same water is Many readers will be well aware of the mineral salts in spring water; found extremely beneficial in Wigan’s age old reputation as a those benefits were without doubt some Cases, a cold or a warm ‘watering hole’ and it will come as no mainly psychological! Bath with suitable surprise to find in the Archives that Accomodations may be had every 500 years ago inebriated souls were Business is thriving in 1770 day at a reasonable Expence in a to be found wandering about the In 1889 Dr Prosser White of Wigan neat Building erected for that town centre creating havoc! The suggested in an article (The Old Wells Purpose. many and varied activities associated and Springs of Wigan) that the with this great tradition are, of Wigan Spaw or New course, still being carried on at Harrogate in 1788 full pace, especially at In ‘England Described’ by weekends. William Bancks (1788), It will come as a great publisher of Wigan, the surprise to most of you that following account is found: over 230 years ago Wigan was famous as being a watering WIGAN SPAW or new hole of a different kind, HARROWGATE, is a strong namely that of a health spa! sulphureous water, lately No, this isn’t an April Fool and discovered in boring for coal I am not talking about some in a field near the Scholes local character selling Ochrey Bridge; it is said to greatly sludge as a mud pack; I am, in resemble the water of fact, referring to Harrowgate Harrowgate (Harrogate) in Spa, the well of which now lies Yorkshire, only that it does filled in close to or beneath the not contain so much saline Magistrates Court. The spa matter as that does: it was named as such to contains a considerable obviously compare itself with the spring was known of and in use well quantity of a very fine sulphur, famous Yorkshire example. before 1770, although he was relying and has been found useful in most on stories handed down through complaints for which suplhur Spa, a definition generations. The first reliable waters have been recommended: it To help readers to try and visualise mention of the Wigan spring is in has been made use of in a variety this unfamiliar Wigan of the 1770’s, 1770 when the famous Dr.William of complaints, and frequently with the dictionary describes the term Spa Borlase, historian and mineralogist good effect: amongst others, the as: “A health resort, especially one of Cornwall, prophesied “a fortunate following, may be particularly where there are one or more mineral and fashionable future for the Wells” mentioned, sore eyes, particularly springs whose waters possess in general nationally, and mentions those that have been of long therapeutic properties”. Harrowgate Spa Wigan. standing; old sore legs, and other Spa is related to the Belgian town An advertising leaflet, dated 31 old sores; scald heads, the scurvy, which possesses a famous mineral July 1786, for Wigan’s Spa, intended itch, and many other eruptions, or spring. for distribution via a Mr Harop, cutaneous complaints, scrofulous The other more ancient term, also printer of Manchester, was sores &c. In all these disorders, used locally for therapeutic springs discovered in an old bookshop in patients have frequently been bearing iron salts, was a Chalybeate 1934 (present whereabouts of the known to obtain a perfect cure by Spring. document unknown). The contents the use of this water. You may remember the recent were as follows: There is now a very elegant article in Past Forward (no 37, p29) building erected for the use of on ‘The Burning Wells of Wigan’, WIGAN SPAW those who resort to this spring, where we found that Wigan has a with conveniences for drinking the number of natural springs due to Many persons afflicted with water, and for using it either as a water under pressure passing along scrofulous and scorbutic hot or cold bath. faults in the coal measures or disorders having received much What a vision this conjures up of through porous rocks. Often these benefit by drinking the Sulphur- cross-eyed scurvy-ridden scalded- springs are contaminated with Water at Wigan, lately head Wiganers limping along to the complex minerals and gas mixtures discovered, and others having spa busily scratching themselves. and definitely not in any sense been thereby completely The coal seam in question was the healthy. Depending on the route the cured....it is therefore thought well known Wigan 4ft, which can be water has taken below ground proper to inform the Publick in seen on the six inch Geological mineral salts can end up in solution, general of the salutary Effects of Survey plan 93NE of 1930, certain of which are needed in trace this Water, that they who are outcropping virtually spot on where amounts for bodily functions. troubled with such disorders may Centuries ago, people really were know where to find Relief. Ô 8

image (due to the area being a mass of terraced housing at the time) of the old Harrowgate Fields behind the cottages. Other Spa House remains were still visible as part of another property in 1935 when once more Hawkes mentions it in his ‘Outline History of Wigan’. It was to be 1 January 1954 before the well was mentioned again in print, this time by Chris Aspin in the Lancashire Evening Post. He had a vision of what may have been when he wrote;

“What would have become of Wigan had it remained a spa is open to conjecture. Would it one wonders have become a town in which retired army officers of the rank of colonel and above spent First edition 6” to 1 mile (enlarged), surveyed in 1845-6 showing (top left) their last years, or would it have Harrowgate Draw Well and other springs to the east near present day become a conference town with an Darlington Street. annual festival of chamber music?” the well was sunk. Another handsome building was erected, In conclusion unidentified seam outcropping about with conveniences for drinking the No doubt some of the hundreds of 100 metres to the west would also water, and bathing if required, but wells used in Wigan over the have been intersected at greater now the waters, having got mixed centuries provided good clean depth. with those of the neighbouring drinking water and some even The earliest trade directory in the coal pits, have nearly lost their contained mineral salts. Archives (1796) gives the proprietor medicinal virtues, and are little Over the centuries many wondrous of the ‘Bathing House’ as a Mrs used. claims, as with Harrowgate Spa, have Hodgson, widow. been made for the healing powers of In decline then rediscovered spring and mineral water. Many Britton’s Beauties of England and By the time of the First Edition 6 thousands of Wiganers must have Wales 1807 inch Ordnance Survey map of Wigan, paid hard-earned cash to dip their The opportunity arose in 1807 for surveyed in 1847-8 and published in feet, rub their heads and eyes and Wigan’s Spa to be highlighted in this 1849 the site is still shown as drunk many a gallon convincing collation of beauties and wonders in Harrowgate with Draw Well themselves it was for the best. England by John Britton (volume IX); alongside (see above). The World Wide Fund For Nature the description is virtually word for In 1852 during repairs to a house recently published the results of their word as per Bancks’s account. close to the spa site a second well was research into spring water and found found. We do not hear again of the that it is no healthier to drink than Whitehouse’s History of Wigan well until 4 October 1889, when it tap water and that the salts contained 1829, “numerous springs” was exposed by the pulling down of have virtually no beneficial effects. This fascinating manuscript held in two cottages which had been built On the other hand, you can the Archives was never published. It over the site. When the ground floor understand some poor soul from was illustrated by the author’s own of one of these cottages was removed, Scholes in 1820 giving it a go when watercolours and gives us for a circular brick chamber was revealed their normal water supply was example one of the earliest views of 12 feet in diameter, with walls 5 feet probably polluted and harbouring all the old Moot Hall in the town centre. in height. An arch bricked roof sorts of nasties! Whitehouse states; covered in the well, and partly formed Alan Davies The springs in the the floor of the chamber. Under the Heritage Officer (Archives) neighbourhood of Wigan are arch and across the wall was placed a numerous, and a few years ago a massive plum tree beam, probably for Appendix medicinal spring was discovered the attachment of draw gear. The well 1 Some other well known Wigan near Scholes Bridge, the water of was 12 feet deep, and contained 5 /2 wells which was strongly impregnated feet of water. A rough wooden seating with sulphur, and which, very encircled the chamber. Silverwell, a few hundred yards east much from it’s resemblance to the Wigan librarian A.J.Hawkes, when of Harrowgate Spa celebrated Yorkshire Spa, obtained writing ‘Ancient and Loyal’ (a series Boys Well, Scholes the name of new Harrogate. The of historical sketches of the Wigan Millgate Well quantity of Saline matter Borough) in 1930, included a pen and Tea Well, Darlington Street East contained in this water was not so ink sketch (see illustration) of the Wallgate Well considerable as in the Harrogate cottages mentioned above. The Pump Yard, Queen Street Well waters, but it was used with good sketch comes from Dr Prosser White’s Sugar Well, Swinley Lane effect in cutaneous and scorbutic study mentioned earlier. The artist is Bellingham House Well, Wigan (scurvy) disorders, and patients unknown and appears to be initialled Lane frequently obtained perfect cure HB alongside the date of 1899. The Mesnes Well, near Parsons Walk from the use of it. For the view shows an old lady in the Lyon Well, Poolstock accommodation of visitors a foreground and possibly an idealised Barley Brook Well 9

Ephemera from the Archives

Pit Brow Women Go postcards published by floors below the public the extant family of the Atherton Collieries in 1905, searchroom. person the record relates Global! and the broader market of the Restrictions and to. I have always suspected mass produced postcards exemptions which will still • the phone number of the that in it’s heyday the Wigan published by Will Smith’s apply (although even then Argos shop in Wigan! borough was without doubt the Wigan Lane business from usually accessible by relatives world centre for coal mining c.1904 onwards. She also has of those to whom the Requests for information activity - from actually mining analysed the types of documents relate) in relation must be in writing (letter/ vast amounts of coal to the messages to be found on the to requests for information email/fax) and include the study of mining operations, reverse of the cards. from our records will be: enquirer’s name and address from the production of mining Inui considers that, and a description of the equipment to being the home although the representations • information accessible by information required. The of the finest mining legal and of Wigan’s women coal other means, the census, request does not have to engineering brains in King workers in postcards show electoral rolls, internet mention Freedom of Street, and finally as the traces of certain long standing family history resources Information. centre of the premier mining photographic conventions and publications If costs are involved we will college in the world in Library which were established well • documents which may have notify the enquirer of those Street. before the advent of the National Security and await payment before That Wigan’s former postcard, the use of women implications carrying out the research, influence can still be in the workers as an icon for a • sensitive personal files such which will be completed within minds of historians on the particular historical industrial as Hospital and Court no more than 20 days (the other side of the world is some community was definitely an records, and post mortem Archives is single staffed and measure of its reputation. You innovation. and inquest records. Also allowance must me made for may not be aware that Japan certain personal school staff absence due to sickness had quite an extensive coal FOI Trolley Dash records, individual or leave). Standard requests to industry at one time, now assessments or the Archives by general virtually defunct. Over the past Unlikely Since the arrival of punishment records, for researchers working on local year Japanese PhD student Freedom of Information, the example of past pupils still history or family history will Inui Yukiko, who is attached to much vaunted breakthrough in probably alive. Personal still be subject to our local Cambridge University, has public access to many data which comes under clause, whereby we can only been studying the reasoning government and local the Data Protection Act will carry out research for up to 30 behind the production of authority files, a number of still in most cases be minutes, after which we will photographic images related email enquirers to the exempt from access then refer the enquirer to a to women working at collieries. Archives have presumed that • a request for a record for local agent, who will carry out She has been the author of they can now order huge reasons plainly suspected the research for a fee. various studies into mining amounts of documents which to be malicious or to bring Alan Davies communities in Japan. must be produced within a harm or embarrassment to Heritage Officer (Archives) Inui has made very specified time and that all our thorough use of our archives, records can now be viewed, especially the extensive even those which were Bickershaw Church photograph and postcard formerly restricted or had collection, and has kept Len Centenary Open Weekend private embargos on them. Hudson extremely busy In reality virtually nothing making sure no image was Friday 20 May has changed at the Archives. overlooked. An interim Most of our records have PARKSIDE MALE VOICE CHOIR publication has arisen, will perform a concert commencing at 7.30pm in the always been made available, although you will be Church. Tickets from Jack (tel: 01942 513056) or Jackie and we do not hold Wigan disappointed to hear that it is (tel: 01942 708484). Council records post 1974. For typeset in Japanese script, example, we hold certain and is unlikely to be available Saturday 21 May private deposits of records in local bookshops! OPEN DAY 10am - 4pm with displays of local history which had private embargos Her study discusses the use covering the past 100 years, including afternoon games placed on them back in the and activities, refreshments and the crowning of the of images of working women 1970’s and will not be school’s May Queen. focusing on the Wigan area. accessible until 2010. Some These included carte-de-visite general restrictions have Sunday 22 May type images produced by always had to be made due to OPEN DAY from 10am with displays of local history Millard’s studio (formerly on staffing levels or the fragile covering the past 100 years, ending with a Centenary the site of the Victoria Hall) Service at 3pm. Refreshments will be available condition of the records and mainly for the pleasure of throughout the day. also the physical limitations of gentlemen, lantern slides and our strongrooms, being two 10

RAF Strikes, Calcutta 1946 WORLD WAR II was over, and strike. The lowest ebb of his speech statement despatched by Wyatt thousands of troops abroad, after came when, in an extremely plummy “shook him”! Meanwhile, signals years of enduring tropical voice, he said, “I mean, dash it all, from Air Ministry show that ‘Groupy’ conditions, were looking forward chaps, you don’t kick a man when he is in it up to his neck and will have to to returning home to wives, is down, do you?” - to which we all take disciplinary action if strike is not families and girlfriends. However, roared “Yes!” Exit one most broken!! the Government’s arrangements discomfited officer. 28 January 10am. Further meeting, I recorded the momentous days of ‘Taffy’ will no longer lead strikes on for this were painfully slow and the strike at Dum Dum Airport in my such a small minority. ‘Groupy’ opens impinged particularly on RAF diary as follows (‘Groupy’ refers to meeting by appeal for return to work, personnel who were deliberately Group Captain Slee, our Station having received more signals from Air targeted for slower release than Commander, and ‘Taffy’ to our Welsh Ministry stating disciplinary action the Army and Navy. strike leader, who had a wealth of will have to be taken etc. Then leaves The undercurrent of irritation and experience of strikes in Civvy Street): us to talk it over. Eventually majority resentment gradually built up until it 25 January 8pm. Strike meeting in favours deadline of 14 days. ‘Groupy’ found an outlet in strikes which hanger, ‘Groupy’ also present - tries to recalled, and thanks us in heartfelt broke out at RAF stations in the answer grievances re demob etc, but manner!! Work resumes from 6pm. Middle East, India and beyond in frankly admits sympathy with our A key undertaking was given by January 1946. In most cases, the cause. Would strike himself if he was ‘Groupy’ that there was to be no grievances concerned tardy an airman! Manipur (original strikers) victimisation as a result of the strike. demobilisation and repatriation, and resume work today. We have quite a However, the Warrant Officer in caused deep embarrassment to the good spokesman (‘Taffy’). Resolution charge of my section decided to ban Government, to say nothing about the to strike carried amidst enthusiastic our days off, except for a certain top brass whose thinking was limited roars! Starts from midnight tonight. Corporal who (for some reason I to “strikes? No such thing in HM Expectations to strike: cooks, medics, forget) did not join the strike. This Forces - it’s mutiny!” The RAF top and ration wagon drivers. Strikes was clearly against the undertaking man in the South East Asian occurring in other parts of India - also given by the Station Commander, so command was a New Zealander and Ceylon and Middle East - and all are in Corporal McIlroy and myself bearded hard liner, Air Chief Marshall Sir Transport Command. the Warrant Officer in his den to Keith Park, whose basic philosophy 26 January. On strike! Meeting make sure that was his intention. He for delivering with mutineers was to called for 12pm. Grievances put to openly admitted it and said, angrily “bring in the Army and shoot ‘em!” Major Wyatt. He attempts to answer thumping his desk, “furthermore, I What particularly incensed us at them, but has to admit to several of am the C O of this section so you can the Dum Dum Airport was the our points. Groupy and Air go and moan to whoever you like”. Government’s stock reply that there Commodore also present. Air We took him at his word and went was a shortage of shipping. At the Commodore reads out two signals just straight back across the airstrip to the same time, we were receiving received from ‘ high- ups’ which more Squadron Leader and reported what newspapers from home which were or less are the consequences of had happened. We had hardly got full of headline news about large ‘mutiny’. This does not improve back to the section when the Warrant liners such as Queen Mary being used matters! Now comes split in our own Officer stomped in, face black as to ship G I Brides back to the USA - ranks. I line up with minority in thunder, and said, “Much against my yet the Air Ministry persisted in favour of giving Government seven will, I’ve had to restore the days off.” telling us that they couldn’t bring us day deadline, during which time we I could see he was awfully mad about back because of a shortage of resume work; failing reply, we resume our victory and thought “that’s shipping! They even had the nerve to strike. Majority, however, favour goodbye to any future promotion add that the water outside Bombay continuing strike ‘till reasonable reply prospects for me!”. Later, he sent for Harbour was not deep enough for received from Air Ministry. Corporal McIlroy and me to give us a large liners, so that men would have 27 January 12pm. Another dressing down about going over his to be conveyed out to them by tender. meeting. Written vote taken on issue, head - when all we had done was to Needless to say, we said we did not ‘deadline’ or ‘strike’. 3pm, result of follow his own advice to “moan to mind in the slightest being tendered voting: for ‘strike’ 368, for ‘deadline’ whoever you like”! out! 344. Therefore, ‘Taffy’ (admitting to The strikes did have a noticeable This was the context within which changing his mind to ‘deadline’ effect on demobilisation and demobs I became a mutineer at Calcutta’s voting) is still with the strikers, but and repats schedules quickly Dum Dum airport. During the strike appeals to minority to fall in with increased in tempo. There were, there, a Parliamentary delegation majority decision. This change of however, still anxious waits in arrived, which included Major mind due to committee meeting at Bombay where we scanned the Woodrow Wyatt MP, who fought 9am with ‘Groupy’ and Air horizon day after day for signs of valiantly on our behalf in Parliament. Commodore. He sees three foolscap shipping. Another member was a young fresh- sheets, prepared and sent off by I was eventually demobbed on 7 faced officer (apparently straight from Major Wyatt - and received in June and married five days later. training college) who made a pathetic ‘Blighty’ early this morning. Close thing! appearance at the microphone to Convinces himself that Wyattt was C Miller supplement pleas for calling of the with us after all, and admits that the Wigan 11

CD Roms 1841 and 1851 Census of Lancashire Family History Project News Our Friends and other local researchers have been once more beavering away on our behalf and this month have produced some excellent CD-ROMS. Keith Openshaw has, for some time, been indexing Cemetery records for Atherton and Tyldesley. Thanks to him you will now be able to search Tyldesley cemetery for 1878- 1953 and Atherton 1857-1899. As a bonus, Keith has also indexed St. George’s, Tyldesley burials 1825-1938. His work is continuing for Atherton cemetery 1900-1960. Paper copies of all these indexes will soon be available at Leigh. Received also this month from Freda Chorlton is the first part of the indexes to Wigan Lower Ince Cemetery. This covers Sept 1856 – July 1865. Additions to The Taylor Gallery Web-sites www.Ian-opc.org.uk Donations This interesting site aims to provide information on towns ACKERS, Peter Christian Brethren, Union Brother and parishes in Lancashire. Keith Openshaw (mentioned RIGBY, G St. Thomas, Up Holland. Index to marriages1600 above concerning burials at Atherton and Tyldesley) has been – June 1837 (now complete to 2004) heavily involved with providing memorial inscriptions and SWIFT, E.A. (Transcriber) Bishop Bridgeman’s ledger 1616- burials for St. Stephens’ Church, Astley. These are now 1642 available online at the above web-address. Burials 1754-1926 1901 CENSUS INDEX to are covered with graveyard plan and photographs of Bispham Lathom Burscough Skelmersdale RG13 interesting memorials. 3545/46 Other parts of the borough are also listed, notably St John the Divine, Pemberton. Index to marriages 1835- Atherton, which has Atherton mining deaths, information on 1926 the various pits, photographs of pits and churches. Under Wigan you will find names of persons who put their names to SURNAME INDEXES (CD ROM) to: the 1641 Protestation of loyalty oath and also a Window Tax Tyldesley Cemetery Oct 1878 – Jan 1953 Assesment for 1768. Some excellent pictures also. A site to Atherton Cemetery Feb 1857 – 1899 watch for future development. St George’s Tyldesley Oct 1825 – June 1938 www.irishorigins.com Like Englishorigins, this is a pay per view site, but this time SURNAME INDEX (CD ROM) to: allowing access to Irish records such as Griffiths valuation Wigan Lower Ince Cemetery Sept 1856 – July 1865 1847-1864, a “a substitute census” and Griffiths survey maps and plans. In addition there is also an Irish Wills Index Genealogy of 100,000 names covering the years 1484-1858, Dublin City Family and Local History Handbook 8th edition census 1851, a militia attestations index 1872-1915 and Irish passenger lists for 1890 to US destinations from Irish Ports. General At £3.75 for 72 hours access, monthly access for £7.95 and RICHARDS, Eric Britannia’s Children 304.80941 annual membership for £22.50, this will hardly break the WINDER, R Bloody Foreigners: the story of immigration to bank. Britain 325.41 MUNBY, Lionel How much is that worth? 339.47 www.british genealogy.com The site’s introduction says that it is dedicated to assisting Schools in Wartime 371.009044 people with their British family history research and in CONDER, Tony Canal narrowboats and barges 386.226 particular to provide this for free. For the beginner there is an MUNBY, Lionel M Dates and times: a handbook for local explanation of sources available and lists resources by county. historians 529.3 Unfortunately the site is not fully operational and no Make do and mend 640.41 information has been inputted specifically for Lancashire as PATTEN, Marguerite The wartime kitchen 641.5 yet. However, as an example of what is free, is a JONES, Gillian Lancashire professional photographers 1840 Gloucestershire 1841 Census place index which seems really – 1940 770.254 276 to me to be a thinly veiled advertisement for Archive CD Books MORRIS, Graham Wigan Rugby League Football Club who happen to sponsor the site. However, they have a Forum 796.3331 section which you may find useful. BILTON, David The Home Front in the Great War 940.3 Ô ARTHUR, M Forgotten voices of the 2nd World War Correction 940.5481 Apologies for not crediting the excellent wiganworld VICTORIA COUNTY HISTORIES History of the County of website to its creator, Brian Elsey, in the last issue. Oxford vol XIV 942.57 12

Dear Mr. Gillies, (nee Taylor) whom he I commend you on the Hilton/Pugh Genealogy married in Wigan in latest issue of Past 1904 and their children - Forward. Your magazine back in 2001 (issue 27), I 139 Cale Lane. She possibly William Stanley is eagerly awaited in this submitted an article to married John William b. 1905, Thomas James neck of the woods, and your magazine regarding HILTON in 1897 at St. b. 1908, May b. 1910, perused with great the Hilton Family, entitled Thomas’ and St. James’ John b. 1912 and anticipation in the hope “From Aspull to Church in Poolstock . She Elizabeth b. 1917. of finding mention of Australia”; this article resided for some years in Photo two is a mystery places and people that brought forth contact Bolney Street, where the engine – the name on the may have been with descendants of my family grew to five side of the Engine could associated with my family who filled in lots children, the eldest girls be “SHAH” and I take it maternal family. I must, of gaps and detail to the Annie and Olive, to be in Wigan therefore, express Hilton/Greenhalgh/Hindley attending St. Johns somewhere. I hope the appreciation to Neil Cain connections. Church, New Springs. photographs may trigger for his article “Barm My maternal grand- The family came to the memory of someone Cakes in the Pantry” mother was SARAH ANN Australia in 1912. Sarah out there and also bring (issue 36 p31) as he PUGH, daughter of kept in touch with her me in contact with mentions many of the Thomas and Jane (nee younger brother James, further family places I have found Hughes). Sarah Ann but sadly no letters have descendants relevant to my was born in Pontesbury survived. I have, I extend again my grandfather’s childhood but the family came to however, salvaged congratulations on your in Aspull, and suitably reside in Poolstock after several photos from the excellent publication and enthused me once more 1881 and are shown on family album and enclose eagerly await the arrival to try and establish the 1891 census as two of these. of the next issue. further successes, this residing in Byrom Street, Photo one is of my Elspeth Bradbury time with my Poolstock – Sarah Ann maternal grandmother’s 31 Dalwood Close grandmother’s side of the was working as a servant youngest brother, Jim Eleebana NSW 2282 family. at the Commercial Inn Pugh, his wife Elizabeth AUSTRALIA My grandfather, John William Hilton, was born at Top Lock in 1868; Withington Lane and Haigh Hall, Bickershaw Church and Upholland also feature in the Hilton family records that I have gathered, and so it was quite a thrill to see these places featured, and helped add a little more to the picture of where my forebears resided. Way Mary Ann Whittle S.O.S Dear Sir Jane, at 1 Colliers Yard, off Ince Green Mr Ronald Whittle, who formerly I would be grateful if you could Lane, Ince-in-Makerfield, in 1881; she lived in Hindley and went to Argyle possibly print the request below in your had several brothers and sisters. In Street Secondary Modern School, newspaper. I am researching my family 1897 she married Robert Whittle, and would like to contact old school friends, history, and most of my family came they had a son Robert, born in 1901 (he in particular Robert Fairhurst, who last from the Wigan area, but I now live in was my grandad, and married Bertha he heard, was living in Farnworth, Crewe. Your readers are out there with Critchley). I would like to know where Bolton. Ronald left school in the the information that I need! The men in any of these people are buried, or any Summer of 1956 and lived at my family were miners; I am proud of information or photographs that could Hawthorn Avenue, Hindley Green and that, and therefore want to make sure help me with my search. Please contact Borsdane Avenue. that future generations do not forget me if you can help, thank you. If you know of an address for Robert their roots. Jean Bennett Fairhurst or would like to contact CAN YOU HELP ME? I am looking for (nee Telford) Ronald his address is 8 Gardenfields anyone who knew Mary Ann Whittle nee 20 Davenham Crescent Close, Irthlingborough, Northants, NN9 Humphries. She was born in 1871, and Crewe CW2 7RZ 5XZ Tel: 07949 664939. was living with her parents, George and e-mail: Jeangeniexaol.com Continued on page 14 13

grandmother’s sisters – Robert Taylor, from Wigan to Sydney Family History she very kindly took copies Dear Christine, and posted them to me. We You may be able to give me some advice re Robert hope to meet up sometime Taylor born 11 September 1791 in Wigan. His parents are next week. I am now the George Taylor and Mary Marsden. proud owner of two Robert married Margaret Hough 30 Jan 1814 in Wigan and they had a daughter Ann born 7 February 1815. photographs of James Robert had a brother George Taylor born 22 March 1789. Lowe’s daughters – Alice George married Hannah Topping 17 July 1814 and they Continued from page 13 and Ellen. had a son John born 1 January 1816 in Wigan. Without all of your help I I have found the above information from the IGI and it fits with information I have here in Sydney Australia. would not have achieved Robert Taylor was convicted in the Lancashire Assizes Lowes of Wigan such success. Thank you on 20 March 1819 and transported for 7 years; he arrived Dear Christine, once again. in Sydney on 27 January 1820. He had a daughter Ann Susan Williams Taylor who married a John Higham; they had six children I thought you would be in Sydney, the first one being born in 1840. interested to hear about a Robert Taylor made a lot of money in Sydney and was a success story from the Since I received this letter very big landowner; however, he left his estate to his article about James Lowe from Susan she has nephew John Taylor, formerly from Wigan. Robert died in informed me that another 1850 aged 58, before formal registration of deaths, so the which appeared in issue 37 parish register does not give any family information. of Past Forward. contact has been made So the above IGI information sort of fits the picture. Two weeks ago I received which has yielded more Lynette Henery a letter from a lady in photos but of James Lowe’s gggggranddaughter of Robert sister. Sydney Australia Wigan who had Can any Past Forward readers assist Lynette? photographs of one of my CW CW Readers Photographs

Editor’s Note This fascinating selection of photogrpahs has been kindly donated by Harry Walls of Orrell. Hopefully some readers may be able to add to the information given. Harry’s recollections of his Canal Life can be found on page 24.

Above and far left: Abram St Johns Concert Party, 14 June 1916. Performers identified on the back of the photographs as (standing) Edward Gorton, Wilson, Hesketh, R. Cunliffe, Wilson, (seated) Sharrock, L. Birchall, Peter Gorton (the old Lady), David Parry and Lily.

Taken on Crankwood Road, Abram by William Walls. He has written on the back: “My pal Len Appleton who played football with me for Abram Parish Church and later went to play first for Joe and Emmie - Blackpool, then on to Exeter Taken in front of Timberlake’s Motorcycle Showroom, otherwise unidentified. and later Southport”. Wigan, 1930’s. Rider unidentified.

14

ANNE BROADHURST

ANNE was born at the turn of the who enjoyed national celebrity. for her 1934 concert at London’s century in Tonge Moor Road. Her Regular broadcasts were to follow Grotrian Hall. But by the end of father, Mr. William Broadhurst, from Manchester and Cork, the 1930’s her popularity was was also to make his mark locally Ireland. International recognition beginning to wane. In April 1935, during his 91 years. He became came in 1932 when she visited she married William Hector President of Leigh Literary Leipzig, Germany, to combine Prescott, third son of Mr & Mrs Society, and later represented the performing with studying under David Prescott of Walmsley Road, Culcheth Ward on Golborne Urban Elena Gerhardt. Hailed by the Leigh, and set up home in Bolton District Council. Germans as the ‘Perfect Singer of with her new husband. The family soon moved to Lieder’, she returned the Journalism attracted her briefly, Culcheth and Anne won a place at following year and was one of the and her knowledge was put to Leigh Girls’ Grammar School. Her few foreign artists to stay when good use, as she wrote reviews for musical talent quickly became the Nazis took control. both the Bolton Evening News obvious, and upon leaving she On her return to Leigh she gave and The Guardian. Her love of attended Manchester’s Northern ‘Voice Production and Singing music endured and, in 1950, she College of Music. There her Lessons’ from her home at 4 was elected Chairman of Bolton contralto voice was trained to Clovelly Avenue, Leigh. The Musical Artists’ Association. perfection, and she was soon lessons were a huge success and, Gradually, however, she faded performing at concerts all over interestingly enough, her from public view, and eventually Lancashire. newspaper advertisements died peacefully at her home on 29 However, her really big break highlight the scarcity of private December 1993, aged 93. She had came when she successfully telephone numbers at the time - no children, but was survived by auditioned for the BBC’s 2ZY her number was simply 450. her sister, Adelaide, who lived in Radio Station in the 1920’s. At this time she was still Culcheth. Despite radio being in its infancy, performing and earned rave Tony Ashcroft she was soon a family favourite reviews from the national press Local History Officer (Leigh)

THIS is a true football David’s one defender story dating back to a chased after the ball as it few years before the HARD TO BELIEVE crossed the goal line. 1914-1918 war. Sam McCartney and Albert although they got extra In true sporting style, The match was played in Huxley. “What can we do?” rations being only a three hands were shaken and the the Church League between he asked, “shall we man team! The match league lived up to its motto St. Catharines of Wigan and cancel?” ended after 90 minutes - no engraved on the medals, St. David’s Haigh, at St. Without hesitation the stoppage time in those “Honour Before All Else”. Catharines. Unfortunately answer was “no sir, we’ll days. The reporter from the Just as important as the the wagonette due to play them!” The three Bolton Evening News went result in those days. There convey the St. David’s team discussed tactics and off to write his piece. (The was an evening fixture the did not arrive at the decided to play two article was kept as a same day at Haigh. The Balcarres Arms as forwards and 1 defender souvenir for many years but three heroes were rested, arranged. However, three (no goalkeeper). The few unfortunately cannot be although they did actually players, who had walked spectators grew to a crowd found). turn up to play. Two from Red Rock where they of over 100 as news of this The unbelievable final matches in one day and a lived, did arrive, as did the unusual game spread. score was St. Catharines 1 full-time job! Vicar of St. David’s, at that Tactics were to dribble until St David’s 13. On returning This is a true story told to time the much respected surrounded by opponents to Haigh the three had to myself by Mr Joe Huxley Rev. James. The Vicar then pass to each other or explain how St. Catharines whose father was Albert called the three together drop exhausted. had managed to score! It Huxley, one of the heroes of (unfortunately one name is At change round they was a long clearance by the the day. lost in the mist of time but were certainly ready for the St. Catharine’s full back J Burns the other two forwards were usual slice of lemon, from his own half and St. Aspull Wigan 15

Halcyon Days with the Clarion WHEN Bill asked me if he could buy or build one I would talk to you, I Dear Sir himself. But before I could join I had to go on a trial wasn’t quite sure what Reading through some of my old scribblings, I wondered if you would be interested in printing the run with Jack and his friend I was going to say; but enclosed notes, for they are 60 years old. The names of Roy. Trial night was Thursday then I thought about the people I have mentioned are no longer with us, but night, and what a night it why not talking about had they been they would have been pleased to see was. Try to visualise the something I had really their names in print and remembered. scene; they are on enjoyed doing, I thoroughly enjoy reading Past Forward which lightweight bikes, and I brings back such happy memories to me. Thank you for bringing to mind my was on the very heavy such a good production. ‘Gazelle’. We left Atherton, own cycling days. Nancy Strand Boardman heading for Warburton No doubt many of you Blackpool Bridge. It couldn’t have will have cycled at the same been a rougher night, and time, whether it be around did anything unless he had thought cycling down Holcroft Lane Atherton, cycling to work or maybe everything through. The new was shear hard work. The wind with a cycling club, as I did model was a ‘Raleigh Gazelle’, a sit was head on, but I battled on, eventually. My first bike was up bike. It weighed a ton and cost determined to show them that I shared with my brother Jack. It was wasn’t just a girl. Of course they £3.7s.6d. The day I called for my a very small cycle, as we weren’t made light work of it but informed bike, if someone had given me the very old. It was second-hand and me I had to lead. Have you ever Bank of England I couldn’t have cost 3s.6d. We decided it needed a done this? I was in a state of been happier! However, the months new coat of paint, so we painted it collapse by the time we arrived. ahead with no spending money silver and called it the ‘Silver You have to keep up with were very hard; there was no way Streak’. It looked a silver mess but everybody if you join the club, or my dad would change our the hours of happiness it gave us you will be left behind. I believed agreement. It was a hard lesson, but meant it was worth every penny. all they said, but then realised they one I remember to this day. We damaged more spokes and were teasing me, and replied I Perhaps you remember that buckled the wheels trying to do wasn’t going to be the next ladies and gents’ cycles had a case trick cycling, until my mother collapsed member of any club. covering the chain; this bike was no finally refused to pay any more exception, and I became quite adept money for repairs. This was the at removing it and putting the chain Filthy from head to toe end of the ‘Silver Streak’, and no back on, until I finally discarded it doubt the little bike was glad to see through frustration. I also soon However, nothing ventured the back of us, even when it was learned to remove tyres and inner nothing gained, and I joined the carted away on the rag and bone tubes when necessary. other club members at the Leigh cart. obelisk on the Market Place. I have In my early teens I decided Leigh Clarion cycling never seen a more motley crowd in another bike of my own would save my life. There were about 40 in all, on time going to and from work, club ranging from 10 to 72 years. You and I had grand ideas of riding to can imagine the various models of many places of interest. Having put Whilst the War was on my all descriptions, nothing like the the idea to my dad, he decided after brother and his friend met some models today. The outfits we wore considerable thought that, since I older cyclists who informed them had to be seen to be believed – had only £1 to my name, he would that the old Leigh Clarion Cycling remember, there had been a war. I look at a bike at Radcliffe’s Cycle Club was being revived and would was very smart with white linen Shop, and then decide whether I they be interested in joining. Jack tennis shorts and a white could have one. He would pay for it immediately commandeered the lightweight jacket. Can you and I would have to forget my ‘Gazelle’ bike, so that I, of course, imagine white on a wet drizzly day? weekly spending money of 1s. It was left with no transport at all - Since many of the bikes didn’t took several weeks before a until he thought of borrowing my decision was made - my dad never brother’s ‘racer’, which he did, until Ô 16

possess mudguards, we usually cheek, “yes, that is your egg, I’ve stop until it was rectified. Nobody arrived home filthy from head to specially fried it”. was left alone. The blind boy I toe. A few had souwesters or caps. mentioned and his friend were My first club ride was to Parkgate ‘Sit up and beg’ returning home when the cross bar on the Wirral, with tea at Frodsham. snapped. Fortunately neither of After that I decided this was going In every club there are characters, them was hurt, they returned (by to be fun, so I joined the Leigh and we were no exception. Our bus) to meet us for tea and the club Clarion Cycling club. The oldest member was Mr Jim Cooke, organised the bike to be transported subscription per year was 6s.6d., affectionately called Pa Cooke. He home. There was no panic, just which carried coverage for accident never said anything without a relief that they were ok. and entitled a person to use the twinkle in his eye, and the tales he Two of our favourite calling places facilities and reduced rates at the told! Then there was Fred who was were Ma Ormies (Mrs Ormeshers) at Clarion club or teahouses. So many blind, and rode a tandem with his Clayton Green and the tearoom at applied to join, and I became a friend Ernie. He didn’t suffer fools Broom Edge, where there was a committee member - not that I gladly. Two teenage boys, who were piano. We had wonderful singsongs knew anything about committees, deaf and dumb, were always up to after tea before we returned home, but I soon learned. The club was some prank or other. Mr Leonard many a time singing along the way. flourishing, so we contacted the was a widower with three teenage For our annual dinner and Journal (the local paper) with our children who were also club presentation of trophies, we booked forthcoming events, and a short members. He was the sage of the the Greyhound Hotel in Leigh. write up for the sports page. Every group, and loved by everyone. Joe - Social events, dances and potato pie week I submitted an entry and, what can I say about him? One look suppers were held at the Buck Street because it was classed as sport, and it was grins all around! He rode Hall, Leigh and the Leigh Unitarian there was no charge. I was quite a very heavy ‘sit up and beg’ bike - Church Hall. We always made sure pleased about that. his pride and joy - but he didn’t care we left everything tidy, otherwise Each year there was an Easter a lot and made us smile on many a we wouldn’t be allowed to book again. meet; the venue was changed every dismal day. year. This was the highlight of the We had to organise an A and B year. It was an occasion when we section after our first invitation run, Chained to the ‘wringers’ met friends from far and wide. After in the Journal. It would have been the business meeting, there was a impractical and dangerous to be on By now I had bought a new bike huge social event; special road races the roads in such a large contingent. frame, a ‘Tour de France’ with its (time trials) and visiting places of The A section were the most many gears, but I never used these. interest were also included. experienced in distance riding and I preferred to use a fixed gear, I felt more in control. Now this really was Everything we needed for the the B section were able to cycle at a more leisurely speed. Each section my ultimate in a bicycle, when it weekend was carried in the saddle would meet at the end of the day for was specially built for me. I and paper bags, including whatever tea; this was important. The rule of remember the pride I felt on my first food we could take. Remember the club was to ride to the slowest day out with the club. everything was still on ration. rider, but, of course, there were Unfortunately a week or two later There were no crease resistant always the teenage boys who my mother decided, as it was a very clothes, so it was difficult to unpack wanted to do their own thing, which snowy morning, there would be no and find anything that wasn’t would have caused havoc. This cycling for my brother and I, so she creased, but we were there to enjoy wasn’t allowed for the reasons I chained and padlocked it to the ourselves. We usually slept in a have stated and there had to be a ‘wringers’. Since we couldn’t find school hall with a pillowcase to certain amount of discipline from all the key to unlock it, we had to play sleep on, and a grey blanket. Males aspects. the wowing game, until my dad got in one section and girls in the other. Mostly we took packed lunches, so fed up with all the hassle that he There were times when there was but there were also club tea houses persuaded my mother to unlock the difficulty in finding the correct which could supply a certain bikes and let us go. She never did it section, but the person in charge amount of food if it was ordered in again for we hid the padlock! sorted them out in no certain advance, which I used to do. It was The miles we covered, the fresh manner! Breakfasts were made in very basic - if it was a farm we were air and fun, the friends we made - the school kitchen; sometimes we lucky enough to have an egg, a little and have kept to the present day - used the British Restaurant if open. bacon, sausage and sometimes are wonderful. I kept my ‘Tour de There were never enough pans or beans, and it always tasted so good France’ bike for 41 years and then utensils, but somehow we after being in the fresh air. Did you sold it to a young boy interested in managed. It could be quite know most cyclists drink lots of tea? cycling. My three children had hilarious, when one boy who was The saying was “A good short hair ridden at the same time in their rather spoiled demanded that he cut and a mug of hot tea will turn lives, but were never interested had the egg he had brought, and he you into a cyclist.” I wonder! enough to take it up as a hobby. had even put his name on it! Each Should there be a problem with They can’t possibly know what day I said to him, with tongue in anyone’s bike the whole club would they’ve missed! 17

FRIENDS NEWS had heard about the workshops, 57% Family History Workshops said they read it in Past Forward. Despite the statistic above, only 14% IT IS beginning to turn into a regular The best measure, however, is to let said that the workshops had been Past Forward feature just to let you all you speak. From our feedback sheets recommended by a friend or relative. know how the last series of Family we find that a remarkable 100% so far So until you do start spreading the History Workshops went and to tell you have had their expectations of the word, you will have to put up with more about the dates for the next. So here we session met, with comments such as articles like this in the pages of Past go again…… ‘excellent’, ‘yes but there is so much Forward.! The last of the current series of information I’ll definitely be back’, ‘very It is very important, however, to get Family History Workshops, kindly run much so’, ‘yes, very clear’. in print the next series of workshops. for us by the dedicated Friends of Wigan Other comments on the sheets are Allowing a couple of months lay off for Heritage Service, is scheduled for just as encouraging, ‘cost was the Friends to recover, we hope to begin Wednesday 6 April 2005, with the reasonable and length and format the workshops again in June this year normal two start times of 1.30pm and excellent’, ‘not long enough!’ ‘very and to try running some over the 3.00pm. informative’, ‘very helpful’, ‘I had longer summer. As this traditionally is a There were some changes made to than anticipated and enjoyed the slightly quieter period, with the counter- the original format for this the fourth session’, ‘the session was exactly what attraction of holidays, the sessions will series of Workshops. The main one of a beginner needs’, ‘the time was just be every three weeks. these is that participants now have to right, everything was well explained’, ‘I book and pay in advance, so making a appreciated the info relating to my 22 June 2005, History Shop firm commitment; in return they receive family’. 1.30 & 3.00 pm the handout notes also in advance, so Perhaps the best measure, though, is that more can be gained from the the question on the sheet ‘Would you be 13 July 2005, History Shop session. happy to recommend our service to 1.30 & 3.00 pm Once again we are claiming that it others?’ Over 93% of you said you 3 August 2005, History Shop has been a great success. The sessions would, one was undecided! 1.30 & 3.00 pm so far have all been booked up - indeed, This is, of course, fantastic reward at the time of going to press, three for our hard working Friends, who do 24 August 2005, History Shop sessions have been held and there are not always receive the thanks they are 1.30 & 3.00 pm three still to go. The next session is full, due, and great news for all the people 14 September 2005, History Shop the penultimate session has two slots who have benefited so much from 1.30 & 3.00 pm remaining out of six and the final taking part. However, one final thought session still has four. - when asked where the participants The arrangements will be the same as for this series, with booking essential, the fee of £2.50 payable in FRIENDS OF WIGAN HERITAGE SERVICE advance and the Family History pack distributed before the session. The very Name ...... best features of the sessions of course remain - one-to-one tuition from an Address ...... experienced genealogist, tour of the ...... History Shop study area, free use of the machines and facilities with advice and Interests ...... guidance as to the next steps. The general approach is for the beginner, ...... but more advanced workshops can be Please enclose £5 subscription for one year’s membership. Cheque/P.O. payable to Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust. Please return to the History Shop, Library Street, Wigan arranged. Similarly, if the Wednesday WN1 1NU. afternoon slot does not suit your Remember your subscription entitles you to a priority mailing of Past Forward three circumstances other times can be times a year, starting with the currrent issue unless you request otherwise. arranged. N.B. If you do not wish to cut this coupon out, a cheque along with your details on plain Please ring the History Shop with paper is fine. your requirements or to book on 01942 828128. 18

HISTORY SHOP NEWS Past Forward Survey subscribers, 103 declared it value for The ‘other’ nominations of interest money! were In the last issue we reported our initial • Industry findings from the Past Forward survey Value for money • Competitions that was conducted in 2004. In this % Subscribers – positive 98.9 • New publications issue we are happy to bring you the full % Subscribers – negative 1.06 • Old maps story. Right from the outset, when the • Old photos surveys were distributed in issue 37, we As they say there’s always one! knew we were going to be in for a high We asked if you knew that the response. The forms kept on flowing All respondents were then asked to magazine was produced by Wigan rate the magazine on content, back to us, so much so that we had to Heritage Service; a reassuring 92% quality, frequency, legibility and extend the original October 2004 cut off of you said you were. We asked if you enjoyment. date as they just kept coming. In the The results are absolutely had ever used the Heritage Service in end over 150 replies came in from outstanding (rated on a 1-5 scoring any respect, in person, by post, email or existing customers, mailing list regulars basis with 1 being poor and 5 telephone; 82.75% of you said you had. and first time readers alike. This is a excellent). A sizeable percentage, 58.9, said they tremendous sample and more than had visited the History Shop. enough to build an accurate picture of where we are now with the magazine On a subsequent satisfaction rating and what you might like to see in the question regarding that visit future. We would like to say a great big thank you to everyone who replied; without your support we could not have made Past Forward the huge success it undoubtedly is, and without your opinions we would not be able to make it even better. Survey Report Total returns 168

We asked if you found the Heritage Service staff friendly / helpful / knowledgeable; only 0.75% had anything negative to say, with the other 99% of respondents being very positive indeed. For the record 79.8% of the total did express their views. On the question of the service being About the magazine easy to access, • 71.4% expressed their views The respondents were asked what • 95.8% were satisfied or much better interested them most in the • 4.2% were of the opinion that magazine; they were invited to tick all boxes that applied. The % figures are certain elements were hard to the proportion out of the total sample access. for each category. Your interests We asked about our photographs

Those who subscribed were then asked if they thought the magazine subscription offered value for money. Some got a little carried away at this question as, although only 94 people Actual Numbers responded positively to being Continued on page 20 19

HISTORY SHOP NEWS General Comments User Survey • 96% of all respondents rated the Finally your comments were invited on venue, the facilities and the staff any aspect of the magazine or the We have also been consulting on the either good or excellent and a service. The response was excellent. Heritage Service overall and in similar figure rated their Here are just some of the many particular our main venue, the satisfaction with the visit as good comments, complements and History Shop. Some details from or above occasional criticisms you voiced. this were released last time, but it • demographics show that 88% does no harm to go over them again. So once again a big thank you for your The questionnaire covers all are in the over 40 age brackets time and trouble completing the Heritage Service venues and these while 51% are over 60 questionnaire. Thank you also for your figures are combined (over 75% of • 67% of visitors from within WN kind words and positive comments; respondents visited the History postcodes, with 91% from the without your opinion we cannot move Shop). wider North West region forward to improve our magazine. • 74% of visits were for research These results are extremely purposes; encouraging, but they do indicate Prize Draw that so far we have only reached the The questionnaire also gave • of these 91% visited for family research visitors. It is far more details of the Heritage prize draw. history, 16% for local history difficult to consult with exhibition Everyone who completed the • the most used resources among viewers and general browsers questionnaire for us and supplied through this sort of passive survey. this group were the microfilms at However, we have visitor books and their contact details was eligible to 75% and the microfiche at 30% enter. The first three names out of comment books in the varous venues, and visitor comments from the hat were: • 77% of this group rated their visit as excellent specific shows, such as ‘Wigan Mrs Norma Peach from Prescot Casino’, are likely to be valuable Mr S Taylor from Abram • 68% rated the staff excellent feedback sources. Mrs Elsie Edwards from Grantham, Lincolnshire Well done to each of you. You will be receiving one of the three prizes specified – a framed photo of your choice, a copy of Wigan – a Historical Souvenir or a set of Fred Holcroft’s local history booklets.

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HISTORY SHOP NEWS

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Haigh & Wigan I have been forced to accept that Wigan design taken from a series The patterns at the edge of the at the moment I cannot find the of colour prints will fill the gap. design (top, left and right) are time to obtain the necessary All the items in the design based on the tombs and figures in information to produce another have links with the Crawford the Bradshaigh/Balcarres Crawford drawing for a further township in family and their ancestors, Chapel (sometimes known as The the ongoing series that has been with particular relevance to Lady Chapel) in Wigan Parish appearing in Past Forward. the links between Haigh Hall Church. However, I trust the Haigh and and Wigan. The two marble monuments are the work of Florentine artists. The one on the left is in memory of Earl 25 DOORWAYS Alexander and his wife; the other is The 25 Doorways quiz in the previous issue of Past Forward created a considerable a memorial to Maria Margaret amount of interest and I believe several people were seen around town looking and France, wife of Earl James. in a few cases taking photographs of doors.Proceeds from the project, linked with a fund raising coffee morning, which seems to have become an annual event, raised The tracery superimposed on the over £950 for Wigan and Leigh Hospice. Prints have now been presented to two prize design is from the window behind winners - Mrs Kathy Bird of Buckinghamshire but formerly from Wigan and Mrs the chapel altar, where Lady Jane Brenda Lythgoe of Elmers Green. Evelyn Lindsay designed a stained I hope readers from around the region will be pleased to know that next year my glass window in memory of her intention is to produce a design which features skylines taken from every part of the father Earl Alexander William. borough. I will be most annoyed if I fail to manage this, even though I am well aware Other items, reading as far as that for various reasons to make definite promises is dangerous. possible in lines from left to right In the answers to the quiz, I have included a few details of the history of some of the and from the top to foot of design buildings, but much more information could no doubt be added. include . . . . I also found the answers received to Question 26 (‘suggest another doorway’) very interesting and hope the time might come when some could be incorporated into a painting. the Parish Church and gateway, 1. Tote, near GPO in Wallgate, once Barclay’s Bank. Dairy Cottage and Gothic Cottages 2. Cafe, in Mesnes Park Terrace. in Sennicar Lane at Haigh 3. Platt and Fishwick in King Street, on the site of the Wigan Dispensary; it was originally Wigan Savings Bank. Home Farm and outbuildings 4. Doorway in Buckingham Row, alongside a house, occupied by Walmsley’s Insurance, at the foot of Dicconson Street. Haigh Hall, built 1830’s, to the 5. Tower Building, opposite NW Railway Station, with strong links with the Freemasons. designs of the 24th Earl of 6. Drumcroon Education Art Centre since 1980; previously a doctor’s surgery. Crawford 7. Parish Church side door. ‘Haighlands’, a fine stone house, 8. Looking into the café area at the Queen’s Hall; a 1985 replacement alongside the main entrance. built on the site of a tannery for Sir 9. Bradford and Bingley Building Society, on the site of the first Moot Hall. Colin Lindsay, but he said it was 10. John Dean, International Bride, 5 Powell Street. too low and too small 11. Franco’s Restaurant, with Westwood Estate Office still inscribed above the doorway. Lathom House, the original estate 12. Mab’s Cross School, previously the Girl’s High School. office 13. Town Hall, originally the Mining and Technical College. 14. Gerrard Winstanley House, former Magistrate’s Court - where the two local M.P’s have Mab’s Cross Primary School, known offices. to an earlier generation as Wigan 15. Post Office, Wallgate. Girl’s High School 16. Main door to 18th century town house in Millgate - remembered by many as part of Pennington’s furniture store. Mab’s Cross, just outside the school 17. Claremont Dental Practice, Mesnes Street. wall. Linked with the story of Lady 18. Thomas Cook Travel Agents, Market Place. Mabel’s penance and barefooted 19. Rodney Street entrance to the library building designed by Sir Alfred Waterhouse - walk, and adapted by Sir Walter now the History Shop. Scott for his novel ‘The Betrothed’ 20. Walmsley’s Insurance Office, Dicconson Street; on the opposite side of the road to the firm’s main office. the windmill, built to pump water to 21. Hallgate entrance to ‘Crofters’, with colourful tiles surrounding the doorway. the brewery near St. David’s Church 22. CCArt (Present Trend), prints and picture framers, Hallgate entrance. 23. Little Theatre; the only doorway in the quiz beyond the dual carriageway. the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, 24. ‘Bricked up’ doorway beneath the old Wigan Grammar School / Mesnes High School opened by Prince Albert, stayed at tower - now part of the Thomas Linacre Centre. Haigh Hall during his visit. 25. Number Fifteen, King Street West - now an eating place, built as Wigan Reform Club. Plantation Gates, Wigan Lane.

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Life on a Lancashire Canal during World War II

I WAS born near Dover lock by Harry Walls similar vertical water tube boilers; on the Leigh branch of the however, they all had different Leeds Liverpool Canal and and Brindley’s stone aqueduct is engines. ‘James’ was, I believe, the best, both in power and was living there with my long gone. In its place is the Barton swing aqueduct or ‘Barton condition. It had a vertical twin grandmother when the War tank’ as the boatmen named it. cylinder double expansion engine started. This was designed by Sir E Leader with an 8” stroke. ‘Thomas’ came A neighbour of ours was Mr W Williams and was opened about next in the condition and power Wells, owner of T & W Wells, 1893. rating; she had a Vee four-cylinder canal carriers. He had a son Billy Since its early days the double expansion engine with a 6” who was a school friend of mine Bridgewater has been extended to stroke. ‘Progress’ was nowhere and we spent most of our spare Leigh to the west and to Runcorn near as powerful as the other two time on the canal. We only missed on the Southern side of the Irwell. and was used mainly as a reserve trips when we were at school or The Leeds and Liverpool Leigh and for canal loads. She had a later when we started work. The Branch leaves the main canal at horizontal twin cylinder double long summer holidays were really Wigan, down two locks at expansion engine with a 6” stroke. wonderful times and we must Poolstock and, until 1950, one have run miles up and down the lock at Dover. A long time ago ‘Statter Boats’ towpath. In those days there were there was an extra lower lock at lots of hand operated swing Dover Bridge and one more at The rest of the fleet consisted of bridges and we loved jumping off Plank Lane, near Leigh. During 27 dumb barges of slightly an on the barges to operate these. the period I remember there was different types, but all were of A few facts on the Leigh branch only the one lock after Poolstock. wooden construction. There were and the canal which joins it at Sometimes we loaded at Garswood five known as ‘Statter Boats’; Leigh, the Bridgewater, will put Colliery tip, which was just above these were 62ft long and had a my reminiscences in perspective. Dover Lock, but usually it was at beam of 14ft 3ins, with a stern The Bridgewater, as most people one of the many coal tips between and high cabin roof similar to a know, was one of the first canals Dover and Leigh. narrow boat. Because of the size to be built in this country. It was During this time it was, as the steersman had a longer than built on the order of Francis during the Duke of Bridgewater’s normal tiller and stood on the Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, time, coal to Manchester. Later, cabin roof. The five ‘Statters’ to transport coal from his mines at however, it was coal to the great were used originally on the Worsley to Manchester, a distance industrial estate known as Manchester, Bolton and Bury of ten and a half miles and all on Trafford Park. The coal from the Canal. one level. The Act of Parliament Wigan and Leigh coalfields was Four more were known as was passed in 1759 and the vital to the war effort - so vital, in ‘Rochdale Canal’ boats; these had Duke’s engineer was a self-taught fact, that canal boatmen were a rounded stern and flush decks. millwright, James Brindley. exempt from military service, as of There were also nine other barges course were coal miners. similar to the Rochdale boats, and Barges sailed underground I remember going with the coal two smaller ones named ‘Science’ to Barton and Trafford power and ‘Victory’ , referred to as Wells Two points are worth noting stations, Stretford Gas Works and type boats. about the Bridgewater. The first is Kellogg’s Cornmill. Mr Wells had seven more 40 ton that the barges sailed The T & W Wells fleet of barges boats, which he always called underground into the coalmines to and their pattern of work was as ‘Muck Boats’. These were used load; this tunnel can still be seen follows. for carrying the manure from the today. The second is Brindley’s First there were steam barges Manchester Corporation stables. aqueduct over the river Irwell; this each carrying a cargo of 40 tons of At times these were used to was the first of its kind in the coal; these were ‘Thomas’, ‘James’ supplement the coal fleet. country. The Irwell at this point is and ‘Progress’. All three were of Whoever named them ‘Muck now the Manchester Ship Canal similar construction, all wood with Ô 24

Boats’ must have had a wry sense the barges were towed on a long brothers, Harry and Eddie of humour, as they were all named rope about 50ft long, but when Leyland. I don’t think a finer pair after family members! empty they were ‘tight up’ - this of craftsman lived. They were During the war years the meant they were secured one everything in the boatyard - pattern of working was as follows. behind the other by two crossed blacksmith, carpenter, painter etc. The steamer ‘James’ would leave ropes and the barges were only a They were wonderful to watch and one of the Wigan coal loading few inches apart. made everything seem so easy. points fully loaded and towing Finally I would like to mention a five loaded barges as early as Allowed to steer and help few other barge owners seen in possible on a Monday morning. At the Leigh branch. These were the same time ‘Thomas’ would We youngsters were allowed to mainly horse or mule drawn but leave Manchester towing five steer and help on the steamer with with the odd motor barge. Firms empty barges. They would get to boiler and engine repairs etc. The included: the loading tip and load as many knowledge thus gained stood me as possible that day. On Tuesday in good stead when I joined Dean Waddington – Horses morning ‘Thomas’ would be on its British Waterways in 1956. By Crooke and Thompson – Horses way to Manchester, and so it went then there were just a few steam and Mules on until Saturday evening. tugs and steam driven dredgers Richard Williams – Motor and On arrival at the delivery point around; all load carrying was done Mules the steamer was always unloaded by motor barges, with just one Chris Iddon – Motor at once; the large number of horse drawn barge carrying corn L&L Canal Transport Company – barges available meant that the from Burscough to Wigan. Motor steamer didn’t have to wait for The men who worked for Mr B.I – Motor them to be unloaded. The loading Wells were nearly all related to was very quick as a railway each other by blood or marriage. Those days are now long gone, wagon was upended or tipped into Names I remember were but when I think of the amount of the barge at specially designed Martland, Abram, Watkinson and coal moved and time taken, I ‘Wagon Tipplers’, as they were Dewhurst. Even the two boat wonder if we have advanced all known. When travelling loaded, builders he employed were that much, if at all?

PARISH VIDEO Food for thought STANDISH On strechin’ up t’supermarket shelf presents Ah couldn’t reach down’t package by misself The History of Coalmining Then summat took mi t’one side o’t shop in the Borough of Wigan ‘n think o’t comfort found in’t corner shop Titles include Nothing Too Serious? Thi ‘ad a word of cheer, a friendly grin (The last working year and closure Thi’ made yer feel o’t ome when dropping in of Bickershaw Colliery) Then once thi’d help yer purchase this and that Blue Scars, Black Diamonds Thi’d stan’ at counter, eager fer a chat (A History of Mines and Miners in the Wigan area) Thi’d know awlt names of grown-ups, childer too (in two parts) (shopkeepers) they knew how’t look after you Also available Thi allus seem’t fo’t t’ave an oppen door The Standish Chronicles Is progress loosin’ thin’s like local store? Part 1, Part 2 (A General History of Standish) Elene Humphreys For more details: 01257 422108 Treuddyn Mold

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Norman Dewhurst M.C. A Lancastrian HAVING sent the issue socialising at every Dear Sir, of Past Forward in opportunity when not on Please find enclosed a short story which is the operations. 1917-1918 saw which was featured the consequence of sending to my friend in Brussels issue service in Greece, and story of Jonathan No. 29 of Past Forward in which was featured an article Palestine. He arrived home Dewhurst – The on ‘Jonathan Dewhurst – the Lancashire Tragedian’. He just before Christmas 1918, in return sent to me a novel entitled ‘Norman Dewhurst Lancashire Tragedian and dropped in on the M.C.’, written and published in Brussels in 1968 by J.J. family; they had not seen to a friend in Brussels, Edmonds. The following is a result of my research and him since January 1915. He I was most surprised to includes extracts from the book, which for me is an says in the book “What a receive back from him a incredible story of another Lancastrian sharing the name wonderful surprise I gave of Dewhurst. them. We opened up the book entitled ‘Norman hamper that I had brought, Dewhurst M.C.’, written I sincerely hope that you will find the story interesting, Norman Dewhurst was born in Southport, which after all in which I had included everything, a turkey, and published in is not so far from Wigan. Brussels in 1968 by H.J. puddings and all the John A. Christy trimmings, and we had a Edmonds. Hindley Green wonderful Christmas – the It is the incredible story Wigan best for many years”. of a fellow Lancastrian. I In the New Years found it to be a little gem, Honours List for 1919, he and I just had to find out was awarded the Military more about him i.e. which Cross by King George V, for town in Lancashire was he distinguished military born, (there is little service in the field. In April indication of this in the he was promoted to the book), does he have any rank of T/Captain and living relatives, and where transferred to the British did he die. Political Mission to the Baltic States of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. The The Army situation in the Baltic States at that time made the Norman Dewhurst mission both dangerous to enlisted on 10 September life and limb, but of high 1906 as a private in the political importance to the Kings (Liverpool Regiment) Allies. No. 9622. 1908 saw him Norman Dewhurst as a 2nd Lt. Royal Munster Fusilers The task of the British serving in different parts of Political Mission was to try India, including the in 1914 and as a F/Officer in the R.A.F. in 1946 to bring some political Northwest Frontier on the stability and order to the border with Afghanistan. In landings, and the slaughter Lawrence later to become region, following the December 1914, as a 2nd in which the Royal Munster Lawrence of Arabia. From Russian Revolution. By Lieutenant, he sailed from Fusiliers lost 11 Officers the contents of the early 1920 things had Bombay for England, with and 553 men, killed on the telegrams that he was started to quieten down so the Royal Munster first day at “V” Beach; he decoding, he quickly he was able to return to Fusiliers. Arriving back in himself was badly realised that he was now a England in February 1921, England, his Battalion was wounded. It was here that member of a cloak and and temporarily rejoined merged into the 29th the Dublin Fusiliers were dagger unit. On 8 February his Regiment, the Royal Division, which was the almost literally wiped out, 1916 he left on his last Munster Fusiliers. After a last division in the British while being towed towards mission for the Department, Army composed entirely of the Beach in small boats, being transferred to the few months of peace time regular troops. and it was also here that Eastern Mediterranean soldiering he decided to On 16 March 1915 the the Lancashire Fusiliers Special Intelligence Bureau resign his commission after Royal Munster Fusiliers won six V.C’s before at Salonika. His work 15 years, and came out sailed for Egypt, and the breakfast. involved taking allied with a gratuity of £200. Dardanelles (Gallipoli); 16 After recovering from agents behind enemy lines, Nobody told him that had April they were transferred his wounds he was and bringing them out he stayed in for a few more to the S.S. “River Clyde”, transferred to the again with valuable months he would have which was to carry them to Intelligence Department, information – highly been entitled to a gratuity the landing point at Cairo, working as a Cipher dangerous work, but he of £1,000! Gallipoli. Again, he gives a Officer, and was introduced was also able to live the graphic account of the to another 2nd Lt., a Lt. high life too as an Officer, Ô 26

The Business Man Fife band, most of whose The second part of his had always felt like a members were of mission was to go to Genoa godfather to that small After a few interviews Lancashire origin and and find out what progress state.” But first it was back for various jobs he decided worked at the Coates’ Mills had been made on the to the States. He sailed that England was not to his at Pawtucket. construction of a 35000 ton from Le Havre and reached liking – life was drab and Such was the situation battleship e.g. how many New York via Nova Scotia, rationing was still in in 1936, when the phone decks were completed and if then on to Rhode Island to existence. So he finally rang and he was asked to the guns were mounted. He pick up where he had left resolved to return to Riga, meet a gentleman in a room was asked to note rail traffic off 18 months before. the Latvian capital, and of a local hotel, where he and movements of naval As time slowly past, he open a garage there. was asked to join up again and military personnel attempted to curb his He got the agency to with his old organisation as between Genoa and the big impatience to be on the represent Crossley Motors, a freelance operative and naval base at Spezia. At the move again and resolutely and was also appointed go into Germany and Italy. end of the two weeks he devoted himself to the R.A.C... correspondent for He had many years in returned to London and activities of the ‘Veterans made his report. the Baltic and Russia. The Intelligence and had carried Association’ Drum and Fife His next assignment garage was soon opened for out a number of operations band, until at the end of was Germany; he was business, but his really big during the war and just May 1938 he sailed again scheduled to go there for 18 idea was to obtain the after – but now he would be for Europe on the S.S. months, so every morning concession for the on his own and for a long Manhatten, landing in time, in what would be for the next few weeks he France, where he met his installation of a network of made his way to a special petrol pumps throughout dangerous territory. He had contact from whom he been recruited once again office where he received a received detailed the country; however, after course of training in lock- negotiations lasting two into MI5, and because he instructions of his mission. had become well known in picking, inks, codes, He then made his way years he saw the wireless telegraphy, and the concession go to a Dane. the local, and business overland by train to Riga. community, in order to photographing of Meanwhile he was documents. This was painting the town red, free avoid suspicion he had to Riga and Helsinki resort to a little deception to followed by an intense from all official restraints; study of the German Army, return to the U.K. He did so While in America he had as he says “I was having a with special reference to its on the pretence of having managed to obtain the royal time”. But the time different sections and to been left a legacy by an agencies of companies who soon came when he found other distinguishing uncle, leaving New York on simply thought that he was as many others have done, markings. He worked hard the ‘Brittanic’, arriving in going to Riga on business. that business and pleasure not only to become a good London on 7 June 1936. With funds now readily don’t mix, so he decided to spy, but also to dodge the available to him he found sell out to another Gestapo. that it was not very difficult Englishman, made an The Secret Agent On his entry into to go into a business excellent deal and decided (Italy and Germany) Germany he wasted no time partnership with a to try his luck in Canada.?? in cultivating friends whom Scotsman whom he knew (America) On his arrival in London he thought might be useful well, for he had been there So with his bank he reported to the boss of to him, even acting as an during his time with the account in pretty good his department, after 14 interpreter to an American British Mission. Many of order he arrived in New years away from the doctor with whom he had his old friends were still York in 1923. He found a organisation, and was made friends. He went all leading members of the job as a special policeman given his assignment. He over the place with the Latvian government or high for the Brooklyn was to go to Italy on a doctor who was there to government officials, so it Manhattan Transport double mission. First he tour hospitals in the area was easy to get into the (subway train system). He had to go to Milan and and in this way he picked heart of things; he even held the job for a year or so, make contact with an Italian up a lot of useful recruited the chief of police then bought himself a who had at one time been a information. The friends in Riga, and with plenty of secondhand Dodge big hotel proprietor, but had whom he made unwittingly money at his disposal, he motorcar and headed for fallen foul of Mussolini and helped him to gather was also able to recruit Florida, where he stayed his fascists, and now living information on secret quite a number of British until 1925, returning to in a hovel; he was to airfields, and troop residents in Riga. So New York in 1926 where he propose to him that in concentrations, without successful was he in his went to work for a large return for the safe attracting the attention of activities, and his British Insurance Company. installation of his wife and the Abwehr or the Gestapo. socialising with the friends He held this job for two eight year old daughter in At last in December he had made, that his chief years and when the 1929 England, he would help the 1937 he left Germany, and in MI5 received reports from stock market crash came, British with information. the dangerous climate that other agents in different he was able to take The offer was accepted. was being generated by the branches of intelligence, advantage of the situation Dewhurst recalls in 1942, “I Nazis and returned to who considered him to be a by buying up two or three dropped by chance into a England to give his final Germanophile. This really quality cars very cheaply to small restaurant in Chelsea report. He was informed proved just how successful start a car hire company. As for a snack – and was that his next job would be he was. time went by, and life for delighted to recognise the to go to Riga, after six In June 1940, Soviet him became more settled, owner, his wife and months leave. He writes: “I troops moved into the he became Secretary of the daughter were also there. It began to tingle with Baltic states and arrived in local branch of the British gave me quite a kick to see anticipation at the prospect and Canadians Drum and this happy ending”. of returning to Latvia – for I Continued on page 28 27

He returned to London August 1944, he was today over 20 years after, I but, as the American appointed to the rank of still have the return half!” Norman Embassy could not find F/Officer for ‘special duty’ to This is the end of the Dewhurst him a job he decided that an Intelligence unit, with story of Norman the time had come for him which he renewed his Dewhurst as far as the M.C. to turn in his American acquaintance with lock- book is concerned, I have citizenship and, on 15 June, picking, document no doubt that the A Lancastrian he handed in his American photography and codes. He character of the man ––––– passport. He then applied was given a partner, a enabled him to lead a Continued from page 27 for his British passport to linguist fluent in German comfortable and happy be reinstated to him, which and Polish, as they were life, and put behind him was duly granted on 19 earmarked to be working in the shameful way that his Riga. All foreigners were August 1942. the eastern part of Germany. country had treated him ordered to leave In October he received after 60 years of loyal immediately, and Norman The R.A.F. orders to proceed to the service. I will continue to witnessed the unhappy headquarters of the look for answers to the spectacle of his Latvian He now began to look organisation in Brussels following questions: friends being loaded on to seriously for work; he was situated in a villa on the Does he still have any trucks and taken away to not short of cash and had Avenue de Tervuren; 72 living relatives in the Russia. But he stayed on in done well out of the hours later he was almost Southport or Liverpool Riga, learning all he could wartime regulation which killed when a German areas? I would like to of both the Russians who now, as a British citizen, he ‘doodle bug’, intended for hear from them; perhaps were on the spot and the was obliged to accept – all Antwerp cut out and fell on they could add something German agents still money now on account in the villa next door killing a more to the story of this operating there – the pact the U.S. had to be dozen men. resourceful man. between Germany and converted. The exchange As the war moved Where in Brussels did Russia was an uneasy one. rate was in his favour, so forward so did the he live. Did he marry and It was not long before the he was on to a good thing. Intelligence Unit. When the have a family, when did Russian Intelligence Service But a job was still end finally came, the Unit he die, and where is he wanted to know why he necessary and as the R.A.F. came under the Control buried? was still there when all the were accepting men up to Commission for Germany; other foreigners had the age of 55 years, he Norman was enrolled for already left. He showed went to the recruiting office Counter-Intelligence duties. Gazetted Details for them his American in November 1942. The Unit stayed in Bad Flight Lieutenant Norman passport and told them that After a few months he Salzuflen until 1947 Dewhurst MC (71858) he was still in business for was sent to 222 squadron allowing him to do quite a these American companies. Date and Place of Birth: 29 at Hornchurch as an lot of travelling all over September 1887, Ormskirk, He was interviewed several equipment assistant. Some Germany, maintaining Southport, Lancs. times, and finally asked to weeks later he was asked to communications with other Previous Service work for them in America; attend an interview with Units in the different zones. he realised that if he did not his old boss from his days However, on 18 September Sergeant service number appear to play ball with in the Intelligence Service, 1947 he left Germany for 9622 in the K L Regiment 25 them, then it was Siberia who asked him to take on some leave in the U.K., and Apr 1906 to 4 Dec 1914 for him, so he moved to the job of looking after on October 3 he was Lieutenant in the R M Helsinki and immediately groups of Free French informed that his duties in Fusiliers 5 Dec 1914 to 24 forgot the offer. His arrival Officers who were being the R.A.F. had ceased as at Jan 1915 in Finland from the Soviet trained to parachute into 27 September, and he was Lieutenant in the Intelligence zone caused him to be occupied territory; he accordingly requested to Corps August 1915 to 22 viewed with suspicion, but accepted the offer and a few relinquish his commission. June 1921 he was able to prove that he days later he joined his new Although he went up to was representing some posting as an acting unpaid London to see if the decision Promotions American firms, and had Sergeant on 28 December could be reversed, nothing Enlisted into Royal Air Force stayed behind to settle 1943. Two months later he could be done. He was out. Volunteer Reserve 9 Nov some business matters; was transferred yet again to And with a meagre 1942 Helsinki was now his the R.A.F. Intelligence unit, three months paid leave. He Discharged to Commission business centre. However, at Orwell Grange, the final was now 60 years old, with 13 Aug 1944 when Finland entered the rendezvous point for the neither pension nor large Granted a Class CC war he decided that he had completely trained men capital resources; he made Commission as Flying Officer to get out before he was about to be parachuted into a final attempt to get a in The Administrative and arrested. He went to the enemy held territory. better deal and in the end Special Duties Branch of the American Embassy and He began to wonder he received a payment of Reserve of Air Force Officers told the Vice Consul there when the axe would fall, he £150 as a final settlement. 14 Aug 1944 that he was a British agent had visions of losing his As he says in the book “I Flight Lieutenant (CC) 5 June and that he wanted to get three stripes and returning had served my time and the 1945 out; he was eventually put to the stores as an A.C.1 wages had been paid. I on plane to neutral Shortly afterwards, his collected my clothing Relinquished Commission in Stockholm. At last in March commission as a P/Officer coupons – took a hard look Class CC (on cessation of duty) 27 Sept 1947 1942 he was on a plane came through, giving him a at rationed London, and bound for the U.K., landing special fillip to know that he went to Victoria Air Honours and Awards at the R.A.F. airfield at had made the grade for a Terminal. I purchased a Military Cross 12 Feb 1919 Leuchars, Scotland. second time. Then on 22 ticket to Brussels, and, 28

Charles Bell of Wigan PLEA FROM THE recent joint interest in 1944 I came across increased in numbers in THE EDITOR of local authorities and Chas Bell, Seedsman and recent years. He I greatly value all wildlife conservation Taxidermist in Market preserved large moths by contributions to Past bodies in industrial Street. What a find! I saw injecting formaldehyde. Forward, and if you wastelands and wetlands him only a few times Of the rarer species, a don’t have access to a is very gratifying, for before I left the district striped hawk-moth had computer, don’t let that such places are now and wish that I had made been found in the market put you off sending me known to be of especial more notes of what he and an oleander hawk- your article - preferably ecological value in told me. The few notes moth on the outskirts of typed, but again, if you densely populated that I have are Wigan a few years ago. can only manage lowlands. There were tantalisingly brief. The most recent records handwritten, that’s fine. already many collieries in Mr Bell had preserved of the last two rare Best by far are the Wigan region in the and mounted quite a immigrants that I can electronic contributions, latter part of the 18th number of interesting or find in the South ie by Email century, and flashes and unusual birds. Many came Lancashire list are for ([email protected]), or 1996 and 1923 on CD ROM or floppy floodwaters associated from the flashes but not disc together with hard with mining have been of all had been shot - some respectively. copy printouts. And it interest for many years - were victims of gales or A most interesting would help the perhaps, in the first telegraph wires. Among man. Is there a relative production team and place, to wildfowlers, his specimens were water who can provide more myself even more if then to anglers and then rail, little auk, a species information about him articles were double line to naturalists. The last of petrel and such like. and his fascinating work? spaced with one inch were few in number until His knowledge was wide T Edmondson (25mm) margins and a the popularisation of and he was already aware Chester word count included. countryside interests, of the status of the rarer Email: sjedmondson@ Many thanks. Ed. especially bird watching, species which were in btinternet.com in the last 30 years or so. need of special My own interests in protection. There were natural history stem from local records of bitterns childhood and have never over the years and the waned. I was born in last he had heard of had BOB DOBSON Leigh, among collieries been shot locally late in Publisher and Book Dealer and cotton mills but also 1943. Mr Bell refused to where snipe nested in deal with the specimen LANCASHIRE the few rough fields , and strongly criticised skylarks sang all day the man for having shot YORKSHIRE & CHESHIRE above the meadows, the bird. kestrels and swifts nested Many other kinds of I buy, sell and search for second-hand on the mills and bats wild life had come his books relating to these counties: I search occupied the church way, often by way of tower. Both my parents market produce, which for books: I issue lists. I buy quantities of had been born in Wigan, he was strategically well other books. in 1894, and it is not placed to get. He had surprising that my bird-eating spiders and LIST OF MY NEW PUBLICATIONS outdoor interests were horned vipers at various ON REQUEST concerned mainly with times, and kept one horned viper alive for the colliery zone along BOB DOBSON seven and a half years. the canal from Astley “Acorns” Green to Worsley Mesnes Large hawk-moths always 3 STAINING RISE For a time during the attract interest and he STAINING War my journeys took me saw them often. He said BLACKPOOL FY3 0BU through Wigan, where I that the poplar hawk- Tel: (01253) 895678 changed buses in the moth and the elephant Market Square. One day hawk-moth had 29

Anything for the Weekend Sir?

IT came as something of a shock wife’s hair, offered to take on the unshorn and even missed the when I first visited my new task at a very reasonable rate. Saturday afternoon children’s girlfriend’s home and found the The thought of paying £12 for a matinee at the Labour pictures. I kitchen table covered in little haircut set my mind racing back to think that Joe had a favourite packets bearing the livery and my childhood in Scholes when I pecking order and little lads came carrying the name of a famous used to pay 4d. (less than 2p) at Joe well towards the end of it. It was brand of condoms. We didn’t call Siney’s barber’s shop. This was back to Joe Siney’s in future, them condoms in those days but I situated opposite Alderman praying that I never had a sore face recognised the packets, having seen McCurdy’s furniture emporium and if I ever grew big enough to need to them in the little herbalist’s shop squeezed between Sanderson’s go to a barber’s shop for a shave. window in Mesnes Street, Wigan. wonderful pie-shop and Th’Owd At nine years of age, and being a Seeing the alarmed expression on Mon’s toffee shop. Nobody ever keen Wigan Rugby fan, my next my face, she waited until we were knew what Th’Owd Mon’s real move was further up the hill, past alone, and then explained that her name was but he certainly had a my grandmother’s corner shop at mum was a hairdresser and the wonderful line in mint balls and the end of Coop Street and past contents of the packets were aniseed balls, all handmade of Longshoot where, incidentally, at nothing more exciting than items to course, though, according to some, the top of Bolton Street, was Jack protect her fingers from being foot-made would have been a more Monk’s Post Office. As a young burned by chemicals used in some correct description! Surely an man, Jack was reputed to have been hair dying process. apochryphal story this, but it was the finest and fastest ice-skater in strongly rumoured that he used his Wigan and possibly Lancashire. Sex ‘yet to be invented’ bare, sweaty feet to roll the toffees! According to my dad, skating on the Could that have been the secret of Clarington Brook Lake (better that certain something in the flavour known as t’Clarry) between Platt This being 1959, pre-Beatles and of his toffees that Uncle Joe himself Lane and Rose Bridge, Jack was sex ‘yet to be invented’, my only could never quite achieve? No reputed to jump an incredible thought was, “Here’s an opportunity doubt Th’Owd Mon took the secret number of old mattresses and to save a bob or two” – thinking, of to his grave. Anyway, he was a dustbins, which were there in course, of the rising cost of getting a lovely fellow and his toffees only abundance. haircut. And so it proved. I must cost a penny a bag, I seem to have saved a fortune; for the next remember. Rugby chat worth every 40 years I had regular crops for Kneeling up on the seat of the penny nothing. The free haircuts continued barber’s chair and facing backwards until, in her ‘80’s and with failing sucking a mintball, it was easy to Then across the road and in, or eyesight, my mother-in-law clipped scan around the room at the sea of close to Whelley, I was now at a lump out of my ear and I finally faces awaiting their turn and to read Worthington’s Barber’s Shop. decided that it was time to think up the pictures and notices on the wall. Whelley being considered rather a way of diplomatically suggesting One notice always sticks in my mind more upmarket than Scholes, the that she took ‘early retirement’. - printed in a bold Victorian script it price was now 6d., but the rugby Having briefly scanned the local stated, “We respectfully decline to chat was worth every penny and I hairdressers (whatever happened to shave dirty or sore faces”. I still didn’t care if I had to sit there until barbers?), I decided that (a) I had no have nightmares thinking about the nightfall. In this shop there was one intention of sitting reading barber who might have been willing chair in the middle of the room and Cosmopolitan with a cup of tea to shave dirty, sore faces. around the walls were leather under a hairdryer in one of these so- covered benches; these were always called unisex salons and (b) I filled with customers, rugby certainly wasn’t going to pay £12 Still unshorn supporters to a man. for a short ‘back and sides’. By Mr. Worthington (I never heard now, of course, ‘back and sides’ was About 100 yards up the hill and his first name) could have been an all I had left - my hairline had now on the other side of Scholes, just actor and ought to have done the receded like the tide at Southport past the end of Platt Lane, was rugby commentary on the radio on and I was disappointed to learn that another barber’s shop, owd Joe Saturday afternoon. “Snip, snip” the cost of the haircut did not reduce Carter’s. I only went once to Joe’s; I went his scissors and then he would in proportion to the area of hair to went at 9 o’clock in the morning and pause, turn to face one side of the be cut. Nevertheless, it needed a six hours later my mother came to room and start to address the trim from time to time. Fortunately, collect me to say that my dinner was a close neighbour, who did my going cold. I went home still Ô 30

The “Battle” of Wigan Lane

THIS took place between policeman came to both the mid 1920’s and the Mark 2 my home and Cyril’s to start of World War II. It tell our parents not to was a getting together of you were pounced on by although in town we had allow us out on Sunday the sexes, a parade of a plain clothed policeman dance halls, milk bars, nights; after a short time both groups of young who would take your cinemas and public we started to go out men and young women; name. Then there was houses (far too many!), again but avoided but what was special the police car that would the younger generation stopping - a bit like Felix, about this parade was carve a passage down didn’t have very much he kept on walking. Yes, the constant vein of the centre of the road, money, so Wigan Lane I did see a girl who laughter running through with constables leaning was a place to bring interested me, but I the mass of humanity out of the car windows together couples some of didn’t interest her. going from where the hitting with leather whom would stay During the war years, Christopher Home gauntlets those who together for the rest of when I was in the RAF, I started, then through were slow to get out of their lives. When you heard that this parade of Marylebone and the area the way. I was caught met the one you were youth changed its route in front of the Cherry out stopping to turn to interested in, then it was to circling the King Gardens Inn, a distance see where my mate Cyril a walk through the Street, Wallgate, Library of several hundred yards. Aspinall was - a Plantation Gates and Street and Rodney Street The road in this area is policeman pinned me down to a beautiful block. We then took to very wide - almost four against the Marylebone woodland, to talk and our bicycles and lanes - but it was blocked Park railings and took find out about each congregated at the solid with a teeming my name and address. other; and with moral entrance to Rayner Park mass of humanity, mostly I was scared stiff - standards being high, in Hindley, or went with young; there were very although several people girls were not afraid to Wigan Wheelers for a few cars then on Wigan around me said nothing venture into the dark run to Chester. By then Lane, but the residents would come of it, I was woods - at least there we were growing up and must have dreaded afraid for my family if I was safety in numbers, the future looked bright; Sunday evenings. had to go to court. It was as there was a constant the coming war lay It wasn’t easy taking against all moral conduct stream going in and out lightly on our teenage part in the parade. The of the time, and would of the Plantations, and minds, full of adventure. Police had a policy of not have been a stigma usually groups linked letting anyone stop against our character. together. George Victor Wadeson walking; if you did stop The point was that, I was checked on. A Wigan appreciative audience, “Billy Blan Dicconson Street. Strange that Mr. couldn’t afford to be a real teddy boy come away from’t scrum, handed Worthington in Whelley didn’t seem with draped coat, velvet collar and one mon off, sidestepped another, to have a first name and now here I crepe soled shoes, but I could afford geet ball eht to Ashcroft who passed was at the shop of a man with no to spend 1s. of my 5s. pocket money to Noggy on’t wing and oer he went surname. My school mates, I seem occasionally on a DA (Duck’s in’t corner.” to remember, recommended Bottom) haircut; the only place Gordon’s because he kept a stock of offering this service in Wigan was Like a ballroom dancer adult style magazines containing a the little shop up the Wiend, off sort of Page Three picture in each Standishgate. An added bonus for Turning back to the man in the edition. I remember sureptitiously the lads on the wall at this barber’s chair, “snip, snip, snip” and then, thumbing through the pages of one shop was the famous nude calendar after a lengthy pause with both of these journals as the man who photograph of Marilyn Monroe. hands poised over the customers had just finished having his haircut On completion, the barber held up head, continued, “Ward kicked a rose from his seat and turned to face a mirror behind my head to show me blinder straight off ‘touchline”. He me – it was Paddy Gore, my history the completed immaculate DA, then pivoted like a ballroom dancer teacher at Wigan Grammar School. guaranteed to slay the girls at the doing the pas a doble to face the “G-Good afternoon, sir” I blushingly Empress Ballroom on Saturday other side of the room and another stammered, slipping the offending night. I really felt grown up when, as row of faces devouring his every magazine under a copy of the he brushed the bits of hair off my word, not at all worried about Manchester Evening Chronicle and collar he asked, “Anything for the dinners going cold. hoping that he hadn’t noticed. weekend sir?” “Yes,” I replied Growing up and moving on to a Leaving school at 16 and now a confidently, “I’ll have a jar of new school, inevitably the time came real teenager, I found myself needing Brylcreem!” to move on to another barber’s, this to follow the latest fashion. As an Tom Heaton time it was Gordon’s at the bottom of apprentice earning 30s. a week, I Telford Shropshire 31

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN 18th CENTURY ATHERTON THE POOR LAW by R Evans

DURING the 18th century local administration in what was their house rent of 8s paid Thomas attended several then known as the Township of Atherton was in the hands meetings in connection with his duties and at each one he of the more substantial proper owners who each year were spent 1s. The April 1765/6 accounts of John Cunliff contain required to appoint from their number Churchwardens, a typical examples of the wide variety of payments made. Highway Surveyor, a Constable and, the subject of this account, an Overseer of the Poor. Extracts from documents now the in the Archives in Leigh Town Hall, some as photo- copies and others as transcripts, illustrate the range of duties and the various ways in which overseers responded to the needs of their community. Under the terms of the Elizabethan Poor Law Act of 1601, the Overseer was required by the Justices of the Peace to make provision for the needs of the poor, the infirm, the destitute, the sick and unemployed. The cost of providing this support was to be raised from a rate paid by the local inhabitants. General accounts suggest that this post was accepted with reluctance, as the work, which would be additional to the overseer’s normal occupation, was time- consuming and involved the unenviable duty to levy taxes on one’s neighbours. This view certainly appears to be confirmed in the early years of the 18th century when seldom was the same person Overseer in consecutive years. As an additional burden the Overseer could find himself in debt, having to pay out of his own money. In 1693 John Girby wrote: “the town oweth me £0-7s-2d” (C2/1) as he had paid out £5-18s-61/2d and only received £4- 11s-41/2d from the town. Robert Kearsley’s full year account sheet for 1696 records a total payment of £31-16s- 8d with the addition of: “If I be not mistaken....I have given out this much upon all accounts you have paid me £27-12s-06d.....so that there remains from the town due to me £4-04s-02d” (C2/1) (C2/12)Help was given to those with physical disabilities. In This temporary tenure must have become progressively 1752 ‘Blind Jac’ received 1s per week (C2/9) while an more unsatisfactory. By the mid century the duty was being unnamed deaf women was given 6d. Again in 1760 ‘Blind undertaken on a longer-term basis, particularly during the John’ received 1s (C2/10) while at the same time ‘Deaf Jane’ second half of the century when there were lengthy periods only got 6d. In 1765 John Cunliff recorded monthly of service by John Baxter, Edward Green and John and James payments to “Blind Jack “initially at 1s 6d per week but then Clowes. In addition, whereas in most years until the mid- reduced to 12d per week (C2/12). He then had a child, so in 18th century two appointments were made, one for the September the accounts note: Higher Side of the Township and one for the Lower Side, “pd Blind Jack 4s towards is Child 3s-7s-0d” from 1750 onwards the administration was consolidated for the whole township. Was he overpaid as in the following two month the accounts read? During the 18th century life was uncertain. Poor sanitation and polluted water supplies contributed to the “pd Blind Jack more than is allowance 2s-0d” rapid spread of fatal diseases which resulted in high infant mortality, and a low life expectation. Many people suffered For the remainder of the year he received 18d per week. from physical disabilities and deformities. Harvests were The living needed help but the poorest townspeople were uncertain with the threat of insufficient food. Work to also unable to meet their funeral costs so the overseer paid support ones family was not assured. Overseers were called these. Child burials are frequently recorded as in John upon to address pleas for help arising from all these difficult Cunliff’s 1765/6 accounts (C2/12): circumstances. In the early part of the century all the Ô assistance they gave was in the form of out-relief consisting of small sums of money, clothing, rent or raw materials for work, to allow people to continue living in their homes. One of the earliest documents, the 1699 accounts of Thomas Strang, (C2/1) lists payments to named individuals of between 2d and 12d a week. Two shifts and a pair of clogs were bought for Thomas Glovers daughter while others had 32

These and the March and April 1760 accounts of Edward self-supporting they were placed in apprenticeship to one of Green give the comparative cost of adult and child coffins the local trades such as nail-making, fustian weaving or and makes it clear that a wake was part of the costs that shoe making. A master had complete charge over his were paid (C210): apprentice. The child lived and worked with him, was fed and clothed at his expense, and in return worked as an “pd Richd Laithwaite for Wid Marsh unpaid labourer as he learnt the trade. Indentures, the Childs Coffin 2s-0d Dues 1s-11d £0-4s-7d agreement that linked the master with his apprentice, make pd Betty Seddon in her Illness 2s 4d& pd clear the duties and responsibilities of each (C4/1): margt Seddon Sick 6s-4d £0-8s-8d pd for her Burrying fetching Byer 4d “This agreement made the forth day of November 1780 Drink 2s:4d Dues 1s-11d Coffin 6s £0-10s-7d between James Clowes, Overseer of Atherton, on the one pd Shoney in Sickness 19s:3d Burying part, and James Roylance of Atherton of the other part him ale 2s-4d Dues 1s-11d Coffin 6s £1-3s-6d” witness that the said James Roylance is to have George Bromilow for the term of five whole years...... the said James MEDICAL TREATMENT Roylance is to teach and interest the said george Bromilow in the trade or occupation of nailor and find and provide him The Overseers paid for medical treatment. Bills received all manner of apparal and sufficient meat, drink, washing from doctors include frequent references to purging and and lodging during the whole term” bleeding and charges for remedies such as vomiting powder, detergent gargle, worm feed and volatile drops. Doctors also This indenture was witnessed by James Brown and John attended to teeth, a charge of 2d being made in 1748 for Sale, while James Roylance, being unable to write, made his “drawing a tooth” (C2/39). Treatment was not cheap. In mark. Later printed forms listed the evils from which a 1751 James Collier paid several doctors account: master was instructed to shield his apprentice. When John Hallows ‘ a poor boy of Atherton’ was apprenticed to William “Doctor Farringtons Bill £0-08s-10d Prescott, a fustian weaver of Atherton, the boy was expected ) (C2/40 observe the following (C4/1): Doctor Allred £1-07s-01d Doctor Ranicars £1-0s-08d” “his said masters he shall faithfully serve, his secrets keep, his lawful commands obey, at cards, dice or any In June 1747 John Farrington presented his bill for one unlawful game he shall not play, nor exercise himself therein family (C2/39): Alehouses, Taverns, evil company he shall not frequent. “Bleeding Ned Hartley £0-0s-4d Fornification or adultery he shall not committ, nor Spirits for his head £0-0s-2d matrimony contract during the said term: neither shall he Bleeding his Daughter £0-0s-4d consume, waste or lend the goods of his master or suffer the A bottle of Balsaic ? and Drops for wife £0-0s-6d” same to be done by others, but shall endevour to prevent the same, and give notice thereof to his master. Neither shall he Patients could be referred to an infirmary in Manchester. absent himself from the service of his master by day or In 1784 James Throp was sent for treatment for an night, during the whole term of his apprenticeship, but in all unspecified illness (C2/45): things behave himself to his master and all his family as “Manchester Infirmary 19 April 1784 becometh a faithful apprentice, during the said term.” Sir By Order of the Weekly Board, now sitting, I beg Leave to THE WORKHOUSE Acquaint you, That James Throp recommended by you as an During the early years of the century the records only in Patient is discharged cured. refer to support given as out-relief and this support in the Jas Hilton home continued to be the main form of assistance Secretary” throughout the century. Concerns that the provision relief in the home was either not always practical or represented the CHILDREN most efficient use of the rate-payers money resulted in the Orphans were provided with foster homes subsidised by passing of an Act of Parliament in the early 1720’s which payments from the overseer as Edward Green did on 16 gave permission for the purchase of buildings to be used as October 1752 (C2/40): workhouses for able bodied paupers together with the right to refuse relief if they would not enter. “I do hereby promise to pay onto Frances Lawson for Keeping Halliwells Child ten week the Sum ten Shillings if The earliest evidence in the Township records for a local the Child so long Live” workhouse is provided by a receipt, which shows that in 1740 John Baxter paid for repair work to a workhouse in Frances made his mark to signify his agreement. Leigh serving both the inhabitants of Atherton and the Some elementary education was provided, which in 1747 neighbouring Pennington townships (C2/38): was at a cost of 1d per subject per week (C2/39): “Schoolwages for Atherton Poor Children from 29 of September till Christmas last Thomas Suddoth Child for reading & sowing 12 weeks £0-2s-0d James Smith’s Child for reading 12 weeks £0-1s-0d another Child of James Smith’s for reading 6 weeks £0-0s-6d A collection of School Bills records payments to provide teaching (C2/43): Regular payments were recorded for the care of inmates “June 24 1771. Recd from John Clowes for Teaching from this date onwards. Widow Ratliff Two Children Twelve Months the Sum of Monthly bills show the numbers admitted from Atherton Twelve Shilling in full to this day by me Elen Whittle” fluctuating from month to month. In 1749 the highest was To ensure that in later life these children could become Continued on page 34 33

John Cunliff’s 1765/6 accounts also appears to indicate LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN 18th CENTURY that Giles Guest, who was in receipt of out-relief before ATHERTON being admitted, was then provided with the means to again be self-supporting outside (C2/12): THE POOR LAW This April account also includes payments for“Clogging ––––– Giles Guest Clogs” and removing “Giles Guest to the workhouse” (C2/12). Continued from page 33

31 and the lowest 8. In May of that year the Overseer was asked to pay for the following (C2/39): “31 Heads at 1s-43/4d £1-8s-011/4d Shoes for Adams Children £0-02s-08d Necessaries £0-04s-061/d2 Ale for Seddons Wifes Buring £0-0s2-00d” In 1765/66 John Cunliff’s accounts list the following Once home he continued to receive help. In February (C2/12): 1766 he was given equipment for spinning costing 4s-6d and in March a bed and blankets costing 17s-6d. His wife is “pd to the workhouse for march 12 Heads not mentioned in later records which show that weekly Att 2s 5d p Head £1-9s-0d payments to him continued until May 1769 (C2/12). pd for Aug to the workhouse The able bodied who were admitted were required to work 15 heads att 2s 5d p Head £1-16s –3d” and make goods which could be sold to help defray the cost Payments of 6s 3d to the workhouse Governor were of their keep. The evidence however suggests that their recorded in April of that year. treatment was not particularly harsh or oppressive. The basics requirements of food, clothing footwear and bedding A summary of contributions made towards repairs to the were provided. A bill of September 1753 (C2/40) included building give some indication of its appearance and what 6d for tobacco and shaving while those who died received was expected of those sent there. This record makes it clear similar consideration to those outside. An undated bill that weaving was one of the tasks expected of the inmates. This loom house appears to have been a building partly of shows that Peter Flitcroft’s funeral expenses were paid and brick and partly wattle and daub with a thatched roof and included the cost of “Drinke 02s-06d” as well as “Church small glass windows (C2/40): Dues, taking, Grave making 05s-02d, Cofin 02s06d and Shroud 03s06d”. “Repairs of the Workhouse in Leigh Paid by Pening & Atherton £ s d SUMMARY 1745 Repairs of all sorts £14-7s-0d” There was then a sense of community responsibility for “1751 Rebuilding of the Loom House as follows its own. The Poor Law ensured that the basic necessities, July 6 Shaw Allanson Carpenter £1-2s-6d food, clothing and shelter were available. If possible support 27 Geo: Penkethman Plaisterer £0-11s-6d was in the form of out-relief allowing people to continue Treading Daub £0-1s-0d living in their own homes. Only as a last resort were people 29 Rich: Whittell Bricklayer £1-11s-8d moved into the workhouse. Despite the provision made for Thatching Serving & Pricks £0-11s-6d punishment at the workhouse, the overall impression is of a Sept 1 James Johnson ten threaves of Straw £0-8s-4d system that was compassionate. More appears to have been 2 Geo: Gregory for nails £0-4s-5d provided than was absolutely necessary. References to the 3 Rab: Berry for Laths £0-6s-1d supply of tobacco, surely not a necessity, are common. The Tho: Benton Glass and Work £0-12s-9d provision of education and the apprenticeships represent 4 Geo:Penkethman pointing and hair £0-2s-2d practical help for young persons to become self-supporting Rob: Gwillym Esqr: for brick £1-18s-6d members of the community. The Overseers paid for relatively James Morris Slater £0-1s-6d expensive medical help. In such a close knit community the Feb 25 Lime and Carting £0-14s-0d impression is that pleas for assistance would be treated with For Raff trees £0-3s-6d understanding and sympathy. In 1785 John Clowes received carting Brick and sand £0-5s-0d the following request (2/46): One third £7-13s-91/2d” “Ann the wife of John Schofield who is a pauper belonging to the Township of Atherton and informs me that Surviving coal bills show that coal fires heated it (C2/43): her Husband has Deserted her whereby she is destitute of a “Nov 13 1773 Rd from John Clowes for six Quarter of house to live in and of Common necessaries to support her Coals for the Workhouse the sum of twelve Shillings be me and her Child. I therefore desire you will take this matter into Peter Call.” Consideration and relieve this poor Distressed woman and pursue such measures as the Law directs to punish and Bills and receipts dated in the 1750s also refer to an make Example of the Husband according to his Deserts. additional rented property used for nail making (C2/40). It was only in the 19th century, following the Poor Law The workhouse was not the preferred option but rather it Amendment Act of 1834, that Poor Law administration with was the last resort and it would appear that Overseers were its emphasis on committal to the workhouse gained the grim reluctant to send a person to workhouse if they could be reputation that is so vividly portrayed in Dickens’s Oliver persuaded to remain in their home. Edward Green’s 1752 Twist. With out-relief no longer provided people had to be in account records two payments which appear designed to desperate circumstances to accept admission to what then limit the numbers being taken into the workhouse (C2/9): became a harsh workhouse regime. “pd Crompton wife to stay out of the workhouse one week NB. References to documents in Leigh Archives given 6d with each extract. In each case full reference should begin Given Mary Crompton 6d to goe out of the workhouse” “TR ATH” 34

Ashton-in-Makerfield Probus Club welcome. Details from Maurice Hilton Members of the Club are retired SOCIETY NEWS (01942 223107) business/professional people, who meet at the Angel Hotel, Ashton-in-Makerfield Skelmersdale & Upholland Family on the 1st Wednesday of every month at To all Secretaries History Society 11.00 a.m. New members welcome, Would Secretaries please note the copy Meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of details from Alan Bradshaw (01942 deadline on p2, and ensure that you each month, except December, July and 726493) August, at 7.30 p.m., in the Hall Green 6 April Hot and Cold Eric Littler send in all details of your meetings up Community Centre, Upholland. 4 May AGM to the end of 2005 for inclusion in the Beginners and more experienced family 1 June next issue. Thanks. historians welcome. Details from Simon Law and the Community Tony Clark Martin (01942 702594). 6 July Hindley Library, market Street at 7.00 pm John Betjamin’s Cornwall Trevor Lucas on the second Monday of the month. Standish Probus Club 3 August Details from Joan Topping (01942 Members are retired business and Remembering Oscar Hammerstein II 257361) or Norma Brannagan (01942 professional people. Meetings, which are James Fairhurst 258668). The museum is open three open to both men and women, are held times per month on either Friday or at ‘The Owls’, Rectory Lane, Standish on Aspull & Haigh Historical Society Saturday mornings; please ask in the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 10.30 We meet in Our Lady’s R.C. Church Hall, Hindley Library or phone as above for a.m. New members welcome. Details Haigh Road, Aspull on the 2nd Thursday further details. from Bryan Shepherd (01257 424994) in the month at 7.30 p.m. Details from 12 April AGM Barbara Rhodes (01942 222769) Leigh & District Family History 12 May Society Tyldesley & District Historical Society The Planning of D-Day Tony Parkinson Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of 9 June every month at 7.30 p.m. in the Derby every month from September to May at The History of St Kilda Stephen Halliwell Room of Leigh Library. Details from the Tyldesley Pensioners club on Milk Olive Hughes (01942 741594) Street at 7.30 p.m. Refreshments Atherton Heritage Society 19 April Surnames Peter Watson available. Contact Tony Rydings (01942 Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of 17 May 514271) or [email protected]. the month at 7.30 p.m. at St. Richards A Girl without a Name Tony Foster Visit our website at Jubilee Hall, Atherton. Details from June (TBC) www.tyldesleyhistoricalsociety.co.uk. Margaret Hodge (01942 884893) Proposed visit to Williamson Tunnels, 12 April Liverpool Tyldesley Probus Club Shades of the Past Steve Abbott July (TBC) Members of the Club meet at Tyldesley 10 May Proposed visit to Ellesmere Port Boat Methodist Church, Eliot Street, on Three Centuries of Autographs P Morgan Museum alternate Thursday mornings at 10.30 14 June 16 August Getting Started a.m., from 7 October until May 2005. William Crumblehulme in Horwich The Club is for retired Christine Crumblehulme Leigh Literary Society business/professional men and is non- 9 August Meetings are held in the Derby Room at political and non-sectarian. New The Life of Beatrix Potter Dorothy Hindle the Turnpike Centre, on alternate members welcome. Details from Cedric Monday evenings at 7.30 p.m. Details Evans (0161 790 5166). Atherton Probus Club from Tony Ashcroft, Local History This is a non-political and non-sectarian Officer, Leigh Library (01942 404559) Wigan Archaeological Society Club for retired 4 April The Society meets at the BP Centre professional/businessmen, who meet in Traditional Lancashire Recipes (plus (Scout HQ) in Greenhough Street on the St Richard Parish Centre, Mayfield Street, AGM) Fred Holcroft 1st Wednesday of the month at 7.30 p.m. on alternate Thursday afternoons at 1.30 p.m., from 30 September until May Leigh Local History Society Wigan Civic Trust 2005. New members welcome. Details Meetings are held in the Derby Room, The Trust meets at Drumcroon Education from Ron Collier (0161 790 1819). Leigh Library, on the last Wednesday of Arts Centre, Parsons Walk, Wigan, on the the month. Details from Norma Ackers 2nd Monday of the month at 7.30 p.m. Billinge Local History Society (01942 865488) Details from A.J. Grimshaw, 6 Bridgeman For further details contact Jack 27 April AGM and video Terrace, Wigan (01942 245777). New Boardman, 38 Garswood Road, Billinge, members always welcome. Wigan, WN5 7TH, (01744 892613), or Leigh Probus Club visit our web site at www.billinge- Members of the Club, which is non- Wigan Family & Local History Society history.com. sectarian, are generally retired Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of professional/businessmen. The Club every month (except in July and August) Golborne & Lowton Local History meets at the Leigh Masonic Hall on in the Springfield Hotel, Springfield Road, Society alternate Thursday afternoons between Wigan, at 7.30 p.m. for 8.00 p.m. The Meetings are held at Golborne Library on October and April. Anyone wishing to meetings alternate between members’ the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7.00 join should contact Malcolm Parr evenings and external speakers. p.m. Non-members are welcome. Details (01942 673685) Further information from John Wogan, from Derek Briscoe (01942 747366) or Shevington Memories Group 678 Warrington Road, Goose Green, Jim Scotson (01942 206820). This small, informal group meets each Wigan WN3 6XN or email Johnwogan@ Friday at 2.30 p.m. in Shevington blueyonder.co.uk. Hindley History Society Methodist Church (New Lounge), to share You can also visit our website at The Society meets in the Museum at memories about old times. Anyone is www.ffhs.org.uk/members/wigan.htm. 35

Wartime in Wigan PREPARATION for war Thomas Pey. fireman and decontamina- prepared. Shoppers in the began in Wigan in 1938, However, throughout the tion squads stood by in main street made their way when Sergeant Rothwell of whole of Britain, people readiness, the central con- to the public shelters and the Wigan Borough Police complained of this new trol was fully manned and remained there until they was appointed Air Raid threat, as they saw it, to large numbers of people in were assured that the ‘All Precautions Officer. their safety, many saying it the town centre sought Clear’ had sounded. The Because of its proximity to was the secret weapon that safety in public shelters. A civilian population had Liverpool and the Adolf Hitler had boasted of. carefully prepared evacua- behaved with extraordinary munitions factories at There were many casualties tion plan was put into oper- calm. At the Dorning Street Euxton and Risley, it was until the new circumstances ation in local mills and premises of Messrs. Coope expected that Wigan might were adjusted to. The first business houses. The warn- & Co, clothing well be attacked. Gas masks person to be killed by a ing which was heard at manufacturers, nearly were issued, members of street accident during the 11.10 a.m. gave a grim sig- 1,200 employees were the Auxiliary Fire Service black-out was Miss Lillian nificance to what had once marshalled into the firm’s gave demonstrations of fire Ellison of Woodhouse Lane, been Armistice Day. There air raid shelters within five fighting on the Market Wigan, who was killed on was irony in the fact that an minutes. An official of the Square, trenches were dug, her way to work at Wigan air raid warning should be firm said, “the stewards air raid shelters were Infirmary; she was knocked heard on a day on which, in and wardens took charge provided and basements down by a motor car shortly previous years, the nation and there was no panic or strengthened. before 7 a.m. on 7 had honoured its dead of excitement among the November in Mesnes Road, the 1914 - 18 War. Some employees, 80% of whom “Etnas and Wigan and died the next people at first thought that are women and girls.” Most Strombolis” day. the siren was signalling the banks and several large Infringements of the commencement of the two shops closed their doors Burning pit heaps, black-out regulations led to minutes silence previously and conducted their clients described by Joe Tinker, MP fines and the first person to held on that day. The warn- and customers to places of for Leigh, as “ …...our be summoned for the ing sounded for a minute safety. Etnas and Strombolis”, offence was himself an air and a half while adjust- However, there was were visible at night and raid warden from Orrell. A ments were being made to criticism levelled by the had to be dealt with. The fine of 4s. costs was the siren. The official expla- authorities about the Fire Brigade, which up to imposed by the magistrates nation made later regarding principal reaction of a now had been a part of, and who earnestly entreated the this false warning was that number of people - one of manned by, the Borough public to take this matter a representative of the mak- curiosity. Many of them Police force, became a seriously. ers of the rhythmic control rushed to the doors of their separate entity in 1939 and was examining the relays houses, gazing skywards was renamed the National Armistice Day and had accidentally made and apparently not Fire Service. The ‘black-out’ contact with the air raid sig- realising that they were began in Great Britain on 1 The period later to be nal warning. The ‘All Clear’ exposing themselves to September 1939. In Wigan labelled the ‘Phoney War’ was given immediately unnecessary danger. A a trial of this had been now began, but Wigan had afterwards. visitor to the town who was carried out earlier, between a distinct reminder of what passing through Worsley the hours of midnight and 2 might be in store on Excellent rehearsal Mesnes at the time told the a.m. in the morning, with Saturday 11 November local press that before the the result being 1939. The air raid siren Meanwhile, however, siren was heard the streets pronounced satisfactory by sounded and wardens took intense activity was taking were deserted. But as soon Wigan’s Chief Constable, up their posts, auxiliary place in the defence service. as the sirens sounded, The British Legionnaire in crowds of people flocked charge of poppy selling "… acquire your own piece of history …" into the streets and spent collected his steel helmet some time gazing into the Heritage Estates UK and gas mask and set off at clouds. once for his warden’s post. Chief Constable Pey and Volunteers rushed to their his assistant, Inspector The perfect gift for any occasion posts to supplement the Paul Foster, appealed to the workers already on duty populace to treat all for anyone with an interest and, before the warning warnings seriously and to in Wigan had died away, the town’s carry their gas masks at all defence machinery was times. Nevertheless, www.heritage-estatesuk.com ready for any eventuality. Christmas 1939, was a ARP wardens later stated prosperous one for Wigan, that although the alarm Tel: 00 44 1942 770202 with shops reporting record Fax: 00 44 1942 770205 was a false one which was sales. E-mail: [email protected] regretted, nevertheless it But the price for this had Contact: Richard Weston had been an excellent to be paid later. Heritage Estates UK, Caroline Street, Wigan, Lancashire, England, WN3 4EL rehearsal and showed that James Fairhurst services were fully Ashton-in-Makerfield 36

IT’S a cool but I was never able to do sunny afternoon in that! I am suddenly early spring when I aware of the girl see the girl. I am watching from a THE GIRL distance and smiling, as strolling around if she knows my Ince, where I grew up In the chip shop, there were none of thoughts. She walks on and I – I like to go back sometimes – the polystyrene trays of today. follow, and oh! there’s the coalman when I see her skipping along Instead, people queued up carrying carrying a cwt. of coal down the in front of me. She wears a basins wrapped in tea towels to back-entry. Oh, how long since I’ve blue coat and has a ribbon in hold their food. Shop windows seen him, but of course we live in a her hair, and she is following a were carefully dressed – packets of smokeless world now, don’t we?….. chalked line of arrows along ‘Tide’ or ‘Omo’ were displayed in we?? And yet there’s smoke the wall of the old Empress pyramids in front of a curtained coming from chimneys – I can see it Mill – “follow this line” it says backdrop, and 1/4lb packets of – I can smell it! And with it comes – and I know it will lead her to Horniman’s Tea jostled for space something else – oh, it’s hard to with Viota Cake Mix in front of a define – just a ‘feeling’ perhaps – some silly scribbled message, row of glass jars containing sweets for haven’t I done the same but something long, long forgotten at 4d a quarter. is in the air. thing many, many times in my childhood? “Whiz-Bang” Saturday night at the “Emp” The Empress was a working mill in those days, and the clatter of My favourite shop was the I look for the girl. She has joined looms, deafening to the doffers and papershop, where I got my comics – some friends and they go round in spinners inside, was just a hum out Bunty for Girls – (remember “the a circle, holding hands, ribboned here in the street. The cotton, with four Marys’?) – the Topper with plaits flying out as they sing “Sally its distinctive smell, floated in the “Beryl the Peril”, the Breezer which go round the moon”, and little lads air like fine snow, and stuck to the once gave away a free “Whiz-Bang” clatter past Bank’s shop on a home- clothes of the mill-workers as they toy, (I think every child in Ince had made trolley. Banks’s! – what a emerged wearily when the factory- one!), and everyone’s favourite, the strange shop that was – a grocery hooter sounded the end of their Beano. How we crowded round the and off-licence with the odd working day. shop window on autumn nights, addition of a chip-range! Girls from mesmerised by the shiny new a nearby factory – a biscuit-works, I “Brylcreem Bounce” annuals, and colouring books. We think - used to flock at dinner-time shyly whispered our requests to for a “six” (sixpennyworth) of The girl has found the cheeky Father Christmas in posh chips, and afterwards, with their chalked message and she grins Pendlebury’s or Lowe’s in Wigan, hair in rollers under a headscarf before turning towards Ince Bar, but our toys came via the and their nylon overalls nipped in and as I watch her skipping along papershop’s Christmas-Club in tightly at the waist, they would the familiar road, I realise that which our mams saved up all year. ‘bop’ on the pavement in the something isn’t right…. Everything ‘Playing shops’ was a popular sunshine as “The Night has a looks as it did in my childhood – pastime, and we pretended to weigh Thousand Eyes” issued forth from impossible, I know – and yet the sweets on scales made from a piece someone’s ‘tranny’. Sometimes we everyday things – the cars and the of wood balanced on a brick. younger ones would sing along lampposts – look strangely dated. I Sometimes we had a ‘chip shop’ with them about “Seven little girls feel uneasy and turn to retrace my using pieces of slate for fish; “salt sittin’ in the back seat, a-huggin’ steps, but curiosity wins, and I and vinegar?” we asked each other and a-kissin’ with Fred”. Then follow the girl past shops that have in our ‘chippy-lady’ voice, busily back to work they went, where canvas awnings pulled out to shade shaking water from a bottle with a dreams of Saturday night at the the goods in the window. I step hole in the cap. I remember we “Emp” got them through the tedium carefully around a big black once used dog biscuits for chips of the afternoon. delivery bike as its owner, a grocer’s until our dog Vic sidled up to the The little girls are now skipping lad, sporting a brown overall and ‘shop’, tail wagging, and polished in and out of someone’s old the “Brylcreem Bounce”, carefully off our profits in one fell swoop! washing-line – “I’m a little Dutch prints the price of bacon on the How we laughed and chased him up girl dressed in blue” they chant, as shop window in whitewash. My the back-field! I did long ago, and I wander over to mam used to shop along here every I laugh out loud at the memory as the school which stands eerily day, (we had no fridge you see, just I leave the shops behind and walk silent. I walk past “wilful damage” a meat-safe), and there were on towards terraced rows that my notices to peer into empty separate shops for everything – common sense tells me are no classrooms, where computers will Morton’s Grocers, the Cloggers, the longer there, and yet I can see have succeeded the inkwells and Chemists, the Temperance-Bar and women mopping front doorsteps, blotting-paper of my schooldays, the Butchers, (which had sawdust whilst little girls, with frocks tucked but no – there is a stack of “Beacon on the floor and where, if you into knickers, do handstands Readers” books on the piano and weren’t careful, you collided against the wall, then ‘walk’ down oh look! there are our percussion- clammily with enormous sides of it into ‘the crab’ on the pavement, beef which hung from the ceiling). and I smile ruefully – try as I might, Continued on page 38 37

everyone, would say, “Ee, ‘Er’s site now belongs to St.William’s awreet, Polly”, (she always called school, and is railed off, and I stand my aunty Mary “Polly”). “Awreet? head down by the railings, afraid to THE GIRL AWREET?!” screeched my more look. Are they here, those little ––––– forthright aunty –“’Er favvers ‘er’s terraced homes, where the dramas Continued from page 37 fawd off a flittin’!” Characters of ordinary people were acted out? seemed to abound in those days, Where births and deaths, weddings band instruments! Which did you and whether troubled, ill or just and funerals, took place. Where play? I was unfailingly allocated a none-too-fragrant, they were part neighbours gossiped and children triangle, at which I tapped away and parcel of our childhood, and our played, and where love and unhappily to “Bobby Shaftoe” – oh, lives are richer for having known laughter took centre stage before how I longed to be put with the them. the demolition-men brought the castanets, but I was a shy, timid curtain down. Trembling now, I child and was afraid to ask. Do you Guard the ‘Bommy’ steel myself to look, but there are remember the songs we were only the shadows, and the shush- taught? “Ye banks and braes”, “I’ll The girl has reached the back- shush of the trees that now grow go no more a-rovin”, and “Go and field now, and the memories wash where once I played. tell aunt Nancy the old grey goose is over me it was here where a big box dead”, which always had me in from the Co-op became a train or She is my past and I am her floods of tears! boat for a day, or an old sheet future became a tent, and where, for no Sums in £ s d particular reason except the fun of The girl is close to me now. it, we mixed dirt and water into a Slowly, she turns to me and smiles On the blackboard, sums in revolting mixture called “slop- her shy smile, and for one heart- pounds, shillings and pence are dash”. Oh look! there’s the sand- stopping moment I look into eyes written in chalk, (which the teacher hole where we had the bonfire, and that are my own, before she turns wasn’t averse to throwing where the Shawcross lads made a and fades into the shadows, and I occasionally followed by the ‘den’ in which they stayed all night realise why the railings haven’t blackboard duster at anyone talking to guard the ‘Bommy’ from barred her way as they have in class). The weather chart shows marauding gangs. Mrs Shawcross mine….. in her world, they simply a mixture of suns and umbrellas, had a wonderful, easy rapport with don’t exist, for she is my past and I showing a changeable week, but it us children, and she once organised am her future. She is walking hasn’t been, has it? What is going an enormous May-Queen through another time. Any second on? I glance round, more puzzled procession – why do you never see now she will open our front door, than afraid and see the girl standing them now? We sallied forth through and she will see warmth and light, alone in the playground. She the streets, collecting pennies – a and my mam’s gentle face, and our wanders out onto the cobbled street motley array of crepe-paper elves, Vic will wag his tail with happiness as the afternoon sun begins to sink, fairies and pantomime characters, because she is home. and the shadows lengthen. I see her with our queen resplendent in her I stare for a few moments into suddenly hurry across the road as a mam’s net curtain and a cardboard the gathering dusk before I turn man appears, and immediately I crown. Then back to a picnic-tea of and walk away. I have no know her fear, for he was part of my butties, jelly and pop on the back- explanation for this strange childhood, and he had some terrible field, and I can tell you that no meal afternoon, but my heart is thankful malady which caused him to turn since, however posh, has ever quite for it, although it appears I am to round and round on the spot every matched it! see no more, at least not yet. But I few yards, his eyes staring I find myself smiling, drunk on know that I will come back, and glitteringly and his forefinger memories, and the girl smiles back. perhaps she will be waiting to show permanently pointing. Oh, how She turns into George Street and I me the things I have forgotten, easy it was, as a child, to think that know before I turn the corner that when the nights are lighter and the that finger was pointing at me! all will be as it was – those familiar days warmer. Only now do I realise that the poor doors at which we sang carols or And will you come with us? I man probably never even saw me. played tap-latch in the winter hope so, but now, suddenly, I want Then there was “Ciggy”, who nights, and where in the event of a to go home. Lights are coming on would shuffle terrifyingly into our death, the neighbours collected for in the terraced homes, illuminating house to cadge a cigarette – “cig, a wreath, in the days when people cosy domestic scenes, whilst out Bob; cig, Bob” he would say over cared. In the gathering dusk, the here a chilly little wind springs up, and over to my dad, whilst I hid streetlights begin to come on – as if it wants to blow away all that behind the couch in fear. One lady, electric now on the main road, but I have seen. But, the evening sky who was rather easy-going in the here in the cobbled back-streets, wraps itself comfortingly around soap-and-water stakes, was known gas-lamps still flicker. There are me like a deep blue shawl, keeping locally as “Persil”, due to her only a few more steps to my memories warm. And as the obvious lack of use of that St.William’s Presbytery, behind sky darkens, each memory commodity, and my aunty Mary was whose garden wall stood the little becomes a star, and each star scathing in her criticism: “’Er’s as terraced row where I grew up, and I shines like a jewel in the soft black as a crow!” she would exclaim am almost afraid to reach it. Oh! Lancashire night. in disgust, to which my gentle mam, how many times has this place Irene Roberts who always saw the best in crept into my dreams at night! The Abram Nr Wigan 38

BURGY BEN THE last two issues of Past was awarded a magnificent Forward have contained winner’s belt of red leather, interesting letters speculating on adorned with seven silver the word or name ‘Burgy’ and its medallions, the centre one meaning. Our interest is about six inches across and because the name Burgy Ben inlaid with mother of pearl, mentioned by some of your depicting two wrestlers and contributors (issue nos.37 and inscribed with his real name of 38) was the name under which Thomas Jones, together with his our grandfather wrestled in the wrestling name of Burgy Ben. late 19th century. The belt would be on display at He was born in Aspull in all the places where they would 1867 and had a brother live in future years. Burgy Ben with Collins who we think may have been one of Benjamin and sister Helen. He During his wrestling career Burgy’s trainees. went to school until he was 12 he met and married Mary came over to bomb the nearby Palladium, but Rogers lost. years old and told of having to Melling, our grandmother, Top Place Ironworks at Kirkless, During all of this time he pay one old penny to the school whose parents kept the White New Springs. A huge crater on organised running, boxing and each week and of learning to Lion public house at the top of the spot where St. Patrick’s athletics training at Higher Ince write on slate boards. His Whelley Brow. The couple lived rugby ground now stands was Athletics ground. He also trained handwriting even in his later at and ran the Prince Albert in left for many years after a the Wigan Water Polo Team; one years was in beautiful New Springs and had seven German bomb missed its target, of his successes was to train the copperplate style. He started children, including twins, Aaron badly damaging some houses winner of the Powderhall work at the Moor Pit Colliery in and Moses, who died at birth. nearby. Handicap Race. Aspull, and it was during this Later the family moved to the time that he was given the non Rose Bridge Inn in Higher Ince, de plume of Burgy Ben by his which had stables and a gym Lancashire style Retirement workmates at the pit. It would where grandfather trained many When asked about wrestling The family moved to 81 Bird seem the name ‘Burgy’ had coal young men, including his only it was always grandfather’s Street, Higher Ince on mining connotations at that time son Harry and our father, contention that Lancashire Style retirement, but after a few years also. Fredrick Ralph. The stables were wrestling was much more of relatively quiet living our employed as overnight scientific than other codes such grandparents, with Polly, one of accommodation for horses that First wrestling match as Cornish, Greek, Cumberland their daughters, moved to an off were used for towing barges and particularly ‘All ln’. He was licence at the corner of He had his first wrestling along the Leeds and Liverpool always willing to demonstrate, Manchester Road and Holt match at the age of 15, for a Canal, which ran alongside the even in his late ‘70’s, and we Street, Higher lnce. Grandfather wager of 10s. a side. His last pub. recall one brash young man kept busy in his garden and by match was in 1907 at 40 years We were told stories of being unceremoniously floored walking around lnce. Even in his of age, held at the White City bargees buying a ‘nip’ of rum for and held there before being later years his complexion was Stadium, Manchester; this was two old pence and being allowed rescued by grandmother. smooth and pink, which he put the final of a competition with 63 to sleep alongside their horses in He toured the USA on two down to always adding milk to competitors. He beat Harry Mort the stables. We were also told of occasions but grandmother his washing water and saying his of Oldham to win the nine stone children being ushered into the could not be persuaded to go prayers every night before championship of Great Britain in pub cellar when, during the with him He said that his retiring to bed. Lancashire Style wrestling. He Great War, German Zeppelins toughest match was against an He died peacefully at his American by the name of ‘Rocky home on 22 November 1952, at Mountain’ Joe Burns for the sum the age of 85, and is buried in HIRE OF of £50 a side. However, after two lnce cemetery. hours the match was declared a Several months after his MEETING ROOM draw and each had their money death a burglar was caught in The History Shop has a Meeting Room, with a returned. Whilst in America he the room where the belt was still capacity for 36. This is available for hire by local also modelled clothes at several on display. No one knows his groups and societies at a very reasonable cost: New York hotels. motives but when cornered by On another occasion he our aunt Polly he escaped by SOCIETY RATE fought and beat a famous diving through and smashing the £8.25 Japanese jujitsu expert named bay window before running off. PER MORNING/ AFTERNOON SESSION Yokio Tani at an exhibition match The Police never caught anyone. held at the old Springfield Park Thereafter the belt was kept in £12.35 football ground in Wigan. He was the custody of Burgy’s son Harry PER EVENING SESSION credited with being the only Melling Jones, the father of our white man to have beaten Tani. cousin Harry Jones, to whom COMMERCIAL RATE He trained many local and your correspondent Henry national wrestlers, including an Collins of St. Helens referred £20.00 American, Joe Rogers, who was (issue 37, p42).The present PER MORNING/AFTERNOON/EVENING SESSION to fight the mighty whereabouts of the belt is not If you are interested, contact Philip Butler Hackenschmitt, a formidable known. Tel (01942) 828128 wrestler of the time. The fight Tom and Donald Ralph took place at the London Chorley Lancs 39

Ince Central School, Higher Ince Irish Clubs in usually bought 16 “cheesettes” grey haired Lady, who lived the Wigan area and a “jammie dodger” for 1d - somewhere in Ince Green Lane? Dear Alastair all this for 3d, and a bottle of I remember very well Miss Maybe some of your readers milk! Foster keeping a cane and can help me with any Irene, I don’t remember the bringing one naughty boy out to information they may have about gadget you mentioned shaped the front to cane his hand; just Irish League clubs in the Wigan Dear Sir, like a flying saucer, but I do as the cane was coming to land area. The Brian Boru Irish I read with interest the letter remember using the milk bottle he moved it, and Miss Foster hit Democratic League club at written by Irene Roberts in tops as flying saucers, putting her leg. Thank you, Irene, for Ashton-in-Makerfield is now the issue 38, An Apple for the foil bottle top between two bringing these memories and only Irish club left in the Wigan the Teacher. I enclose a crossed fingers, then moving many more I thought I had district. At one time, given the photograph of the old Ince the fingers and off it flew across forgotten back to the front of my size of the local Irish population, Central School Higher Ince, the classroom - milk bottle tops memory file. My maiden name there must have been many taken in 1956, when I was five everywhere. was Molloy. I suppose you could more. years old. I am on the bottom I must be two years older say things have gone full circle - I have been able to trace the row, extreme left. than Irene (I would love to know I am now a Governor of Ince C existence of the ‘O’Brien-Davitt’ I attended the old school till her maiden name - mine was E School. branch of the United Irish League the day it closed. I remember Molloy). I know all the children I also noted with interest the on Station Road, Wigan prior to going to school that morning, in the 1964 photo she took of letter written by Clifford Storey World War 1. When did this club and after assembly all the the Sports Day. I left Ince C E in (“Wiganers at Rorke’s Drift”, close? Do any photos of it exist? children left for the last time, 1962 and went to Rose Bridge p43). He asked if any reader Other areas of Wigan and and walked hand in hand (I with High School. I wonder if Irene knew where Brown Street was, I other townships such as Ince my best friend at the time, Roberts remembers any of the am pleased to tell him it is still may also have had Irish League Susan Bird) across Ince Green teachers at the new Ince C E on Manchester Road, Higher clubs. These Irish clubs were the Lane, through Local Board School - Mr. Fairchild, Miss Ince, two hundred yards past means by which the Irish Street, into Pickup Street, down Melling, Miss Morgan, Miss Varty’s Funeral Directors population in Britain organised Charles Street and into the Riding. If my memory is correct (walking towards Hindley past itself and gained respect in the brand new school. We were the Miss Jones was the Branch Street, Brown Street is wider community. We are now very first children to learn, play, Headmistress. My mum used to the next one). down to the last dozen or so in read and write in the new Ince clean for her a few mornings a Grayway’s coaches have the Lancashire and Yorkshire. C. E. School. I wonder how week. She lived in an upstairs coach park at the bottom of the I will be publishing a CD-Rom many readers know that its flat in Swinley Lane; I street. on the Irish League clubs and original name was Ince Central remember going with my mum Finally I would like to refer to their activities this year, so I Elementary school. a few times, and she would Fred Holcroft’s letter, also on would be grateful for any Irene Roberts asked if any often leave me an orange on p43. I noted he mentioned a C. information received in whatever readers remember taking 3d the stairs. I also remember Mrs Molloy - it would be interesting form so that Wigan can properly every week to buy a brick; I Sandiford and Miss Ashurst. to find out if I am related to this represented. remember, but thought it was I remember the old Ince C E family. If anyone can enlighten Chris Clegg 6d. My mum used to give me School very well. I was brought me I would be very grateful. Secretary 6d every week and tell me we up In Hook Street, just across A very interesting issue. Lancs. Federation of owned half the school. I also from the old school. I climbed Many thanks for the memories. IDL clubs remember Bobby Beacon and over the gates after school Kathleen Meadwell Tel: 01282 602186 the felt pictures he used to stick closed and played in the 5 Patterdale Place Email: on the board, the “cheesettes” schoolyard. Does any reader Higher Ince [email protected] that were sold at 8 for 1d; I remember Miss Foster, a tall Wigan WN2 2NX Old Market Hall Dear Editor I was remembering the old Market Hall which was demolished in the late ‘80’s and recalled a feature of the building which seemed to have been removed prior to the demolition. There were two bulls heads on the Hope Street side of the Hall, but I am not sure if they were on the Fruit Market part of the building. Can any of your readers recall these heads and what they signified? J Meadows 7 Rutherford House Over Hulton Bolton BL5 1DH Our Infant department, School Street, Higher Ince 1956 40

chasing policeman; quite what I was up to escapes me now, Wartime Blitz on Atherton although what I do remember is I was very interested in the story in Past Forward no 38 re the that I did escape! landmine which fell on Cox’s farm, as on the same night another Subsequently, I worked at landmine was dropped and exploded in the brook just behind the Rose Bridge pit alongside Jack Station Hotel on Bolton Road which my parents managed. I was only Alker who, incidentally, was also six years old at the time but can remember being in the cellar of the mentioned elsewhere in the hotel for shelter when it exploded, resulting in us having to move out due to the damage and having to stay with Mr & Mrs Woodward who edition. Jack and I both trained lived on Newbrook Road, near Hulton Park Gates, and owned the at Billy Beech’s gym and garage which was situated near Atherton Town Hall. Marylebone appeared as wrestlers at At the time I was very annoyed with the person who dropped the Ardwick Stadium in Manchester. mine as the night before I had been playing with my collection of Village After time spent as a porter glass marbles and of course they all got lost in the resulting debris. at Wigan Wallgate and Atlas The father of James Speakman who wrote the article was our Dear Editor Forge in Lower Ince, I also milk supplier and was also a customer in the hotel. It certainly I read with such interest Mrs worked for an asbestos brought back memories and was made more interesting by the fact Rowe’s article about Marylebone company on the re-roofing of of being involved in it.Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Village in the recent edition of Trencherfield Mill. However, FE Underwood Past Forward. The picture of the many Wiganers will have heard Stores brought back one of a man who gave me a lift to memory in particular, as my first RoF Risley: Jim Sullivan. Jim ran ATHERTON BLITZ ever job was as a grocery a fleet of lorries and we were Dear Mr Gillies drawer for my mother’s carving delivery boy at Marylebone Store excavating for underground I refer to the article by James knife. The wind was rapidly Speakman in issue no.38 when I left school in 1927. Apart buildings in the late 30’s. Jim, of blowing the parachute over our regarding the blitz over Atherton way. My father and I stood side from the huge basket on the course, was a famous member during the night of 7 May 1941. by side in the back doorway front of the bike I can recall little of the Wigan RL team and It was a lovely moonlit night with our weapons at the ready. I of my time there, although as it captained Great Britain. which was ideal for the German think we realised was to be the first of 25 jobs, Like Mrs Rowe I do so love Luftwaffe, due to their being simultaneously that it was perhaps I wasn’t cut out for it or that part of Wigan as it holds able to identify their targets by actually a land mine at the it didn’t pay as well as the coal! memories of many happy days. moonlight by means of same time because, without a I must admit I have a slightly If anyone remembers the area reflections from rivers and word being said, we were both different recollection of the around Seed Street, Platt Lane, railway lines. trying to get under the table Wigan Lane parade of suitors Scholes, I would dearly love to At that time my family lived through the trapdoor at the from Swinley to Cherry Gardens hear from them. in Worthing Grove, Atherton, same time, a sight not to be - as young lads we referred to it Many thanks for the article, just off Wigan Road. Our back forgotten! as ‘the rabbit run’! Mrs Rowe. garden went down to Harrison’s As a footnote, Mr Speakman Indeed, my outstanding Stan Roberts Farm fields with the Baptist mentioned Rev Glen Evans in memory of Wigan Lane involved 9 Riverside Road tennis courts and Atherton Old his article. Both my elder sister me jumping on a passing tram Penwortham Cemetery beyond that. My Vera and I were educated at the to escape the attentions of a Preston PR1 9RE father considered that jumping Chowbent Unitarian School until in and out of the Anderton we reached 11 years of age, shelter which was usually full of when we attended Hesketh water was not on, so decided to Fletcher School. Incidentally my make his own shelter under the younger sister June was dining room floor, close to the baptised at Chowbent Chapel chimney breast, by cutting out a and we all attended Chowbent square hole in the floorboards; Chapel and Sunday School. Rev this we subsequently made into Evans used to visit our homes a trap door over which we on his bicycle and let us listen to pushed the dining room table to his gold pocket watch which enable the entrance to be kept chimed on the quarter, half hour clear in case of falling debris. and hour. I remember him On the night in question we saying in one of his Sunday got so fed up with going in the services that he felt that shelter during the raid that my children were not coming to father and I went to stand at the chapel because they only had back door, looking at the red clogs to wear, which made quite sky over Liverpool and a noise in the chapel due to the Manchester and thinking about flag floor which was made up of the poor souls that lived there. gravestones. He decided, All of a sudden we saw a therefore, that to eliminate any parachute drifting towards us. embarrassment, from that day My father, who had been a forward he would only wear prisoner of the Germans in the clogs, which he did! First World War and was now From what I understand, serving his country as a after surviving the land mine VE Day, Hayward Street, Spring View, Ince Sergeant in the Home Guard, attack his gold watch went black (kindly donated by Miss V. Clayton of Sping View). immediately identified it as a and the gold colour never Those she recalls include: V. Clayton, Mellings, Lowes, German pilot or paratrooper. returned. Parrs, Cunliffe, Hollands, McNamara. He then got the axe out of Ken Pearce the shed whilst I reached in the Harrogate 41

not least, on the right wing, a Mary Tomlinson - Pit Brow Worker big strong North Counties 100 yards winner, who if he caught he showed off to us, would telling me that he and another the ball could not be caught. come off the line or turn over. To soldier had just returned from Joe Allen was left wing and I our relief, an Inspector on the holiday in Crhome-Pet, 20 miles played centre to him. line forced him to stop, from from Madras, where they had One Saturday at Central Park which we made a swift escape. stayed at Mary’s (now Mrs Roll) we were due to play a round in Joe Allen, whom I mentioned home. the Daily Dispatch shield, but above, came from Little Lane, Before long, Mary wrote to five of our team failed to turn Dear Sir, Wigan and for some time played invite me with another solider to up, evidently gone to watch Sincere and many thanks for for Orrell R U. In 1929, as a similar holiday. As I was due Wigan playing not for away in a Past Forward no. 37. I read with pupils of Highfield C E School for two weeks leave, I set off round of the Rugby League Cup. interest James Fairhurst’s and 13 – 14 years of age, with with a fellow solider, Stan George Millard from Spring article, “A Pit Brow Girls Story”. Ken Gee, the great Wigan Etheridge. The journey by train Bank immediately washed his I remember Mary Tomlinson, forward, a year younger than took two full days and a night - a hands of us. But before who lived only a few yards from most of us, we had great hopes lot longer than we expected – reaching 14 years of age, we did me in Southern Street; her of winning the Daily Dispatch but we had to stop at many manage to arrange two friendly mother had a little milliner’s shield. Other members of our stations for food and drink. In games ourselves. One was with shop in Billinge Road. team included Fred Fouracre the second day before reaching St Josephs, whom we defeated On leaving school at 14 years from a farm near Pony Dick, Madras, at one of the stations, 27:0. Their Headmaster, Mr of age, Mary became a pit brow Horace Lappage from the the driver asked us “if we would McGuire, told us at the close of worker at Pemberton colliery, Outdoor Licence at the top end like a ride with him in the cab”. the match we were the dirtiest down Foundery Lane, picking of Enfield Street, John Cadman An Anglo Indian, he said that team they had ever played very small pieces of coal from from Tunstall Lane, Horace there was a good long straight against! Hopefully, he was the coal dust. At the age of 16, Williams who, at 16 years of railway ahead and so, partly to referring to the dirt of Swan having been encouraged by J W age, played full back for Wigan ease the monotony of the Meadow, which did not have a Brierly, Headmaster of the Boy’s Highfield, Donald Heaton from journey, we said yes. blade of grass, and the School, she started to go to Billinge Road, a good strong fast With a bottle of whiskey by occasional patch of cinders night school in Liverpool and runner, Jimmy Lowe from his side, from which he partook thrown from the coal-fire heated finally passed out as a Lady Ormskirk Road, a good scrum every so often, and a very hot homes nearby. A week or so Doctor; eventually she went to half and later on, with John coal fire, he frightened our lives later we played St Marks, India. In late 1943 in India I Heaton, opening batsman for out, thinking that at any minute Newtown. This match was much received a letter from Joe Allen Wigan Cricket Club and last but his engine, now at full throttle as tighter - we won 3:0 with one try. Jack Houghton Birkdale Southport Bird Street, Jubilee of King George V Dear Sir Wigan still Thank you once again for printing my letter in your recent home issue of Past Forward. Dear Sir, I knew the Crooks from As an ex pat Wigan lad I Higher Ince. I think one of the thank you for such an family had a butcher’s shop interesting publication as Past around Earl Street; his name Forward. was Billy and he used to go I receive this pre-owned,as round the streets with a horse they now say in the motor trade drawn van before World War II. industry, after it has gone There was also a Crook family through three other hands. It in Bird Street; my mother went arrives here in South Africa in to school with one of the girls at Kwa Zulu (Natal), and is sent to the Old Ince Central School. me by my old friend Joe Siney, I also went to Ince Central ex Bird Street,Higher Ince. School. I started in 1933 at the Bird Street, Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary. Bird Street I am now over the allotted age of four. On my first day I won first prize for best decorated street, we lived in Bird Street at three score years and 10 and had an accident; I wasn’t quite the time. The houses in the photograph have all been knocked have been in Africa 40 years, sure where the toilets were, down. but Wigan is still home. I and didn’t quite make it in married Veronica Maxwell from time, then had to go back into There are many definitions of organizer of the event; she is in the off license on Warrington the class and suffer in silence the word. ‘Burgee’ was also the front of the photograph. Road, Lower Ince; we met when till it was time to go home, mentioned. Burgee Ben the She went on to become Mrs we were 14 and had a marriage when I had to explain to my wrestler worked on the tips at Matthews and Chairperson of of 47 wonderful years until her mother what had happened. Rose Bridge Colliery. Aspull Council. A local grocer, sad death last year. Happy days! I enclose a photograph of Mr Rawson, can also be seen at Ron Winnard The ‘Petty’ was mentioned Bird Street before the War; I the front. The photograph Northcliff 6 in another article. What about think it was the Silver Jubilee of might stir a few memories. South Africa the rank of Petty Officer in the King George V and Queen A E Smith Email: Navy, and a petty offence? Mary. Liza Hunt was the main Winstanley Wigan [email protected] 42

grandmother - to pull the tubs Stoney Lane Bridge and Navvies Lump instead! On a more modern note, in Dear Editor came to an end when the my late teens and early 20’s I I picked up a copy of Past “Dole” was built – development was a regular attender at the Forward in my local library taking over the green spaces Empress Ballroom (Wigan today – the first time for a even then! Emp). There was no bar – you couple of years that I’ve been I could have been no more had to be content with a cup of there at the right time – and than 18 months old when I coffee, or drink your alcohol there were several items which remember being carried by my before you came in, or in the Mr. Harold caught my attention and took grandma, wrapped in her interval on a ‘pass-out’. On me back to my own childhood. shawl, “deyn t’ fowd” to see the Fridays there used to be a late Dowling Although we never used the Billy Bull in the bull pen at Billy dance with first-class visiting Workman Train I too was taken Splutter’s farm (actually William bands. I can’t now recall the Dear Sir by bus for the occasional day Eatock, who didn’t like being bands I heard there, except for Issue no. 38 of Past out at Gathurst. During World called Billy Splutter!). The track one, the Joe Loss Band. I went Forward, containing a letter and War II my dad worked on the is still there, opposite the to the dance with a girl called photograph of Argyle Street railway, getting ‘quarter fare’ Strangeways pub, but the farm Betty Westhead and we had the School, Hindley, from J Bowery train tickets as a perk of the job, is long gone. It was just over temerity to knock on the so that we could often afford to the “bruck bridge” on the of Hove, mentions her teacher bandroom door in the interval go to Southport with another righthand side, and I think the from the old All Saints School, and ask if Mr Loss would sign ‘railway’ family. I remember big barn stretched as far as the our autograph books. Imagine Hindley, a Mr Darling. the train being very crowded by present Grange grazing fields. This was no doubt Mr Harold our surprise when Joe Loss the time it reached Hindley The hay in the barn caught fire himself came to the door to sign Dowling, who became a Green, where we then lived, and towards the end of World War II and have a word with us! Conservative member of the old we were allowed to travel and the barn was burnt out. Imagine our further surprise Wigan Borough Council. He standing up in the guard’s van The farmer did a milk round in when we saw the photograph in eventually was elected Mayor all the way to Southport. Just the old horsedrawn milk float, the next week’s Observer of and later made an Alderman of like A.E. Smith, we went to the ladling the milk directly from ourselves hob-nobbing with the the Borough. He married a beach cafe for a jug of tea, then the churns into the housewives’ great Joe Loss! Although in the teacher colleague at All Saints on to Peter Pan’s, followed by a jugs. future I danced many times to walk beside the lake – what a school, where they taught for I also remember being taken the Joe Loss Band at day out! A far cry from Camelot to Borsdane Wood – just under many years. Hammersmith Palais in London, and Disneyland! the railway bridge at the Mill nothing equalled that first time I Sadly the Argyle Street When I was very small we Lane end there were a few school was demolished quite saw them at the Emp. lived in Liverpool Road at cottages, probably mill workers I spent a year or so as a recently to make way for a new Hindley (still at that time known cottages in the days when the student nurse at Wigan school for children with special by the older locals as Stoney mill was there; at the end one Infirmary, and I remember that needs. Lone). Certainly three years or lived an old lady who used to the owner of the Empress, Mr Austin Lyons so ago the bridge parapet over sell home-made dandelion and Farrimond, used to let the Aspull Wigan the brook was still standing, burdock pop. nurses in free, and would inscribed with “Stoney Lane My grandmother was always make room for us at the Bridge”. We lived in a house in probably born c.1880 and as a special dances, even if all the a small area then known as girl worked on the pit ‘brew’ tickets were sold. He also ran LANCE TODD “Navvies’ Lump” – I was told (her mother had actually the ‘Palais de Dance’ in Dear Sir this was because they were worked down the pit). Millgate, but that was rather The article on Lance Todd thrown up in a hurry to house Apparently the mine was more staid than the Empress – presented by James Fairhurst the labourers working to build unsuitable for pit ponies, so I heard they did Old Tyme in issue 38 of Past Forward was the railway. Those houses are they used young women - dancing there. gone now, and Council most interesting. including my great- Edna Booth properties were built on the You may not be aware that land perhaps 35/40 years ago. Lance Todd was also a member Published by Wigan Heritage Service, Wigan Leisure & Culture Between “Navvies’ Lump” Trust, Market Suite, The Galleries, Wigan WN1 1PX of Wigan Golf Club and was the and the bridge, where the winner of the Captains Prize Social Security office now is, The views expressed in this issue are not necessarily supported competition at Arley Hall in was an open area known as the by Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust. Nothing printed may be 1910. His win is mentioned in “Piggy Field”. This was where construed as policy or an official announcement unless so stated. the men and boys used to go in The History of Wigan Golf Club Neither Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust, nor the Editor, accept by Jack Winstanley. He also the light evenings to play liability for any matter in this publication. won the Medical Cup ‘Piggy’. I never understood the competition in 1921, and his game because girls and women Contributions are welcome but no responsibility can be taken for were not allowed to play, but it loss or damage to contributors’ material. name is on the board which involved a shaped piece of hangs in the clubhouse at Arley wood, narrow at one end and Hall to this day. broad at the other, placed on Ben Hughes the ground and clouted with a Email: stout stick (usually the washday ben.hughes10@btinternet. boiler stick sneaked out from © Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust, March 2005. com home). This entertainment 43

s k e e e? as ts. he op op wn or her hair o t ving her ce as os on ied as t s. T h (t s, can , Duk y of t k ied, but med as er en t he home 70’ ir e, please ar on at w 9 ak s, c iped shir t s Mill, it is o pho y tr s; t le er y P y identif actur t t issue w as t sle el or an, 1 ight. The o os tball matc he s he tw he Who? Wher er 960’ ig wn her ict k he same sour oo 432) o t , 1 4 ing t y s, while Ir he las om r t been identif wner of Diamond’ rank Sing hat it w d F le tt om t er ear y t hing manuf om Ec s F t s Mill, W har 42 40 el w y e w 9 raphs sho actur o fr 1 e in t ou can help identify an sle esponse t ight has been conf t, Chor y lik og ell. o has no act Len Hudson in Leigh T t t er If y The location of t ee k t) has been positiv cellent. The f tr x ight sho he r he tw aking place at V eatur eam ar be seen bo t ladies clo highl f pho as it came fr in Ric Diamond, o manuf as w The r e t S lef t r Ec pho cont t Hall (0 e? Wher Who?

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