Produced by Heritage Service Issue No. 47 December - March 2008

£1 YOUR HERITAGE HERITAGE SERVICE

Contents Letter from the

4-5 Heritage Service 6-8 Family History Editorial Team 10 When Borsdane Wood It is that time of year again! We wish all our readers a nearly became a Mine very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

11 World War 1 We would also like to say how much we appreciate all your contributions, and their value for the social history of Wigan. Please Battlefields of France keep writing to us, for without you, there would be no PAST FORWARD . 12-13 A Portrait of my Both the magazine and the service have undergone a number Grandmother of changes this year, including the introduction of a charge for PAST FORWARD and a change in opening hours at our various venues. 14 Reader's Photographs Needless to say, all changes have been made so that we can progress our work to ensure that, in the long term, we can provide 15 Trencherfield Mill a better service for everyone who uses the Heritage Service and all its Engine resources. 16-17 Stone House The New Year will bring more changes to the History Shop. No doubt Pennington most of you will have seen the press releases detailing our recent Lottery Fund award. We are very excited (see page 23) for it will enable us to 18-19 The Other Side take the service forward, and enable us to deliver the 21st century of the Heath service that local people, and all our customers deserve. We will keep you informed of progress. 20-23 The Leigh Poor Law Union New Heritage HISTORY SHOP 24-26 Hindley Green Springs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10.00-4.00 Colliery Disaster Service Opening Wednesday Closed 27 Ghostly Tales from Hours Saturday 10.00-1.00 a Policeman Readers will remember that in ARCHIVE SERVICE () 28-31 Reader's Letters issue 45 we promised a review of the current opening hours at our By appointment only 32 Reunion Gidlow venues (introduced to facilitate Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10.00-1.00 and 2.00-4.30 Secondary Modern work on a number of improvements to the service) in School for Girls LEIGH LOCAL HISTORY December 2007. (Leigh Turnpike Centre) 33 Society News Substantial work has already been The local history desk will be undertaken, and we are pleased 35 Can You Help? open as normal during library to be able to report that opening opening hours. hours will increase in the New FRONT COVER PICTURE Year. The Local History Officer will be Robin on snowy branch present at the following times. by Derek Swift. The new hours will come into Alternate Mondays 9.00-5.00 Wigan Photographic Society. force from the 28 January 2008, Thursday 9.00-7.00 Voted Best Picture 2006 and are as follows. Alternate Saturdays 9.30-4.00 Exhibition.

2 Deadline for Issue 48 New Staff for the Contributors please note that the deadline for Heritage Service receipt of material for publication is 21 January The Heritage Service has three new members of staff, Rachel Orme, 2008. Alex Miller and Jennifer Broadbent. The Editor Rachel (Learning and Outreach Manger) previously worked in Wigan Heritage Service voluntary sector management, and before that she managed The History Shop widening participation, lifelong learning and accessibility through ICT Library Street projects for Education and Cultural Services at a Local Authority level. Wigan WN1 1NU She says “I am really excited about my new role here at the Heritage [email protected] Services as it is all about increasing learning opportunities and activities; this will be implemented in part by the engagement of and participation by new and existing learning groups throughout the Borough in heritage-focused projects. I would be really interested in Errors speaking to anyone who is directly involved in widening participation/increasing activity in the Borough's communities.” In issue 46 the author of “Wiganers at Gallipoli” Alex took up post as archivist at the was stated as Derek beginning of October, having previously Holmes. In fact, the author worked as a volunteer at a number of is a Mr D Huntington. repositories including the West Yorkshire We apologise for any Archive Service, Leeds and Unilever Archives inconvenience or offence in Port Sunlight. He has recently completed caused. his formal training and has a Masters Editor. Degree in Archives and Records Management. Alex says “I look forward to learning much more about the collections A new family history service in Leigh and meeting all of the researchers has also been introduced at and historians who use them.” He will also Leigh, working in partnership be giving regular updates about the archive Alex Miller with Leigh & District Family service in future editions. History Society. Jennifer joins us for nine months as They will be providing a help Collections Assistant to work on the desk every Monday between Museum Collections Project. An Oxford 1.30 and 3.30. It is free, no graduate (Modern History), she also has appointments are necessary, extensive volunteer experience at just turn up. Colchester Museums, the Wordsworth Trust and the Hat Museum, Stockport. The new opening hours She too has just completed a Masters give visitors an extra 11.30 Degree, but in Museum Studies, and has hours per week between the a particular interest in the contribution History Shop and the Archive. museums can make to mental health and Staff will also be able to well being. Jennifer's work will enable carry on with the exciting better management of the collections, and innovative work on Jennifer Broadbent re-direct resources where needed most the collections and the HLF bid, and ensure increased public access. which feed into the Heritage We are very pleased that they have joined the team, and look forward Vision and long term plans to to reaping the fruits of their labours, which will also have many improve the services on offer. benefits for all who use the Heritage Service. Editor

3 HERITAGE SERVICE

Heritage Vision Facilities

To engage people in their own and Wigan's heritage We will: through creative management and use of archives, G ensure your safety by complying with all Health collections and heritage resources. & Safety policies and procedures G endeavour to make your visit a pleasant and Our Customer Charter comfortable experience by ensuring that our facilities meet acceptable standards of quality and cleanliness Wigan Heritage Service offers a museums, archives G seek to provide reasonable physical access to and local history service for Wigan Borough. It our outlets operates from three main outlets - The History Shop in Wigan, Archives in Leigh Town Hall and Leigh Contact Local History in Leigh Library. The service also has responsibility for Astley Green Colliery, and We are keen to continually improve our service. produces the popular newsletter Past Forward. The Heritage Service staff would welcome any Wigan Heritage Service aims to: comments, compliments or complaints which you may have. You can give us feedback via complaints G promote its services for the Borough of Wigan forms, comments books or suggestions boxes at in an interesting, educational and enjoyable any of our venues, or email us at way. [email protected] G provide all sections of the community with ready access to their heritage G offer a quality service that gives best value in partnership with Visitor Services

We aim to: the fifth annual Leigh & Wigan G provide and efficient, friendly and customer Words Together focused service LITERARY FESTIVAL G offer a range of services, both educational and ‘08 recreational, designed to meet the needs of all our visitors G consult with existing and potential users and partners for their views to help us improve our service G respond to your feedback and enquiries as speedily as possible, and certainly within 10 working days Monday 24 March - Saturday 5 April 2008 Collections

The Service collects, safeguards and makes accessible artefacts, archives and local history resources, which it holds in trust for the Wigan community. We will ensure that: G all artefacts and archives within our trust are cared for to national standards G these will be made available for your enjoyment, inspiration and education, subject to available resources www.wlct.org/festivalfever

4 2006/07 Customer Charter Update Volunteering

VISITOR SERVICES with the Provide an efficient, friendly and From our survey all of you rated our Heritage Service customer focused service. services good or excellent (100%) with over 80% 'very satisfied'. Do you love history? Offer a range of services, both Last year the Heritage Service Want to become involved? educational and recreational, put on 74 educational or Have a few hours a day to designed to meet the needs of all. outreach based activities. That's spare each week? up from 45 the previous year. Then why not become a Consult with existing and potential Our surveys themselves generated volunteer with the users and partners for their views 98 responses last year. Heritage Service? to help us improve our service. Also we got a response from over 100 people during our opening There are opportunities hour's consultation in January '07. to work with the public Respond to your feedback Our record for the year April 2005- (on the local and family and enquiries as speedily as March 2006 was 98% answered history desk, working with possible, and certainly within within ten working days, up from community groups) and on 10 working days. 97% last year. 'back-room' tasks (research COLLECTIONS and indexing).

Ensure that all artefacts and Wigan Heritage Service continues In particular, we are looking archives within our trust are cared to be a registered museum under for volunteers to work with for to national standards. the Museums Libraries and Archive Council and an authorised our learning and outreach repository for church records. team, helping to develop and deliver our learning Ensure that they will be made During the year the History Shop activities. Specifically; available for your enjoyment, was open five days per week for inspiration and education, subject exhibitions and family history to availability. study. The Archive search room G Delivery of educational was available by appointment sessions based on two days per week. heritage FACILITIES G Directed research for educational materials Ensure your safety by complying We have had no complaints G Basic IT - data input, with all Health & Safety policies about Health & Safety and no and procedures. incidents. working with text and images for presentations Endeavour to make your visit a Visitors satisfaction rating was and slideshows pleasant and comfortable 96% for the year, whilst G Data collation/ experience by ensuring that our comments from visitors helped facilities meet acceptable standards with improvements to our toilets. interpretation of quality and cleanliness. G Assisting with preparation of Seek to provide reasonable The ground floor of the History educational materials physical access to our outlets. Shop is fully accessible. Plans are being pursued to create full access to the first floor. As an For more information alternative to History Shop access contact the History Shop on to the first floor a ground floor 01942 828128. study area is provided. The Archive search room is already served by a lift.

5 FAMILY HISTORY

Recent additions General 942.7 Higham, N.J. A frontier 282.42761 Marsh, V. A history of landscape: the North West in the to the Reference the church of St Joseph at Middle Ages. Wrightington. Collections 942.736 Miller, Allan. Up Holland 283.42736 Hindley Green St John Church 1307-2007. Donations the Evangelist. Golden jubilee 942.76 Freethy, Ron. Abram St John C.E. 1899-1949, souvenir v. Hitler: civilians at war. Monumental inscriptions, handbook. 1838-2006. CD-ROM. 287.142736 Centenary souvenir 942.76 Record Society of Ashton in Makerfield Tithe map of the Methodist Church, Lancashire and Cheshire volume (Fiche). Vale, Appley Bridge 142. Jacobites and Jacobins: two Blackbrook St Mary RC Marriage 1859-1959. eighteenth century perspectives. Index 9 January 1836-27 November 1920. 287.142736 Whelley Methodist Project News Church Centenary celebrations Census index for Skelmersdale 1868-1968. and Lathom for 1891. After a slow start to the Guild of One Name Studies 287.542736 Arrowsmith, J.L. summer, we have received an Register of names 2006. A brief history of Ashton in amazing amount of donations and completed projects. Thanks Hindley Tithe map (fiche). Makerfield Congregational Church 1824-1980. are due to Gerry and Shirley Orrell St Luke C.E. Baptism index Rigby for publishing the and register 8 February 1903 - 306.4812 Borsam, excellent work produced by the 26 August 1979. Peter. A history of leisure. Pimbo group which has managed to complete the Orrell St Luke C.E. Burials and 320.531 North West Labour indexing of Orrell St Luke's cremations 19 October 1929 - History Group. Journal No. 32. registers. Since these registers 14 May 2007. 2007-08 Orrell St Luke C.E. Marriage index are unfilmed the transcripts are 2 April 1923 - 14 October 2006. 338.2724 Davies, Alan. The pit our only record. Throughout the brow women of the Wigan summer they have also tackled St Mark C.E. Newtown, coalfield. Wigan All Saints marriages from Pemberton. Marriage index 1594 to 1958. This has entailed 16 September 1892-29 791.43028092 Williams, P.M. a great deal of checking and September 1962. Wired to the moon revision and because of the Wigan All Saints. Marriage index (Frank Randle). great numbers of entries 10 November 1594 - 796.33406 Jones, Ed. involved the work is bound in 19 April 1958 in 3 vols. Northern Soul three enormous volumes. But Wigan Cemetery indexes (Wigan Athletic FC). that is not the end of their 27 April 1932 - 16 January 1956 industry. Just last month I vols 11-13. 828.08 Collection of poems and received 3 more indexes, Wigan Cemetery 24 January 1976 stories to celebrate International including notably the marriage - 29 June 1988 filmed pages and Women's Day 2007. index for St Mark's Newtown. index. 914.270486 Maconie, Stuart. Thanks go to all indexers Pies and prejudice. involved in the project. To Genealogy Barbara Davies, Barbara Lancashire Parish Register Society. 929.1 Bali, Karen. Hodgson, Alan Maloney, and Volume NCI- Mitton All Hallows People finder. Marianne Humphreys and of 1610-1812 CD-ROM. 942.05 Walsham, Alexandra. course, to Gerry and Shirley. Overseas births, marriages and Charitable hatred; tolerance deaths 1761-1994. CD-ROM. Meanwhile the indexes to and intolerance in Wigan Lower Ince Cemetery Herber, Mark Ancestral trails. 1500-1700. have been progressing apace. 2nd edition.

6 We now have an almost complete set of indexes running from 1856 Family History Workshops to 1988. Work has also started to Who Do You Think You Are? correct and update the indexes. The earlier volumes produced did New to family history? Have you wanted to explore your family tree not include grave numbers. Freda for ages but don't know how? Why not enrol on one of our Family Chorlton has now begun to History Workshops and have a one to one with one of our volunteers! remedy this oversight. Freda has These workshops are intended however for your Wigan and Leigh area also photographed and relatives only. If your ancestors were from other areas you will need to indexed the one register visit that area. remaining with the Cemeteries New classes starting on the following dates in 2008. Office. This is available to search on CD ROM at The History Shop, JANUARY ...... 9th, 23rd MAY ...... 14th, 28th as are all of the other completed FEBRUARY ...... 6th, 20th JUNE ...... 11th, 25th indexes. Thank you Freda. MARCH ...... 5th, 19th JULY ...... 9th, 23rd APRIL ...... 2nd, 16th, 30th Finally, a big thank you to Ring 01942 828128 for more details. There is a charge of £3.50 per Leigh Family History Society, session payable in advance. for donating the memorial Before attending please take the time to gather information together inscriptions to St John Abram about your family and bring this along to the sessions. Bring along any on CD ROM. Copies may be certificates that you may have. purchased from the Society. Coming Soon - Group workshops, keep a look for more details.

7 FAMILY HISTORY

Genealogy on archaeologist Neil Oliver, There are some particularly engineering heritage expert, poignant entries in the Irish the Web Claire Barratt and international immigration lists for Canada. For historian Dr Jeevan Deol, instance a Thomas Martin aged www.bmdregisters.co.uk examine treasures found in 71 born County Cork was taken This new site is a result of The viewers' attics or their family into the Poor House at St John in National Archives (TNA) teaming heirlooms. They use a variety of 1842 and was stated to be lame up with S & N Genealogy techniques, including family and destitute. Not all of the data Supplies to enable family history, to explore and explain sets are for ships sailing from historians to view some 5,000 the object in question. As a Ireland. Importantly there are lists Nonconformist registers online. result there have been some for emigrants from . The There is an initial free search fascinating programmes. Ann Hall sailed from Liverpool with a charge for advanced One particular programme and arrived at St John in Canada searches and the downloading explored why a Lancashire in July 1848. The Grimes family of images. TNA's collection man would have a copy of a from Monaghan, who travelled online covers RG 4 and RG 5 Catholic Bible dating from a on this ship, were admitted to with the project aiming to time when it was not advisable the Poor House in September, digitise further records of birth, to own up to having a copy. An October and December of the marriage and death from intricate story unwound year following and discharged RG 6-8, 32-36 and BT 158-160. involving Stoneyhurst College soon after. If you have Irish and France. Another story relatives who emigrated this is Before the introduction of civil involved finding out about an another site to check out. registration in 1837, church army uniform and its' owner. registers were important sources The main interest in these new of information on births, The website has tips on additions is of course the World marriages and deaths. Non- researching your own topics as War 1 pension records. Few conformists, that is, Methodists, well as an interactive feature service records have survived Baptists, and Presbyterians, at enabling you to follow a history from the First World War, this time often kept detailed trail along a virtual high street. ironically due to bombing during registers and the Second World War, so these were particularly keen to have a www.ancestry.co.uk/military records are particularly civil system of registration. Yet again this wonderful website important. However, the main The site covers the years up to has added important data sets point of these records is that the 1840 and some registers to search and download. This soldiers have to have survived to included start in 1567. Local time it's British Army World War be awarded pensions. The service Methodist churches are covered 1 pension records, Irish records of those who died in the by RG 4. marriages war will still, in the majority, be 1771-1812, Irish immigration lost to us. Details from these www.open2.net/ lists 1833-39, Irish passenger records include when and where historydetectives lists 1803-06, Irish immigration enlisted, parents' names, If like me you religiously watch to New Brunswick, Canada addresses, occupation at BBC 2's The History Detectives 1841-49 and Australian convict enlistment and service details programme on Friday evenings, transportation registers during the war, including injuries you'll be interested to know 1787-1868. and discharge details. If like me about their website. For those of your direct relative was killed and you who have as yet not The Australian transportation no records survive for him, why cottoned on to this brilliant registers can be searched by not try a brother or other programme, let me give you a name and year. Details include relative's name. These may be taste of what the programme ship name, names of convicts, viewed free of charge at The has in store. A small team of where convicted, date and term History Shop and in all Wigan “detectives” comprising, served. and Leigh Borough libraries.

8 Last Chance to See 'The Way We Were'!

Wigan Pier's 'The Way We Were' closes on Thursday studios. In addition, 20th December. To entice old friends and new a flexible 106 seat visitors for a final visit 'The Way We Were' is offering theatre space will entry at a special discounted rate of just £2 for all give performers the visitors. Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust's Executive opportunity to work Director for Heritage Pete Gascoigne said: “The Way in a professional We Were has been a hugely successful heritage space that could attraction, and we would like people who haven't also be used to show been before to enjoy the experience for themselves local films or art-house before we move on”. cinema. This will complement Wigan Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is currently working Council's partnership in partnership with Wigan Council and Drumcroon with Wigan and arts education service to finalise plans for a new arts Leigh College who and heritage learning centre at Wigan Pier Quarter. are planning to Pete continued: “We are looking to the future with create a 300-plus seat venue at The Linacre Theatre. determination and enthusiasm. The spirit of The Following closure, the building housing The Way We Way We Were will live on in the new developments Were will be handed back to Wigan Council who is at the Wigan Pier Quarter. We will continue to offer currently seeking expressions of interest from an educational experience that will enhance the prospective new tenants. excellent reputation synonymous with the name Wigan Pier.” 'The Way We Were' at Wigan Pier is open Monday to Thursday 10am to 5pm and on Sundays 11am to A project team is currently finalising plans for the 5pm. The £2 offer extends to all visitors with the new £4 million plus facility which will include the exception of special activities and entrance to the world famous Trencherfield Mill Engine as its Trencherfield Mill Engine. Visit www.wiganpier.net heritage centrepiece. Plans for the new centre also or call 01942 323666 for further details. include a large gallery space, workshops and artists

9 When Borsdane Wood Nearly Became a Mine By Austin Lyons

It's not much to look at, but of four stout trees now dominate youngsters. Shortly after his certainly a powerful reminder of this scene, standing like sentinels retirement (how many years ago?) what might have been - a large guarding a tomb. What is more I was making my exit from the mound of earth, blended over the remarkable is that one of the latest Wood, using the gradient path years into the rest of the terrain - foot-bridges to be placed over the leading out to Hall Lane, when, on not exactly a grave but a fitting brook looks directly to the area in the boundary fence I noticed some memorial all the same. question. It is doubtful, if those graffiti there, in white chalk was involved in this task, had the boldly printed “Bring Evans back”. It was around 1926-27 that an slightest idea, that they were What a compliment - almost enthusiastic mining prospector, Mr responsible for directing people to written with affection, to the old Bartly Davy, started his excavations an incident of such historical and rather rotund wood-keeper. at the Hindley end of Borsdane interest. This short lived excavation The new forester, younger and Wood - only a few yards from the occurred, long before the Wood more agile, gave the mischievous brook. The father of a large family came under the control of the rascals a more scaring “run for from Liverpool Road, Hindley, he three Urban District Councils of their money”. A resident in Hall had the good fortune of having a Hindley, and Lane, Hindley, taking his daily stroll ready-made labour force in his . Meanwhile, Mr Davy through the wood recently, said he several sons. It was whilst making continued his mining career and came across a deer - a rare sight one of my boyhood excursions eventually became the manager of indeed - but we shouldn't be too into the Wood at this time, that I one of the collieries in the surprised, after all Hindley's name was able with youthful excitement, Bickershaw area. In more recent means “hind-lee” and a reclining to witness some of this activity. times, there has been speculation hind features prominently in the about the possibility of coal town's old coat of arms. All the usual mining and lifting mining, once again in the vicinity equipment was there - the lads of Borsdane Wood, but this was shoring up the hole with wooden rejected by the local authority. planks with each bucketful of earth lifted. It wasn't long before This natural park is one of the they had penetrated the clay and largest in the Wigan conurbation were now hauling up quantities of and in addition to its being a grey slay - a positive indication of firmly established bird sanctuary, the near presence of coal. It was at has in recent years become this point, which has always to the grey squirrel. Its springtime remained a mystery, that after a profusion of bluebells and few days, the prospecting daffodils, attract photographers suddenly stopped. They at once and artists alike, both amateur and set about dismantling their professional. During the school equipment and then refilled the holidays, the Wood becomes an hole. This completed, there still adventure playground for children remained a residual amount of of all ages. Herbert Evans, the earth which formed the mound in former forester in charge, faced question. Eighty years on, by a the problem of how best to deal strange quirk of nature, the trunks with some of the more exuberant

10 The World War I Battlefields of France

Vera Howarth of Abram has kindly offered to share with readers her extensive collection of photographs of World War I cemeteries and graves in France. The death of her husband’s grandfather near Arras in 1917, has led to a great interest in the subject, and they frequently visit these sites and photograph them.

Occasionally, they come across the graves of other Wiganers, and they have sent these photographs. The grave is that of Gunner J Hoyle of the Royal Garrison Artillery and the cemetery is Aveluy Wood on the Somme.

If any reader wants to contact Mrs Howarth, please get in touch and we will pass your details on.

Editor

11 By Lilian A Portrait of Yates my Grandmother Lillian Gorner 1892-1963

Everyone called her “mother”, even in Hindley. Its wares were second to shower her with news I knew would the neighbours if my memory serves none. Aunts Marjorie and Dorothy enthral her. She kept copious supplies me correctly, so I did too, never worked there and they all lived with of Victory V lozenges which I loved. grandma or nan. mother in their little terrace house. Sometimes she fed me with so many They brought home pies, fruit tarts, in such a short space of time I was She was the product of her times, custards and chocolate cakes, virtually chloroformed, probably when restricted, superstitious, in constant especially at the weekend. she needed a bit of respite from the fear of what the neighbours might banter that enchanted her so much. think. The fact that she never passed Mother limited her use of fresh food, beyond the boundaries of her front not so much correlated with There’s no need for a woman in her gate or further than the “back yard”, availability, but more to do with her fifties to be dowdy now, but then (estate agents call them courtyards suspicion of anything not a potato, a they all looked ancient. Mother did to now, but they’re back yards all the carrot or an apple. Those beyond the me, with her long dark garments of same) suited me just fine. It meant norm were deemed exotic, so a risk. It thick material covered over by an she was always in. Reliability is a good was also compulsory for any apron, wrinkled ‘Nora Batty’ lisle trait in a grandma. Children like to vegetation that entered the house to stockings and usually a hair net over think those they depend on, live in be semi decayed. Fermenting wrinkled her pulled back hair. That outfit cupboards. Mine did. It was so apples tasting of cider and soil bore reflected a state of mind. It was a reassuring to know where mother no resemblance to anything I had at uniform to the convention of daily would be at any given time. Much home. De-seeding was essential chores. The image of Terry Jones in later, of course, I realised she suffered (appendicitis) as was peeling “The Life of Brian” . But it was from agoraphobia, but people (indigestion). The time limit on fruit the slippers that live on most, check weren’t so ready to stick labels on consumption was 6pm (insomnia). wool with the front turned over in conditions then. In mother’s day, off-white cuffs with a ginger pom- But those cakes! personal foibles were accepted. It was pom in the centre, that I called a bob. as it was. Mothers just didn’t go out. I was eighteen before I realised I liked The landmark of old age, worn by tea, away from home for the first time those who wish to signal that they’ve Apparently, she did venture to shops at teacher training college. given up on joy. and even as far as Blackpool when I Incidentally, mother was horrified was very small, but by the time she’d when I mentioned my ambition to go I must have been about eight when been appointed as ‘mother’ in my to college. She didn’t believe I could over a cup of tea she said, “You’ll not eyes, she was well and truly fixed as ‘do it’ to begin with, but her main know what worry is yet but I do”. She firmly as the furniture into 376, objection was that girls got married, was right. I hadn’t a clue. Not that I Downall Green Road, Bryn, Wigan, so education was a waste. The future recall her ever having a jolly good Lancs. We lived there for a while was prescribed in terms of shop work laugh or letting her inhibitions slip. awaiting the tenancy of our council or the respectability of an office or a She never played with me. I can’t house, my parents and I, and when bank, and there was I, getting ideas remember any physical affection. She we moved, not far away, I still above my station, “peas above sticks”, was cold. The strange thing is that so constantly went ‘up’, probably “too big for boots”. Mother’s greeting many years on I’m writing about her, motivated by a need to perpetuate to me on my numerous visits was, because despite her foibles, I felt and the familiar in the first instance, then “Have a cup of tea so you won’t get still feel a strong bond. Being an only by food. Not mother’s cooking, for headache”, and I did, treacly stuff child, mother’s home provided a everything she touched was converted over stewed and sweetened, a blend much-needed extra dimension to my to mush or fried crispy black. To unique to our family, for she passed life. Jimmy, Dorothy and Marjorie replace the taste which was entirely those tea making skills on to my would return from the bakery at the cooked out in their pans on trivets father, Stanley. end of the day on the bus. Then the over an open fire then later on a house would be full with mother at its cooker in the lean-to (called I never doubted mother’s delight at centre in her apron and ‘beddies’, conservatories now), she added seeing me when I ‘went up’. I’d give slicing a cob of bread on a board in lashings of pepper and salt. The food one sharp rap on the front door and the middle of the table, a reassuring joy came from Uncle Jimmy’s bakery walk in with, “it’s me!” Then I’d ritual to precede dishing out the mush

12 and the black fried bits. It might have place when my mother was in was a skill that stood me in good been the eccentricity that I liked. But I hospital and I was staying at 376. stead. think mostly it was the reassurance of Though she thought it unnecessary, the sameness of things. mother begrudgingly allowed me a Christmas meant Dorothy bringing bath in a tub, after which I was rich fruit cakes home to ice and they She wouldn’t open windows (lest any expected to wear the same clothes as were exquisite works of art. She made joy might drift in by accident on a I’d had on the week before. I refused intricate trellises in royal icing over breeze). Draughts were lethal things. and sat naked and cross-legged, arms moulds, piped filigree patterns, white Neither would she allow wild flowers folded on the stairs until mother gave on white, and she never made a in the house, a fact discovered in a in and provided me with something mistake. My love of cake decoration very hurtful way. My friend, Jean clean. She relented mostly to spare began there. I never formally trained Daniels and I had picked some from a Jimmy the vision of naked flesh, in and have never matched that copse on a beautiful sunny evening. It utter despair. Prim and proper beyond expertise, but if you ask what must have been May, for I can picture measure, I fail to comprehend how Christmas meant to me as a child, I’d hawthorn blossom spilling out, she ever came to have four children of say Dorothy’s cakes. They should have bluebells and something pink, her own. been exhibited, not eaten. I hope I campion perhaps. I gave mine proudly told her so. Probably I didn’t. The to mother as the perfect gift. Having Most bizarre of the mundane tasks whole package was just there, taken left some item behind, we returned a that marked out the passage of her for granted just as sure as night little later to find the drooping days was the ritual sweeping of the follows day. Christmas also meant two bouquet on top of the dustbin. I felt back room, that I frequently sets of gifts. At mother’s they’d be utterly violated. The reason? They witnessed in bewilderment. The front laid out on the parlour settee. I think bring bad luck, even death! room or parlour was for best so very their generosity to the only child in rarely used. Mother plied a sweeping the family gave them a lot of It was decreed from on high that brush across the threadbare carpets, pleasure. Iced giant Easter eggs, Monday was wash day. It took place over runners and rugs, gathering pocket money from a purse in the in the lean-to with a tub, rubbing bread crumbs and fluff in a pile whilst bottom right hand dresser drawer and board, hard blocks of soap and a preaching the merits of maintaining a nice clothing given with obvious wringer. Marjorie and Dorothy didn’t clean home to me sitting watching enjoyment were received with great go to the shop that day. It would with my legs tucked up. Then she’d respect. I was not materialistic. Such have been a crime for any socks to hit lift up the big rug in front of the coal gestures were seldom and more the suds at any other time. And after fire and sweep the lot underneath meaningful for that. More than it, the rubbing stone was applied to where it formed a small hill. It was anything was the knowledge that I the steps, and lobby was made from only when there were too many hills could visit any time, largely the left over Sunday meat. She can’t to manipulate that a dust-pan and unaccompanied, for freedom to move have had a hand in that for I recall it hearth brush would emerge to about in safety was then a normal was pretty good. But she did do the deposit them in the bin. Then the way of life. The first time I went alone steps. What would the neighbours whole process would begin again. though was beyond the norm, I was think if by tea-time on a Monday just four, slipping out unseen, with, there were no bold white stripes Jimmy bought a black and white T.V. I’m told, the snow going over my across? You were nobody if you didn’t We didn’t have one. It fascinated me. boots. rubbing stone your steps. My own And there were always colourful mother purposely flaunted these time- magazines and television guides. But I was sixteen when mother died. honoured traditions. No wonder she the only item I remember playing Austere, thwarted by the narrow and ‘mother’ never saw eye to eye. It with was a tin of buttons that I minded impositions of the times, didn’t help that she was an Austrian, treasured. I don’t recall any other puritanical, mother wore some inner personally responsible for the residual toys. Yet boredom can be sadness, but she helped shape my machinations of the second world- very beneficial. I read 'Oliver Twist' at childhood in her own strange way. I war, who brazenly entered England in the age of ten because there was now understand her situation, early 1948. Mother never liked foreigners, nothing else to do after Sunday widowhood and abject poverty, failing and foreigners were anyone not born lunch, (accompanied by the sound of health, her own and her youngest in North Ashton. My father’s antics 'Family Favourites' on the radio), but daughter’s. Perhaps it’s a sign of age had always exasperated her. He to get a book from the cabinet in the to hark back to the past and I do clinched it good and proper when he parlour while Jimmy slept and quiet think of her and my aunts and uncle a brought home a Germanic bride and was essential for an hour. Lunch was lot. Perhaps it’s because I’m a a German speaking child. No. I’m not always followed by rice or sago grandma now. I often dream of them, bilingual. Mother wouldn’t allow it. pudding with a thick, gold, spicy skin, and I have a burning desire to knock which Jimmy got because he was the on the door of 376 and ask its current Not that mother and I always saw eye favourite and also the man of the owners if I can take one more look to eye either. On the very rare house. Grown ups’ needs came first around, sit a while and remember occasion I showed dissent, it would and I happily accepted that fact. mother in her ‘pinny’ and bedroom be, “Ee, she’s a madam, just like her Drawing upon internal resources slippers pottering about. mother!” One such incident took because there was little else on offer

13 READER'S PHOTOGRAPH

Up Holland Moor School, 1954. The teacher on the left is Mr Bentham (headmaster)

c and the teacher on the right, Mr Bradshaw. Sent in by Mr D Dickinson, New Zealand.

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14 TRENCHERFIELD MILL ENGINE NEW VISITOR PROGRAMME

Even though the 'Way We Were' in the visit. There will also be the the added bonus of seeing the exhibition will be closing on opportunity to question the engine in steam. This is a truly 20 December, the 'star' of the engineers, and share in their exciting experience, with the soon to be developed Wigan extensive knowledge. smell of oil, the sound of the pistons and the whirr of the fly- Pier Quarter will still be open Groups will be able to book visits wheel as it gathers speed. to the public. on Mondays and Tuesdays, and participate in a range of activities It is essential that all visitors The mill engine re-opens in including guided talks, theatre contact the engine house to February, after substantial productions and educational check opening times and refurbishment work. Visitors will sessions. There will be a small availability. The Wigan Pier be able to view the engine free charge of between £2.95 and Quarter site is still undergoing of charge every Sunday. An AV £5.00 per person, dependant on development, which could show and a talk from the the programme chosen. Activities possibly affect opening hours. engineers about the role of the can be tailored to individual engine, the power behind the Telephone Wigan group needs, especially schools. mill machinery, and how (01942) 323666 for details was spun at the mill, is included Those on group visits will have and group bookings. Trencherfield Mill Engine Goes Green

In order to reduce its carbon footprint, and reduce consumption of fossil fuels, the Heritage Service has abandoned the heavy oil used to drive the 2,500 horse power mill engine, and replaced it with a high tech Biofuel. The engine can use up to 400 litres of fuel a day, which, in the face of global warming and its associated climate changes, placed a duty on us to find greener alternatives. The opportunity arose, when a new efficient steam boiler was installed. The new fuel is clean and comes from a renewable source. Not only does it help the environment, but also saves money on running costs.

The engine now also has an 'energy recovery system' which creates extra electrical power when turning, and which can be re-used. As the engine does not actually power any machinery, the extra energy is harnessed to pre heat the feed water to the boiler which supplies the engine at no extra cost.

The engine staff is hoping to develop an apprenticeship in engineering. In the meantime, the engineering team is always on the look out for volunteers. If you are interested in working with this magnificent piece of machinery, please contact Wigan Pier on 01942 323666 . You can also find out more about the engine at www.wlct.org

15 Stone House Clinic and Child Welfare Centre 1938

STONE HOUSE PENNINGTON

By Tony Ashcroft

The property known as Stone both Church Street and Stone the property at a price which House (now demolished) which House. He left Leigh in 1919 and could enable it to be a substantial was situated at the corner of moved to Crofton Lodge, gift to the town. St. Helens Road and Etherstone Tunbridge Wells. He died in Street was built by John September 1939 aged 83 at Dr. Hayes indicated that the sale Fairclough in 1825. It then another of his residences, Craig price of Stone House on the open passed on to his son John in (a Gowan, Carr Bridge, Inverness. market would probably be in the flour and stone dealer) in 1836. region of £4000, although he He died in 1867. His son John, Following the 1918 Maternity and would accept approximately born in 1854 at Stone House, Child Welfare Act, Leigh Council £3000. The estimated value of was to become Leigh's first set up a sub-committee to look the premises to the Inland mayor. into all the services the Act dealt Revenue authorities was £2,700. with, the main object being to Dr Hayes met the Council's Between 1890 and 1918 the preserve the life and health of proposal generously, selling it to house was occupied by Dr James mothers and children. Dr. Clay them at £1,700. On the lowest Hayes, son of John Hayes JP, Beckett, who was Medical Officer estimate, it was a gift to the master cotton spinner who lived of Health at the time, reported town of at least £1000. By 1920, at The Limes, Orchard Lane. He back to the Council in June 1919 the property was being used as a was a member of the Royal that these particular services were Maternity, Child Welfare Centre College of Surgeons and a inadequate. A Dr Beckett, on and School Clinic. Prior to this the Licentiate of the Royal College of behalf of the council, approached clinic had been held in the old Physicians, who held practices at Dr Hayes to see if he would sell Town Hall.

16 During its' first year as a Maternity and Child Welfare Centre, an Infant and Mothers Clinic was held every Monday afternoon, where mothers brought babies to be weighed. During the first year, 324 babies were entered onto the books, with 1610 visits to the centre, at a cost of £261-0s-0d.

In addition to the normal work covered, the following articles of clothing and food were allocated at a small charge, or free to the deserving cases:

3,569 pints of new milk The day nursery.1948. 316 tins of dried milk (given) 4,688 tins of dried milk (sold) 44 4oz pots of Virol (given) 1,642 4oz pots of Virol (sold at 6d each) 247 tins of Nestles milk (sold) 11 maternity bags provided Over 6 articles of clothing were supplied

By 1921 work at the Centre had expanded, and attendance by infants had increased to 1,922.

The Child Health and Welfare Clinic eventually closed in October 1968. The building itself was demolished in 1970. The site is now occupied by the Early Weighing time for babies. Years and Family Resource Centre.

Its relatively pristine volumes finally stored away Book After years and years on display Having adorned many a bookcase in their day of They still show little sign of decay The strongly-bound volumes, a testament to age Recall amazing facts on every page Ages Like soldiers on parade they detail wars Sturdy and reliable, they are mouthpieces telling all By This edition has become a victim of technology and time Who would believe it was published in the sixties Christine Nowadays it can be found online Banks The relatively pristine volumes finally stored away After years and years on display These historical vessels are now being celebrated As yet another era comes to an end But it will not be long till another chapter is written In the unceasingly dependable Book of Ages

17 The Other Side of the Heath By Marlene Williams (Bostock)

Tom Anderton's poem about life on Ashton “scratched his belly with his big toe nail.” I can't Heath brought back a great host of memories recall what came in the middle! I remember the for me. Why can I recall them so clearly when 'rag and bone' man who brought his cart round I can't remember what I did yesterday?! and exchanged old clothes for a rubbing stone, which my Mum used to make a lovely white I was one of the Bostocks mentioned in his edge when she mopped our front door step. poem. Our house faced Tom's across The Heath so here is the view from the other side. I lived Across the road from us was Ivy Dootson's shop next door to my cousins Raymond, Mary and where I would go for a quarter of pear drops or Philip Blinston. Two doors further down were my a packet of Spangles. A few doors from the cousins Margaret and Norman Bostock. At the shop lived James Speak, the local herbalist, and I top of Ashton Heath, in a tiny house next to was frog-marched there at the first sign of a France's farm, was my other cousin, John Hayes. cough or sniffle. His awful brown medicine I clearly recall us standing on the railway bridge always had the same foul taste, no matter what at the top of the Heath waiting with great the illness, but it seemed to cure everything. excitement for the next steam train to arrive and screaming with delight when we were Monday was washing day on Ashton Heath. completely covered in steam, as it roared Each house had two clothes posts underneath us - all except for cousin John, who on the Heath and washing of every size and always ran away in sheer terror but later colour was pegged out as far as the eye could became a passionate train spotter. see. Some of the items gave endless amusement to us kids. Great care had to be Summers seemed long and hot with most of the taken, when pegging out, to avoid the many time spent sliding down the 'big hill' in a cow pats left behind by Mary France's cows cardboard box begged from the which grazed there daily. My other vivid Co-op. My Grandma took us kids for regular memory of Monday morning was the 'pail picnics up to the 'top heath' with banana butties men', who came to empty the toilet pails and I and a dandelion pop bottle filled with water. Then would do my best not to 'go' when they were there was 'top and whip' time. We decorated our in the backs. tops with coloured chalk and whipped them the length of Heath Road, never disturbed by any cars. I went to St Thomas infant school, which was I remember the Coronation Day when Ashton about 200 yards from our house. I was scared Heath was the scene of great festivity and stiff of the headmistress Mrs Cummins, excitement. I recall enjoying Punch and Judy but daughter of the even more terrifying Mrs Rose, not having a clue what all the fuss was about. but we had the nicest dinner lady called Mrs Like Tom, I recall Jimmy Gillet, the fish man, and Dawson. his cry of 'never had nicer' and the way he always dressed his horse in paper flowers on We had to have a sleep every afternoon on May Day. I also remember Sam Boardman who tiny canvas beds which I thought was the most came round every week in a van selling awful waste of time. The school yard was next everything from scrubbing brushes to paraffin. to the graveyard and whenever a funeral We kids sang a song behind his back which passed by, we would stand still with heads started with “Sam, Sam the bogey man, washed down and the boys would remove their caps his face in a frying pan” and ended with as a mark of respect.

18 Holocaust Memorial Day 24 January 2008

Once again, we will be commemorating all those who have lost their lives and suffered as a result of conflict. Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust (Libraries, Heritage and Arts) in partnership with Wigan Council, local civic bodies and diverse faith groups have organised ceremonies in Wigan and Leigh.

WIGAN - 10.30am in the Atrium at the New Town Hall, access through the Hewlett Street entrance. Art work from Orrell Holgate School will be on display.

LEIGH - 1.30pm in the Council Chamber, Leigh Town Hall. Coursework from year 9 pupils at Bedford High School will be on display.

The ceremonies will be attended by the Mayor, Peter Gascoigne, Rodney Hill and other guests. Members of the public are welcomed, but please arrive early, as seating is limited to 90 at each venue.

I went to Sunday school a bit further up Heath Road at 'Cave Browne' Church and to the Wednesday night 'Sunshine Corner' - now called 'Baseline.' On the annual Walking Day, we walked round Ashton accompanied by a brass band and ended up on Ashton Heath in CRAFT CIRCLE Fridays 1.00pm - 2.30pm front of our house, with the preacher 7 December 4 January standing on Arthur Arnold's coal wagon. 1 February 7 March Across from the Church was the Scala Cinema, Meet in the Gallery. with a lady taking tickets, that waved to us Whatever your interests - card-making, knitting, embroidery or any other crafts - the Craft Circle is the place to meet like-minded people kids knowing we could never afford to go in. and share tips and ideas. It’s free and there’s no need to book, just turn up on the day. Please bring something your working on. Next to the Church were 'C Court' then Sudworth's toffee shop and then Horace PAINTING WITH ACRYLICS FOR ADULTS Wednesdays 16, 23 & 30 January Hunt's cobblers shop. Even today, the smell of 6 & 13 February, 7.00pm - 9.00pm leather can take me back to the dark, Our regular tutor Paul Brotherton returns to lead this intermediate mysterious depths of his dimly lit shop. course in acrylic painting techniques, exploring the possibilities for this versatile medium. Suitable for anyone who has attended our beginners course or who has previous experience of working with acrylics. All There was no such thing as a locked door. materials will be provided. Cost: £15.00 for all five sessions. Places are limited so please book in advance. Everywhere was open house and I have no knowledge of anything ever being stolen. As WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS PRINTMAKING FOR ADULTS kids, we roamed the length and breadth of Saturday 8 December, 1.30pm - 3.30pm Ashton Heath, playing Cowboys and Indians Led by artist Adela Jones. Suitable for beginners. Tickets cost £3. CALLIGRAPHY FOR ADULTS and making bows and arrows from tree Saturday 29 March, 10.00am - 1.00pm Led by artist Brian Whitmore this workshop will explore the richness branches. and rhythm of the written word on paper. Suitable for beginners. Tickets cost £3. Programmed as part of the Words ‘08 Leigh & Wigan Literary Festival. My Mum still lives in the same house on Ashton Heath where I was born and I am happy to say I'm still in Ashton too, for that's where my roots are.

19 The Leigh Poor Law Union ATHERTON – 1837 By R. Evans

The Pressure for Change their own homes, anyone claiming not to be able to support themselves was to be given the option of entering a workhouse. There, in return for a bare For over two hundred years local Atherton men had subsistence standard of living, they would been chosen to serve as Overseers of the Poor, be required to work to help defray the cost of entrusted with the provision of assistance to the their keep. poor of their community. Under the supervision of the Justices of the Peace they gave relief under the How these changes came about as far as the terms of the 1601 Elizabethan Poor Law Act, the provision of relief for the poor of Atherton can be requirements of which are summarised in the order traced from records in the archives in Leigh Town appointing John Baxter in1746. (1) Hall. In 1836, even before the formation of the Union, the Atherton overseers received orders to be much stricter in the management of their accounts. (2)

Legitimate uses of the poor rate were listed together with examples of payments which were By the third decade of the 19th century the frequently made but which had not been Government decided that action was required to sanctioned by legislation. halt the rising cost of poor relief. There was a belief that overseers were granting relief far too easily and not exerting sufficient pressure to force people to seek work to support themselves and their families. In addition there was a suspicion that money raised by the Poor Rate was being used in ways that had no lawful basis. Concerns such as This criticism appears justified as many of the these resulted in the passing of the Poor Law Atherton Overseers, such as William Winward in Amendment Act in 1834. Small townships were to April 1814, did receive a salary. (3) be grouped into much larger units known as Unions and the responsibility to provide relief was transferred from local overseers to Guardians. Their ability to grant aid was to be closely controlled by centrally appointed Commissioners. Pleas for help were to be examined much more closely and, rather than awarding payments to subsidise people in

20 The Formation meetings would be in the Pennington workhouse at 11 o' clock on Thursdays. Prior to this meeting, on of the Union March 18th it had been decided to divide the Union into two areas; - the Lowton District including In January 1837 Atherton received the official Lowton, Pennington, Bedford and Culcheth with a document requiring the formation of the Leigh population of 11,957 and the Atherton District Union comprising the townships of the Leigh parish made up of Atherton, Tyldesley, Astley and West together with Lowton and Culcheth. (4) Leigh with a population of 14,743.

In addition to poor relief administration the Guardians were also entrusted with the introduction of the present system for the registration of births, deaths and marriages. For this, on the 4th of May, they divided the Union into two districts - later three districts - and, on the 10th of November, made provision for separate registration to be done at Bedford Catholic chapel, Tyldesley chapel and the Presbyterian chapel in It laid down the form of administration, the Chowbent. Applications were sought for District responsibilities of Guardians and how and when Registrars to undertake this work Thomas Sale was they would be chosen. appointed for Atherton. Administration

Meetings during the summer were largely concerned with establishing the administrative structure. The initial intention was that the Guardians would meet in rooms in the Pennington The nomination form for the Atherton Guardians workhouse. When the suitability of this location, survives. (5) was questioned by the Commissioners, the Guardians initially defended their decision by passing a resolution on June 23rd:

“that no place appears to them to be so proper as the Workhouse in Pennington for the Register Office for the Union as it is not intended for the present Workhouse to be continued as a Workhouse but as a general School for the Pauper Children and in order to take or erect any other premises so convenient it would cause considerable expense to the Union”

Two weeks later they rescinded their decision and agreed to consider:

The minutes suggest that not all the townships “a house situated in Pennington belonging to Mr were properly represented at the first meeting Smethurst be taken….at the Rent of Fifteen pounds which was to be “at the principal Inn, Leigh, on the per annum…Mr Smethurst agreeing…to make the eighteenth day of February and shall commence at necessary alterations for Safety subject to the eleven o'clock in the forenoon”. Not until after approval of the Guardians and the Registrar advice had been received from an Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, were the principal officers Having agreed on this location decisions were taken finally elected on 31st of March. The four Guardians regarding the furnishing of the office. For the from Atherton were Mr B.H. Sanderson (ex off), Mr storage of paper records they originally considered Samuel Newton, Mr Hodgkinson and Mr Thomas obtaining a “Deal Box” but eventually decided on Hope. Rev. John Topping was appointed Chairman an “Iron Safe”. On the 14th of September they and Mr Pownall Vice Chairman. It was agreed that agreed:

21 “that a Bay Wood Table about one yard on Breath retained. The remainder were to be closed and a and one Yard and a half in length be ordered for committee was formed on 8th December to: the Board Room, Also twenty four Arm Chairs of “examine the Furniture in all the Workhouses Bay Wood, a Green Cloth to cover the Table” and take such as may be found necessary for Maybe this was rather extravagant as two weeks furnishing the Lowton and Culcheth Workhouses later they modified the requirement to: at a valuation and give the necessary Direction therein” “a table nine feet long and four feet broad covered with Green Baize and also two dozen of common At the same meeting they served notice to: serviceable chairs” “the Townships having Poor in the Workhouses of To ensure security they decided to spend: Lowton and Culcheth to provide for the maintenance and Lodging of their respective Poor “Thirty Shillings for the putting up of an Iron Door on or before the 25th day of December next” to the repository with Door posts Locks and Inges” Tenders were also requested for: Work Begins “Provisions for the Paupers in the Workhouses of Lowton and Culcheth namely Wheat, Potatoes, Oat Meal, Beef, Milk, Groceries, Coals” In October the Commissioners provided a timetable for the Guardians to assume direct responsibility for The salary for the workhouse masters and matrons administering relief. Until the end of November the was set at thirty guineas per annum. overseers could continue to provide relief as in the past, but after that they were informed that: Advertisements were placed in the “from and after the thirtieth day of November next, Guardian and Bolton Chronicle and the posts were the relief of the poor of all townships and places in filled by the end of the month by Thomas Clune the Union, shall be brought under the control and and his wife for Lowton and Richard Withington direction of the Guardians”. Initially however they and his wife for Culcheth. At this final meeting of were to make decisions about the workhouses. (6) the year on December 29th it was agreed: “that the masters and matrons this day appointed take possession of their respective situations and that the Paupers be removed to their separate stations on or before the fifteen day of January next” The End of the First Year

The Guardians now had sole responsibility to decide to whom and where relief should be granted. They met weekly, first to consider the “applications of On October 20th a committee of five was formed paupers”, and then to approve payments made by to meet at the Chat Moss tavern and recommend: the Relieving Officers and the Treasurer. The Guardians charged each township for the relief they “which of the workhouses it will be most advisable provided for people for whom the township was to retain for the Union” responsible. The Atherton records contain a list of On November 10th they presented their decision: such people who were in receipt of such help in March 1838. (7) “that Twenty five pounds be offered to the Overseers of Culcheth and Forty five pounds be offered to the Overseers of Lowton as a Rent for the Use of their respective Workhouses for the Poor of the Union” The minutes do not record the names of other existing workhouses, including that in Atherton, and no reason is given why these two were

22 At the close of the first year it is clear that in all the the proceeds were sufficient to meet the cost of Union townships the majority of the payments were relief. They received end of year statements, such as still for out-relief and not for people taken into the one dated March 1846, showing which townships workhouses. (8) were either in credit or owing money. (9)

Acknowledgement and Sources This brief summary of the sequence of events in 1837 is based on records in the archives in Leigh Town Hall. The writer is grateful for the assistance of the staff there for making the records available and for providing valuable advice. The principal source is the first year's minute book of the Union meetings - G LEI/1. The dates of the meetings are given for extracts from this. Other illustrations are from Atherton Township documents indexed as below: 1. TR Ath/C/7/2/4 2. TR Ath/C/7/27/1 3. TR Ath/C/2/21 - 4. TR Ath C/7/25 5. TR Ath/C/7/33 6. TR AthC/7/26 - The township overseers' duty was now limited to 7. TR Ath/C/7/32/9 - 8. TR Ath/ C/7/32/1 ensuring that the poor rate was collected and that 9. TR Ath/C/37 £500,000 Lottery Funding for the History Shop As many of you will have seen in the press, the History Shop has been awarded £500,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a total refurbishment, including a lift, new educational facilities, new exhibitions and state of the art computer and micro-form readers and printers. Wigan Council has matched this sum with £405,000 to be spent restoring and re-roofing this fine historical landmark and listed building. The total scheme is £1.3 million, with contributions of £325,000 from Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust and £100,000 from other sources.

As well greatly enhancing visitor experience, the grant will allow the Heritage Service to develop the History Shop as a hub for heritage in the borough and enable us to work more closely with all our local communities. Our aim is to ensure that our local heritage plays a key role in the cultural life of the borough, and that all citizens who want to participate in their heritage can do so.

The History Shop will need to be closed at various times to enable building work, refitting, and the installation of the new exhibitions. Work schedules are currently being finalised. News of closures and the grand re-opening will be made available as soon as dates are confirmed. This is a very exciting time for all of us!

In the meantime, keep a watch on the local media and our website for further updates.

23 HDINDLEIYSGREAEN SSPRINTGSECOLR LIERY EIGHTEEN SIXTY EIGHT BY KEITH WOOD

After reading an article in a Local Newspaper in diameter, and three hundred book called 'Pictures of Hindley yards deep. At the pit bottom and Hindley Green' edited by J Report there are workings extending Lowe (a local historian and my in three of four directions past headmaster, sadly no The following account is taken through the seam of coal, longer with us) I was inspired to from one of the local which is a level one, and about do some research on the Springs newspapers. four and one half feet thick. Colliery disaster. Most of my Nearly three hundred men and research was carried out at the “On Thursday morning, at boys are employed in the mine History Shop, using the old about twenty minutes to nine and were at work there on mining newspaper 'The Colliery o-clock, an explosion occurred Thursday morning. Of those, Guardian'. I would like to share in the Arley mine of the fifty-nine were in the workings with you what I found. The Hindley Green Colliery, near in the west side were the more I learned, the more I Wigan. By this disaster fifty- explosion happened. Soon related the disaster to my own seven lives were lost, and after the explosion occurred past mining experience and the several cases of serious injury Mr Thomas Southworth, the reasons for modern mining laws sustained. Hindley Green colliery manager, and an active and regulations being enforced Colliery is one of the oldest band of volunteers at once in today's mining industry. I mines in the neighbourhood, commenced the painful task of hope that anyone reading this but the particular sections ascertaining the extent of the article will gain an insight in to were the explosion occurred disaster. The first who were the history of the mining had only been working for the found to have suffered were industry in the Wigan area, and past for or five years. The some persons who had been at realise what a dangerous downcast shaft is twelve feet work near the up-cast shaft: occupation it was. It was due to inquests and investigations carried out after such disasters that the mining industry became a much safer place to work.

This Memorial card commemorates Hindley's worst colliery disaster. On the 26 November 1868 an explosion occurred in the Arley mine at the Springs Colliery, Hindley Green. Sixty-two people were killed. Their average age was 23, 19 were aged 17 or below and the youngest was aged eleven. There were three instances of fathers and sons and four of teenage brothers being buried together.

24 They were burned owing to Inquest on the number of angry men who had the flames from the furnace gathered outside the inn. A list being driven along the bodies of of the identified deceased was workings. The labours of the 61 men killed produced and death explorers were both tedious certificates issued to the and arduous, for the explosion The inquest opened on the families. The inquest was then had so completely destroyed Monday following the accident adjourned until the Thursday. the ventilation it was necessary at the Victoria Inn, Hindley to proceed with great caution, Green. The inn is still open The Funerals and of course every delay only today and is situated on the increased the fears for those corner of Atherton Road and The funerals took place on walled in by the deadly Long Lane. Monday, 30 November. Forty- two miners were buried in All Saints Hindley Parish Church, and there were several cases of farther and son being buried together. The scene at the funeral was very memorable and affecting. Despite the fact that the afternoon was very cold and wet, admissions to the graveyard had to be restricted. Many hundreds of spectators had assembled around the church walls and hundreds more gathered outside the gates. It was planned to hold the funerals chokedamp. A few had Mr Drillfield, the coroner, on a staggered basis between succeeded in penetrating the stated that purpose of the 10.00 am and 4.00 pm, but suffocating vapour and proceedings was mainly to due to the inquest being late, the first hearse did not arrive escaped with their lives. As the make formal identification of until 2.45 pm. Shortly after explorers proceeded, they were the dead, so that they could be 3.00 pm one melancholy joined by a number of released for burial. The inquest procession after another began gentlemen from adjacent was frequently interrupted by to arrive. The first 16 coffins collieries. It was six hours after conferences between the were borne into the church, the explosion when the last government inspector, the police and the relatives of the until they completely body was found, and the surrounded the interior walls, extremity of the workings had dead. It was said that friends and relatives had grown relatives crowded the rest of been reached. Most of the impatient due to a supposed the area and . The deceased had left their delay on the part of the vicar of All Saints, the Rev. C.H working places and were coroner in found in the main pony road opening the along which they had evidently inquest; this been trying to escape. The had resulted in condition of the corpses varied a delay in considerably. Many of the boys releasing the who had been killed had clean bodies to the faces, and the features were as families, which placid as if the healthy looking had caused lads were merely slumbering. some upset. Some of the men were On several dreadfully wounded, others occasions, the were much burned. Many of police had to the deceased were related. hold back a

25 Newbold, his curate the Rev. lost their lives. How or by why bags, cans, or bottles, or by the G.H Gillan and the incumbent what means that explosion was ineffectual firing of shots, of Pennington Green church, caused we are not prepared whereby flame might be the Rev. O F Pigot, met them. from the evidence produced to produced, and come into The organist meanwhile played say, as in all probability those contact with gas which as the solemn notes of the 'Dead who could have furnished the accumulated in the working March' from Saul. The Rev C. H requisite information, along place. Newbold was so overcome by with others, have perished.” 3. By the relighting of the the sadness of the occasion that extinguished lamps in unsafe or he could not take part in the In reply to a question from the insecure places where gas service, which was read by the coroner, as to whether the jury prevailed. curate and the Rev C. H Pigot. had any recommendation to 4. By men or boys tampering After these bodies had been make, the foreman said the jury with lamps - if such could be consigned to their graves 16 recommended that the blasting the case - by taking the tops off more were again taken into the of powder in the getting of coal and otherwise exposing the church and the service repeated. should be done away with, and flame. The third set of funerals took that the ventilation of the 5. By the recklessness or place at about 6.00pm in a particular workings in which the indiscretion of individuals using pitch-dark night by the light of accident took place should be pipes or matches, and thereby a few lanterns. This added to improved. endangering not only their own the eeriness. One grave had to lives, but also the life of every be re-dug after collapsing due Probable cause of individual in the mine. to the weight of the on lookers. the explosion Several of the instances named Many of the crowd remained above are strictly forbidden by outside during the services, the rules of the company, and The following is a copy of a even though only the mourners where persons are found to be document containing the could see anything of what took guilty of breaking the rules, we opinions of the coroner and jury place. It was nearly 7.00pm on would advise that the offenders as to the probable cause of the a misty wet and dreary night be brought to justice. The jury explosion. The remarks could when the church bell, which now would like to make a few not be officially appended to had been employed for nearly remarks about the probable the verdict, although prepared four hours, ceased tolling and state or condition of the at the time: the last mourners left the workings at the time of the graveyard. “During this painful inquiry the explosion. They think that, from jury have been ably assisted by what has transpired, that The jury’s verdict the two government inspectors, nothing has been withheld by Messrs. Higson and Dickinson, the proprietor that could have and by the other witnesses added to the safety or On Thursday morning the practically acquainted with convenience of those employed. inquest resumed. The coroner mining matters. The few It is also believed that an opened the meeting and began remarks we wish to make as to opinion has prevailed amongst by asking Mr Southworth, the the probable cause of the the people living in the mine manager, for his evidence. accident are of course merely immediate neighbourhood that Other mining officials, mine conjectures, and as such, we the works had been well workers, rescuers and Mines wish them to be taken. It is conducted, and the lives and Inspectors also gave evidence, evident that in a seam like this, comfort of miners studied and and the inquest lasted several where gas is freely generated, well cared for. As subscriptions days. the occurrence may have been are set for the relief of those After a short consultation, the brought about in various ways. unfortunate people (parents, jury returned the following 1. By damage to lamps, from widows and orphans) it is verdict falls of roof or coal, or by the hoped that the country accidental piercing of the gauze generally will respond to aid “The jury felt convinced that an by the point of a workman's those who have suffered so awful explosion has taken place, pick. severely by this deplorable through the agency of which 2. By the wilful or accidental accident. sixty-two human beings have ignition of powder stored in

26 Ghostly Tales from a Policeman by A Berry My grandfather, Robert Berry, was “terroriser” was sitting by the fire born in Skelmersdale in 1872, the and, on seeing Robert, picked up only child of William (born in Up the poker. Robert focussed his eyes Holland) and Ellen (nee Ashcroft, intently on the poker and, as the born in Rainford). At some date man tried to strike him, grabbed his between 1881 and 1891, the family wrist and with a powerful twist moved from Skelmersdale to Wigan, made the poker fly out of harm's living for a while in Oldfield Street, way! Robert then grabbed the man Poolstock, then moving to 6, and hoisted him across his Sandon Street, where Ellen had a shoulders, with one arm around the grocer's shop. Robert married Esther man's neck and the other around his Bown (from Alfreton, Derbyshire) in legs. Every time the man struggled 1898 at St James', Poolstock. My Robert tightened his grip around his father William Henry and his sister, neck. Robert carried him out of the Elizabeth Ellen, were born in Sandon house and down the street, to cries Street in the early 1900's, and of “Good lad, Wigginer, tha's bested christened at St. James'. When Ellen him!” from relieved neighbours. On died in 1912, aged 63, all the family reaching the police station, Robert moved to 30, Mill Lane, Up Holland dumped him on the floor and (back to their rural roots) a little Robert Berry as a young policeman turned him over to the station staff. lower down than the old windmill. in the early 1890's. These were policing methods mostly alien to modern thinking, but highly He was asleep in the barracks one effective! This incident probably had During grandfather Robert's life night when he awoke to find a span of 74 years his employment a happy ending in that the figure dressed in a butcher's apron “terroriser” appeared to turn over a occupations were many and varied, standing at the side of his bed. His including assistant in a chemist's new leaf. Certainly Grandfather gaze naturally travelled upwards but reckoned that the man became shop, railway porter, police he was unable to make out the head constable (of which more later ), friendly and did his best to co- of the figure. Having witnessed operate with him afterwards. wagon repairer, colliery labourer, several apparitions in his life cooper, carpenter, coal miner, and previously he was not alarmed and My grandfather possessed an agricultural labourer. Included drifted back to sleep again. In the unusual combination of great among his talents were the ability to morning he was ordered by his physical strength and psychic do “copper plate” handwriting, sergeant to go to a shop where a sensitivity. He attributed his ability to violin playing, violin making, and the suicide had been reported. On “see” and sense things to the fact ability to “see” ghosts. He was also arriving at the shop, a butcher's, he that he was born in “the twilights”- a spell-binding story-teller. found the butcher, wearing an that period in June and July in this apron, hanging by the neck from part of the world when the nights When he joined the police force at one of the meat hooks in the ceiling! are never completely dark, there around 20 years old he was a being a slight vestige of light in the strapping young man, 5 ft 11 ins Another tale my grandfather Robert northern sky on clear nights. This tall, and possessing great physical used to tell was that of a man who belief possibly has a Scandinavian strength combined with a quick used to terrorise the street where he origin since the plain to the west of temper. The family had moved to lived whenever he took to drink. the Billinge-Ashurst ridge was Wigan by that time, and according One of the times this man was “on settled by Norwegian Viking/ to the existing police regulations he the spree” Robert was sent by the farmers, as evidenced by the was not allowed to serve in his sergeant to investigate, without preponderance of Norse village home area. Consequently he was “back-up” (as they say these days). names from Formby in the west to posted to serve in the Nelson and When he knocked on the man's Skelmersdale in the east. Colne area. Since he was unmarried door it was opened slightly by his he was accommodated in an army wife, who tried to close it again on There are more tales of my style barracks which was the seeing the uniform, but Robert had grandfather and his family that I equivalent of the current day police already stuck his boot in the gap have collected which are perhaps section house. and now barged his way in. The better saved for another time.

27 YOUR LETTERS

Edward 'Teddy' Cain I was working at their branch Rodney Street shop at 19 Orrell Road, Orrell. Church Dear Editor Each Wednesday we delivered groceries, by van, around Orrell, Dear Editor It may interest readers of 'Past Gathurst (near to where the Forward' to know that one of Heinz, Kitt Green factory is Wigan's 'oldest sons' passed away situated) and Up Holland (Up A friend from Wigan kindly in late July aged 101. Holland is, incidentally, forwarded to me an article from mentioned in The Domesday the 'Past Forward' magazine Edward 'Teddy' Cain was born in Book, and St. Thomas's Church is regarding the history of the Ince in November 1905, educated celebrating its' 700th Rodney Street Church written by at Hindley & Abram Grammar Anniversary). Every second week Mrs. G. Lloyd School and worked at the the town of Billinge was included Roburite works at Gathurst until as well. One Wednesday I am a great-granddaughter of moving initially to Chesterfield, morning, on the journey to Elias Ranicar of Wigan, formerly then to Scotland. He worked for Middlehurst potato farm, over from Leigh. I am also related to ICI as a chartered secretary until Billinge Hill, I was delivering the Marsdens, who in turn are retirement and was active right up groceries to old Mrs Charnock's related to Timothy Coop. This I until his passing away in Dumfries small bungalow, half way up a found very interesting. after a short illness. very narrow cobbled road, when, walking back to the van, heard My great-grandfather Elias His sharp and wide ranging shouting and the noise of what Ranicar and his son Arthur (both memories formed the basis of a turned out to be a large empty well known shop owners in number of articles in earlier 'Past potato vehicle, with very high Wigan in the past, Ranicar & Son Forwards' and I know a number sides being pulled by two large and Bon Marche) were intimately of readers recall his parents shire horses which had taken involved in the founding of the bakehouse in Belle Green Lane, fright in front of Billinge Hospital first churches. (I know nothing of Ince. He retained a deep affection about half a mile away. They the Barr family). for Wigan until the end and were furiously galloping along followed the efforts of both the the cobbles, and the driver was I have a copy of 'The Wigan rugby and football teams closely. shouting, unable to jump out! Observer' which outlines There was hardly any time to the 'death of a Wigan I personally will miss his tales of think, but I remembered learning Magistrate' (Arthur Ranicar, J.P.) a long gone Wigan, its' hardships, either from school or from my and also a copy of 'The Christian humour and characters, but all weekly 'Rover' magazine that if Advocate' and 'The Bible who knew him agree he was a you stood in the middle of the Advocate' which record the death gentleman of the old school and road with both arms outstretched of Elias Ranicar. a credit to the town of his birth. upwards, you could stop them. I Mr N Cain, Northolt. did this, and sure enough, the These papers with the two horses DID stop. obituary of Elias are very interesting in that they give a Runaway Horses The very scared driver jumped, or history of the founding of the should I say scrambled out of his 'Churches of Christ' and the Dear Editor potato vehicle, and returned to the dedicated involvement of the side of the road. Off galloped the Ranicar family and Marsdens, etc. I thought to write to tell you of two horses over Billinge Hill. I'm My father, James Stanley an event in my life in the not sure what happened to them. Aspinall, attended the 'Churches summer of 1931. I was then 15 I am not sure if they were severely of Christ' school. years old and working as an injured, or even possibly killed. errand boy for Mr. J.R. Peterkin, Christine Aspinall, Mr J Houghton, High Class Grocer, of 10/12, Canada. Market Street, Wigan. Southport.

28 Maypole Colliery me to Norcliffe's to be measured Memories from and fitted. Pool Street Dear Editor The sales lady decided that, although my waist measured 24 Dear Editor Regarding the article on inches and my hips just 36 Howebridge Mines Rescue Station inches, I should have a steel- I come from a large family born (issue 46) I would like to point boned lace-up back corset. She and bred at 59, Pool Street, out that the Maypole Colliery was explained that if the lace was Poolstock. My grandparents in Abram, not Platt Bridge. tightened and knotted at the Annie and Joseph Wright had I was born at the end of the lane back, it would stop me from 4 sons, Tom, Joe, Bob (my dad) leading up to the colliery, and my trying to undo the corset myself. and Frank, and 4 daughters Lily, father was checkweighman there After being pushed, prodded and Annie, Alice and Betty. from the age of 20, until he was made breathless, the garment In the early years I believe that 70, when all the mines were was laced at the back. I could Pool Street was known as nationalized. He was given the not bend down and could hardly “Wright's Row” as lots of family job as compensation after losing breathe. I also now had 6 wide including great-grandparents all a leg in an accident on the suspenders with metal adjusters lived there, within yards of one surface, when he was 19. He had to contend with. The lady another. My Auntie Annie was a cabin close to the top of the advised mother to keep it on me the last girl remaining at home, shaft, and was there when the for 36 hours to get me used to and looked after my grandma in explosion occurred in 1908. His the corset. I never slept that her older years. She was well- cabin came down around him, night. Whichever way I turned known in the area as she was a but fortunately, he wasn't hurt. the steel bones ran into my flesh. talented tailor and used to make I grew up on the tales of the Next day at work (in a dresses and other outfits for explosion, and now have a great Standishgate shoe shop) I had a St. Joseph's crowning groups and fear of gas. Next year it will be real problem just picking up walking days. 100 years since the explosion. shoes from the floor. The manager and our one male shop I vividly remember the front Mrs Margaret Lange assistant realised what was 'parlour' with dresses hung all (nee Wolsey), Abram. happening and laughed out loud around the room on the dado every time my corset bones rail, and tribes of children creaked. There was no pity at coming for fittings - I wonder if Ida Norcliffe's home. Every morning before I anyone remembers her? Corset Shop went to work, mother laced me into that garment of torture, and My Uncle Joe was a Manager at Dear Editor I, a sixteen year old girl with a Eckersley's Mill until he retired - job, did not dare complain. he was a lovely man and I'm sure anyone who worked under him, In the summer edition, a However, it is amazing what you and remembers him, would feature on Scholes said that it get used to, for I have worn that agree. My Uncle Frank was a was thought that Ida Norcliffe's type of corset all my adult life (I well-known Pub landlord in the shop sold hats. The shop was in am now 70). I can no longer buy town centre - The Transport Club, fact a very traditional ladies them in the shops, I have to be the Adelphi Inn and the Fleece corset shop. measured and I have them made Hotel being some of the pubs he to order at a very expensive ran - none of them still standing Soon after my 16th birthday price. I now have the lace at the unfortunately. (1953) my mother decided I front so that I can release myself should have my first real corset. at night. My dad was a bus driver in the Up until then I had worn a fifties and I remember him taking suspender belt just to keep my Anne Naylor, me to the Transport Club in stockings in place. Mother took Southport. Grimes Arcade, to visit my Uncle

29 YOUR LETTERS

Frank - I can almost smell the Gallipoli Campaign certainty, 109 of those listed. Of damp uniforms and dense these, 20 died at Gallipoli. Further cigarette smoke, as I sat and Dear Editor analysis revealed that 14 of them drank my club orange. were from a single battalion of the Manchester Regiment, the 1st/5th. It's sad to see parts of your I was inspired by the item in Of these, five died on the same past disappear - St. Joseph's issue 46 on the casualties from day, Saturday, August 7th. Apart School, the terraces of the 6th Border Regiment, which from Pte. Holland, three others Poolstock, the Adelphi and the featured Private Richard Holland died on Monday 9th August, all Fleece and Notre Dame High who is commemorated on our from the 6th Battalion of the Loyal School (my old school) and some church, St Mary's Ince, War North Lancashire Regiment. The of it falling to ruin - St. Joseph's Memorial, to check through the other two casualties, both from Church in Caroline Street and list for others killed in the the 1st Battalion of the Lancashire Eckersley's Mill. That's why I think Gallipoli Campaign. Fusiliers, died on the same day, it's so important to have 25th April. magazines like Past Forward, I knew from when I have been where we can share our entering details of the names listed, Moreover, when I was double- nostalgia with others and keep that a high proportion were lost in checking these facts using the list these families and areas alive in the campaign, but the numbers in the late Fred Holcroft's "Just people's memories. surprised me when I collected the Like Hell - Local Men at Gallipoli", names together. Of the 124 names I discovered a further seven men Barbara Mitchell, on our plaque, I have so far who definitely came from Lower Shevington. identified, with a fair amount of Ince but who are not listed on

30 our memorial. Of these, five were Hindley Green Memories from the 1st/5th , and four of them were killed on Dear Editor of Hindley August 7th, making a total of nine killed that day. In all, 27 I have always been a satisfied Green men of Lower Ince were killed at reader of Past Forward and do Gallipoli, and 13 of them died not mind paying for it. I am Hindley Green, can within two days of one another originally from Westhoughton, I just say, on the 7th and the 9th August. but married a lad from Hindley where I was born, and Green, forty-seven years ago, When you look at the street used to play. and have lived in this same names of those who died and It's not the same as it house for forty-five of those. realise how close they all lived to used to be, My husband is now disabled, one another, it is not difficult to there are houses built, after being one of the fittest imagine the misery that must young men of his day. Every where trees used to be. have hung over the parish that Tuesday an old friend of his, who summer. The majority lived was brought up with my The little pub, Railway Hotel, around the corner from one husband in Pauline Street which was the bowling green, another in a cluster towards the is no longer there, comes to visit has gone as well. Britannia Bridge end of him, makes him laugh, and talks Why couldn't they leave Warrington Road. about old times. Neville Gregson them as they were Again, looking at the Service is his name. He is always instead of putting numbers of the men from the writing poems, some of which houses there. 1st/5th Manchester Regiment, are really good. most are quite close together, I always wish that there was The Railway Station and there are two sets of pairs of more in Past Forward about always took first prize, consecutive numbers, including Hindley Green, so I am sending it's derelict now, two from opposite sides of the you one of the poems, which a sight for sore eyes. road at Britannia Bridge. Neville has written, hoping you Oh! What I would give Wigan is not credited with will publish it. He now lives in to turn back time, having a 'Pals' Battalion, but, on Bolton, and has done for 25 open that station and this evidence, it didn't need one - years, but still classes himself as bring back the line. the men had already enlisted in a “Hindley Greener” Oh! What I would give the 1st/ 5th Manchesters. Mrs Lucy O'Connell, for the old railway track, David Long Hindley Green Blackpool, Southport, memories are flooding back. This booklet details the result of a very rewarding It's not the same, project recording you know what I mean, WWII memories, without the trains and undertaken jointly with all the steam. the Over 50's Forum and St Edmund Arrowsmith But like they say, High School in 2005. life must go on, The school received a In my eyes, Hindley Green grant from The Home is still number ONE. Front Recall Project, to ensure that the part Neville J. Gregson civilians played in the war is represented. 19.08.07 On sale in the History Shop now price £4.00

31 Reunion Gidlow Secondary Modern School for Girls by Jean Markland

Back in autumn 2006 (issue 43) on to All Saints School, which is Jean Markland invited her 'old' now the Deanery High. Sadly I classmates of 1957 to attend a was not allowed to go to All school reunion to mark the Saints because I wasn't Church of fiftieth anniversary since leaving. England! I was a Methodist! Here is her account of the 'do' Today, of course, times have EDITOR . changed and the Churches work together. Gidlow School was a throughout the war years, Friday 20th April 2007 saw lovely red brick building, very shared her memories with us. several weeks' hard work large with gardens at the front. ”In 1993 when the War started culminate in the Gidlow School My uniform consisted of a navy I was at Beech Hill Junior Reunion at the Wigan Cricket gym slip, white blouse and long School, and to our delight the Club. What began as a Reunion black stockings, with a red beret school was requisitioned to be purely for girls who had which was left in the cloakroom used as a First Aid Station. attended Gidlow from 1953 to on a peg. I remember the Consequently we had to be 1957 became a Reunion for both Headmistress instructing us to fitted into Gidlow School and 'boys' and 'girls' from 1953 to the learn the school motto and to for some weeks attended on a early sixties. What a night we remember the most important part time basis until eventually had - some had not met for 50 words - “It Can Be Done!” I can we were all squashed together years or more but it was like still quote it today, as can many into large classes of 40 or more yesterday as everyone shared others. The School was made up children. memories of schooldays. When I of four Houses - Raleigh, Nelson, first booked the Cricket Club for Gordon and Scott, which made Each day we took our gas masks the Reunion it was in fear and us quite competitive as we tried in their little square brown boxes trepidation because I had no idea to ensure that the House we to school and regular drill was how many, if any, would come. It were in won the most marks held to make sure we could get was great to see that 64 people each week. Some 26 years after them on quickly. We also had air turned up, some travelling quite leaving school I moved to a raid drill using the shelters built a distance - one lady even gave house in Norbreck Crescent, at the front of the school, up the final week of her holiday where I still live. Of course although I cannot remember any in Spain to be with us. Gidlow School no longer exists, actual air raids.” and there are now houses on the To commence the evening, Mrs site. My garden backs on to what Everyone was very appreciative of Irene Cunliffe, who attended were then the playing fields and the comments made. The Gidlow School from its inception, as I look out of my window evening reached a rousing finale gave a little background sometimes I can still see in my with the singing of “Auld Lang information. mind's eye, girls playing rounders Syne” and also the setting free of and boys Football. I hear the several balloons in the school “It seems almost unbelievable blast of the school whistle - colours over the Cricket Cub that it was 75 years since I first playtime has ended - girls and Playing Fields. Friendships were went through the gates at boys march back to their classes. renewed and arrangements Gidlow School - I was one of the Gidlow School may no longer made for another get together first pupils. I had previously exist, but it will never be early in 2008. attended the National Blue Coats forgotten - memories linger on.” School, which was the feeder Altogether, a “magical” evening School for Wigan Parish Church, Mrs Betty Bayliss, who left the was had by all. and all my friends were moving school in 1944, and attended

32 SOCIETY NEWS

Atherton sandwiches after the talk and Weekly family history Help Desk drinks can be purchased from the run by members of the Society Heritage Society bar. each Monday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm, in the Local History 2007 Speakers Section of Leigh Library. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday, December 18th Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm Cotton comes to Lancashire 2008 Speakers in St. Richard's Parish Centre, Speaker - Paul Cross. Tuesday, January 15th Mayfield St. Atherton. AGM and Ellis Island Film Admission £1.00 members. Hope to see some new faces at £1.50 non-members. our next meetings. Tuesday, February 19th Annual membership £3.00. Using Family Tree Maker Speaker - Peter Joliffe 2007 Hindley & District Tuesday, December 11th History Society Tuesday, March 18th "Our Gracie" . Members' Help Evening Recordings and anecdotes of Meetings are held in the Museum Bring an item that has helped Rochdale's own Gracie Fields. at Hindley Library on the second with your research.. Speakers - Joyce and Ray Holmes. Monday in the month. Admission Tuesday, April 15th This is followed by the usual £1.00 for members and £1.50 for Christmas buffet and drink! The Story Behind a Grave in non-members. Prescot Church 2008 Speakers 2008 Speakers Speaker - Neville King. Tuesday, January 8th Monday, January 14th Badges and Tokens (Part 2) An evening with Monologue Joe Speaker - Cliff Stockton. The Douglas Monday, March 3rd Tuesday, February 12th Society A talk on Lancashire Dialect Traditions In The Role Of Toast and Humour Master. Speaker - Steven Sanders. Meets at Shevington Methodist Speaker - Brian Clare. Church at 7.30pm every third Tuesday, March 11th The museum is open to the Thursday, except for July and Excavations Of The Wet Earth August. The annual fee is £8.00, Colliery. Speaker - Alan Davies. public on Saturday 24th November, Friday 7th December and there are no charges for Contact Tel: 01942 884893. and Wednesday 12 December individual lectures. Free tea, between 10.00am and 12 noon. coffee and biscuits. Wigan Family and Admission is free. For Museum 2007 Speakers Social History opening dates after the new year Thursday, December 13th please contact Mrs Joan Topping Rufford Hall Society on 01942 257361 or Mrs Norma Speaker - Lynne Mills Brannagan on 01942 258668 or contact Hindley Library staff. 2008 Speakers www.wiganworld.co.uk/family Thursday, January 17th history/index Leigh & District The Sahara We meet at the Lady Bowes Lyon Family History Speaker - Agatha Brown pub on Gidlow Lane Wigan every Thursday, February 21st third Tuesday at 7.30pm Society Mounted Why not come along to the next Police Unit meeting, we have a speaker each Chairman: Tel 01942 743428 Speaker - Chief Ins. L Roby. Secretary: Tel 01942 729449 month who gives approx an hours Thursday, March 20th Monthly meetings held in the talk on various subjects. We do The Isle of Scotland Derby Room of Leigh Library at charge a small admission charge of Speaker - Michael Fisher. £1.50 to non-members and £1.00 7.30pm on the third Tuesday of to members. We provide each month.

33 George Barl Foster

Readers may remember that last Christmas (issue 44) we published an article on George Barl Foster and the delightful little booklet that he produce for his nephew, Donald Raynor of Standish, in 1933. We promised to show you more of this, because of its wit and charm. Well here are a few more images, and we hope you enjoy them as much as we did. Editor

34 CAN YOU HELP?

Mr Unsworth Regarding Gouter Martlew, I have Skelmersdale. Some hailed from as found several of his children born far away as Garstang and Barton. Hamish Hunter would like to make in Dalton and that he died in All were from Lancashire. Their contact with Gordon Unsworth Dalton on 19.03.1683 and that his 19th century descendants moved who wrote about the memorials of wife Margaret died in Dalton on to Wigan, mainly to find work in Wigan Old Boys Rugby killed in 15.10.1671, but I have not been the coal mines, textile mills and WWII (issue 41). His uncle, whom able to find details of their births foundries. In all 181 ancestors are he is named after, was mentioned or marriage. referenced on the site of whom in that article. we have so far compiled I should be very grateful to receive biographies for 34. We are still Would Mr Unsworth please any information that would assist working actively on many contact the editor. me. Fairhurst branches of the family tree. Thank you all in advance. One of our objectives in creating Eugenie Turton is trying to find Mr W Pilkington this website was to establish information about her uncle, Jack Wizard View, Alderley Road, contact with our Wigan cousins of Fairhurst, who was killed at the Mottram St. Andrew, whom there must be hundreds. battle of Potsangbam, India on Cheshire. SK10 4QN There is a complete surname index 14th May 1944. His parents (her email [email protected] on the site for those who are grandparents) were John and interested. Edith Fairhurst of the Westwood Harrison Hotel, Poolstock. She would also Brian Harrison like to make contact with I would like to draw your attention I invite you to visit our website at Reverend Roger Taylor from to a new Wigan-centric family www.henryharoldharrison.name Ipswich, who wrote on Wigan history website that we launched Grammar School in issue 33. last week. Walking Days If anyone can help, please contact My grandfather, Henry Harold Kayleigh Wiggins is appealing for [email protected] Harrison, was born in Poolstock, Wigan in May, 1886. His father, anyone who has memories of Vizard & Martlew Henry Harrison, was for a number walking days between 1950 and of years the proprietor of the 1980, and who would be willing to Dear Editor Honeysuckle Inn in Poolstock be interviewed for an oral history and walking day research project. I wonder if any of the readers of (located next to the Swan Past Forward can assist me with Meadows Mill) which is still in She can be contacted on my family history research business today. Henry Harold 077527 10166 or regarding Samuel Vizard and Harrison apprenticed as a joiner [email protected] Gouter Martlew? and upon completing his apprenticeship emigrated to I know Samuel Vizard was the Canada, married, and raised a Have you a family or local parish clerk in Wigan and that he family. About sixty of his history query you think our died on the 8.11.1837 aged 74 in descendants, myself included, now readers can help you with? Wigan (death certificate) and that reside in the Toronto area. Please write to the editor. his wife was Ann Stevenson (information gained from a birth Our website traces Henry Harold If there are no contact details certificate for their Harrison's ancestors back as far as with individual letters, daughter) but I have not been able the 17th century. For the most please send information to to ascertain details as to where part the early ancestors were the Editor, and it will be forwarded. and when Samuel Vizard was farmers in places like Upholland, Editor baptised and married. Standish, Chorley and

35 How to Find Us

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