ISSUE No. 34 SUMMER 2003

The Newsletter of Heritage Service FREE

From the Editor AS seems to be the case of late, there’s good news and bad news. Sadly, the Heritage Service has recently lost two very good friends and supporters, Ted Cheetham and Events Donald Anderson (see p4). WELCOME to the new Events and Activities page of I had the privilege of getting to know Donald in Past Forward. We’ve had a busy few months with the 1980’s, and well remember his amazing knowledge on anything to do with mining. I organised visits from groups, and events at The recall one instance when I showed him a History Shop and around the borough. Read on for an photograph of miners working underground, which I naturally assumed to be local, but he update on what’s been happening and we hope you pointed out straight away that it definitely was will join us at our future events (listed below). If you not, and almost certainly Staffordshire - all on would like further information about events and the evidence of the shape of the toe of the miner’s footware! activities, or about our Education and Outreach On a happier note, the main events during the service, please contact Claire Hawkins, Heritage past few months have been the two new exhibitions in the History Shop. Wigan on the Officer (Community Outreach & Education) on 01942 Map was given a rousing launch in March, 828124 or email [email protected] We will also be when the History Shop was jam-packed, and taking part in the NW Archives Festival and Family since then there has been a steady number of visitors to view this unique achievement (see Learning Weekend in September – for details of all our p5). Claire has organised a series of events future events see “What’s On” published by WLCT and and activities based on the Parish Map, and these have proved a great success (see available throughout the borough. opposite for more details). This was followed by You Are My Sunshine, curated by Philip - a splendid exhibition GMR Bus Family Fun celebrating 70 years of Wigan Athletic, and 25 There were some familiar voices The History Shop now runs in the top flight. The timing was immaculate, on BBC Greater activities for children aged 12 coinciding as it did with Latics at last reaching Radio in May, as the GMR Bus and under every Wednesday Division 1, after so many recent near misses. Again, there has been an excellent public visited the History Shop for a afternoon in the school holidays. response, with many first-time visitors to the day of Family History–themed Activities are free and the finished History Shop. broadcasting. Chris Watts product can usually be taken I think you will agree that there is another fine (Local and Family History . We ran our first ever mix of articles in this edition of Past Forward - Officer) gave a star interview activity session over Easter and further instalments of Fred Holcroft’s evocative account of the Boer War, as seen through the with BBC presenter Diane children made brightly coloured diaries of local men and Harold Smith’s Oxberry and other staff collages based on the Parish recollections of his Ashton-in-Makerfield members were live on air Maps in the Wigan on the Map childhood, contributions from regular writers, throughout the day. Barbara exhibition. Several children also including Irene Roberts, whose delightful style Davies (a Friend of Wigan made and decorated their own of writing has been much appreciated by readers, as well as articles by first-time Heritage Service) also gave an globe complete with continents – writers. interview and all that publicity varying from planet Earth to Looking ahead, I am often conscious of how has paid off with an increase in Mars! many words have been written but never new family historians visiting the During Whit half-term break we made available for the benefit of others. A search room at The History were joined by the St. Francis good example of this was when I recently met Wiganer Mark Gaskell. Mark has compiled a Shop. The GMR Bus was Brownies who each made their wealth of material relating to the history of extremely popular and gave own version of a parish map. If aviation around Wigan, but what to do with it? people the chance to access you know any children or their The answer, of course - serialising in Past the internet and look for family carers/ parents please tell them Forward, which will begin with the next issue. history websites. For more about our free holiday activities. It will be a fascinating story. I know there are lots more potential articles information on the GMR Bus Details are below. We will also be out there, some of which may not even have and it’s future locations at the Leigh Carnival on Saturday been written yet, but the information is all check this website - 26 July with free activities for there, in someone’s head. Don’t hesitate to http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchest children and information on our contact me - it is articles such as these, on a er/get_involved/gmr_bus/ services. whole range of subjects, which has helped to make Past Forward such a success. I hope all readers have a wonderful summer. COPY DEADLINE Please note that the copy deadline for issue no 35 of Past Forward is 3 October. All comments and correspondence should be addressed to: Editor, ‘Past Forward’, Wigan Heritage Service, Market Suite, , Cover: Afternon tea at Atherton, early 1900’s. One of the many superb Wigan WN1 1PX photographs in Tony Ashcroft’s forthcoming book on Atherton and Email: [email protected] . (see p16). 2 and Activities and Wednesday 6 August 2-4pm Wednesday 13 Free Family Fun at the History August 2-4pm Shop Summer 2003: Animal Magic. There are lots of animals hiding in the Parish Maps at the History Shop. Come and make a Wednesday 23 July 2-4pm and Wednesday 30 July 2-4pm crocodile, a cat or a butterfly greetings card. Or choose Giant Footballer Collage. Find out all about the Latics your own animal to create. in our fantastic exhibition and help make an enormous Latics player. Later in the holidays you can then bring Wednesday 20 August 2-4pm and Wednesday 27 your family and friends to visit your art work. August 2-4pm Summer Special. Make your own mobiles and windmills for the garden or back yard. You can also visit our exhibitions and learn more about where you live.

Wigan on the Map “Parish of the Month”, the Community Outreach and Education programme for the Wigan on the Map exhibition, got off to a flying start in Atherton Library during May. Lots of people came to the Local History Day there to find out about the exhibition and the work of the Heritage Service while St. George’s School enjoyed a “Mystery, Objects and Ancestors” morning at the library (thanks to Joyce and Marlene for all their help). Tony Ashcroft (Local History Officer) led one of his ever popular Cemetery Walks in Atherton. Making Globes and Map Collages during the Easter Holidays Future events include a stall at the Leigh Carnival in July and more Local History Days at branch libraries. See “What’s On” for events in your area. Events confirmed at time of going to press are:

Friday 25 July 10am Leigh Town Centre Heritage Walk Discover Historic Leigh with Local History Officer Tony Ashcroft. Meet at Leigh Library at 10am, £1 charge. To book a place contact Tony on 01942 404559 Saturday 26 July Leigh Carnival Visit the Heritage Service Stall at the Carnival for family activities and information on our exhibitions, family and local history services. Sunday 27 July 2pm Leigh Cemetery Walk Fascinating tour of Leigh Cemetery and facts about famous Leigh residents. Meet at St. Francis Brownies making mini-maps during Whit Cemetery Gates. £1 charge, contact Local History Officer half-term holiday and (below) some of the maps they made. Tony Ashcroft to book a place. Thursday 18 September Local History Day at Ince Library Talk to a Heritage Officer about your local history, family trees and find out more. Friday 19 September Local History Day at Hindley Library With information on family trees, exhibitions and local history. Friday 3 October Local History Day at Ashton Library Come and find out more about your local history, the Parish Map, and how to trace your family history. 3 Edmund (Ted) Cheetham Donald Anderson 1926 -2003 SADLY, Donald Anderson, a very good friend of the IT came as a great shock to Heritage Service over hear of the sudden death of many years, died on 3 Ted Cheetham on Good June, aged 90. He had Friday, aged almost 77, been quite ill since a particularly as I had been stroke five years ago and with him on the previous had had to spend most of Tuesday evening. Ted had his time since then in a been a regular visitor to the home. History Shop and a most Mine manager, valuable and regular surveyor, local mine-owner contributor to the family and prominent mining history records, especially historian, Donald was a through his research of were many and varied, much loved gentleman, a expertise in searching out graveyard and war memorial always trying to better very friendly and generous reserves through inscriptions. himself and striving to man. One of the ‘old historical research. I first met Ted about two provide for his family, school’ of hands-on mining Donald’s magnificent years ago, and we which eventually increased managers he was highly research and publications immediately teamed up to to six sons. His first job skilled at all aspects of the on the Wigan area coal publish the Memorial was as a bus conductor, but trade. He had worked in mines, along with national Inscriptions for St. Marie’s quickly changed to become South African Gold mines mining studies have never at Standish and St. Luke’s a collier for more pay and and Indian coal mines been matched for their at Orrell, Ted doing the leg better prospects. He before settling down to thoroughness of research work and me doing the studied at night school and operating his own mines typing and publishing. I around Wigan. and depth of personal worked his way up to knowledge, and will be a quickly realised he had an Donald opened Dalton become Safety Officer at lasting legacy of profound enormous amount of drive Lees Coal and Fireclay drift Giants Hall Colliery. importance for future and enthusiasm for this mine near Parbold in Shortly afterwards he generations. His works on work and I only regretted 1942, then Quaker House bought his first house in local estate history such as not meeting him earlier so Colliery, near Leyland Crooke village for £350, Haigh are virtually the I could have spent more Green, in 1947 as the although he had to sell his final word. time working with him. industry was nationalised. motorbike and sidecar to do A full obituary for Ted was born in 1926 in Quaker House Colliery had so. He lived there for four Donald by Archives Officer Pop Shop Yard, now the site possibly been the longest years before moving to Alan Davies will appear in of the Aldi Supermarket in Inward Drive, Shevington lived private mine in the country when it closed in the next issue of Past Newtown, and attended St. where he has lived for the Forward. Mark’s school. His first job past 40 years. 1992, a tribute to Donald’s was as a winder at His next job was at the Eckersley’s Mill before glue works in Appley before having a triple heart thought something needed joining the army at 17 to Bridge, where again he bypass operation at the age saying! fight in the Second World worked his way up, this of 63. Throughout any Ted’s funeral took place War. Attached to the 53rd time to foreman. He periods of illness, though, on 28 April at Wigan Division Royal Welsh worked there for four years his leadership, personality Crematorium, which was Fusiliers, he saw before deciding, along with and charisma still provided packed to capacity and active service at Arnhem, eldest son Anthony, to set the drive for the rest of his included a small contingent Nijmegen and Dusseldorf, up a family coal business, family. from the History Shop. The initially in the infantry but with an old Bedford lorry Ted enjoyed many coffin was draped in the later on as a jeep chauffeur bought for £200 and a hobbies, including keeping Union Jack, a standard for a Colonel. Since then he contract with the NCB. horses, goats, pigs, geese, bearer raised and lowered has been a very active Later on as the business chickens and budgies! He the colours of the 53rd member of the Battalion’s grew, they were able to buy has collected antiquarian Royal Welsh Lancashire Veterans’ Association, right an established coal books, Hornby trains and Fusiliers during the service, up to his death. company, including another virtually anything and a bugler played the last Ted was demobbed from lorry, and Anthony is still historical. He enjoyed post. His son, Anthony, the army at the age of 22 running the business today. playing the organ and gave a very moving tribute and met his wife, Martha, Unfortunately, at the before his throat cancer had to a clearly much loved shortly afterwards at the age of 57 Ted developed been a singer. He was a family man. Abbey Lakes Dance Hall in cancer of the throat but, very generous man, always He leaves behind a Upholland. They were with the aid of surgery and wanting to give things, widow, six sons, 15 subsequently married at St. medication, he managed to particularly to children and grandchildren, nine great- Andrew’s, Springfield and fight through it. His health the less fortunate. On the grandchildren and many went to live with Martha’s continued to be a problem, other hand he wouldn’t friends. All will sadly miss mother. though, and he suffered a hesitate to write to the him. Ted’s jobs in civilian life number of heart attacks Prime Minister if he Gerry Rigby 4

Opening of Wigan on the Map THE exhibition was officially opened by the Mayor of Wigan and the Leader of Wigan Council on 16 April. The event was attended by over 200 people, most of whom had stitched their way into history with their contributions to the 28 maps! Several heartfelt speeches were made, praising the work of the organisers and stitchers, by the Mayor, Lord Smith (Leader of the Council), Alastair Gillies (Heritage Services Manager) and Penny Cook (President of Wigan Soroptimists). Marion Andrews and Teresa Mather were presented with beautiful bouquets in recognition of all their hard work as the prime Visitors enjoy looking at some of the 28 parish maps on display. movers and shakers in getting the project off the ground. Special thanks were also given to Tony Staunton-Unsworth, the Artistic Director, whose creative skills turned the individual works of art into the holistic work of art you can now see in the History Shop. The AV presentation was unveiled, and projected onto a large screen, so that the vast audience could see it. Both the AV and the exhibition were warmly received, and everyone was delighted that the promise to display the Parish Map in its entirety in one venue had at last been fulfilled. We have to say that we were overwhelmed, and greatly encouraged by the response and reaction of our guests (and our many visitors since the opening). The after-glow will certainly carry us forward to do our best with the many events and activities we have planned to bring the Parish Map alive, and take local history to our communities. Claire Hawkins, our Community Outreach and Education Officer (see p3) who is masterminding these events, intends to keep you updated, with regular features in the local press and Past Forward, so keep a look-out. Some of the special guests at the official opening of ‘Wigan on the Map’. From left to Yvonne Webb right: Dr Penny cook (President, Soroptimists, Wigan Branch), Marian Andrews, Collections Development Stephanie Moriniere (Ambassadress from Angers), The Mayor of Wigan, Alastair Manager Gillies, The Mayoress, The Leader of the Council, Teresa Mather. 5

Letters from the Front Local men in the Boer War 1899-1902 Food and water (Episode three) Worcestershire Regiment wrote to a by relative in Goose Green: Mostly, the letters describe what “You will no doubt be aware of the was closest to the soldiers’ hearts – Fred Holcroft dreadful amount of sickness food. Corporal Tripp of the South among the troops out here, Lancashire Regiment wrote to his especially dysentery and enteric mother at Rathbone Street, Sergeant J. McDonald of the fever. At Bloemfontein the Earlestown: Lancashire Fusiliers tried to inject mortality averaged 16 a day. Isn’t “Bully beef, biscuits, and tea is some humour into a letter to his it sad when one comes to think of our diet. We break the biscuits in cousin John Fairhurst of the George the hundreds aye thousands of pieces and mince the bully beef & Dragon, Bold Street, St. Helens: young fellows who came out and boil it together. We get “…..We had no grub since dinner strong and healthy and hopeful together in twos and threes and time the day before except a cup of even as I did only to find a lonely cook for ourselves, our fireplace dirty water. They called it tea. grave thousands of miles from being the anthills.” Well I suppose it must have been friend and home.” but I would like to see your Meg Private Ince from Hindley, Loyal put it in front of you, that’s all. The climate did not help. North Lancashire Regiment, wrote They served us out with a pound Corporal Pearson, Lancashire fondly: of bread and a piece of Fusiliers, believed that: “When I come home I shall think bacon….one spud (bad) and some “This war could not have broken bread and butter a luxury.” old shoe leather, it must have been out at a worse time, this is the nothing else for we could neither rainy season….not ordinary rain Corporal Griffin ate the same cut it, chop it or chew it.” but as if somebody was throwing diet: buckets of water.” “I could eat this food all right if I Sickness and disease was in the Minorca Hotel where I Sergeant A. Crawshaw, 6th could have as many pints as I More likely than being killed or Dragoon Guards, wrote to his father liked.” wounded in action was the in Ashton-in-Makerfield: possibility of sickness. Private “…..A terrible storm broke. I never There was one way to supplement Rimmington, Loyal North saw anything like it in my life. It this awful food. Private Fred Nicholl, Lancashires, wrote to his uncle in started at 6.00 in the evening and 7th Dragoon Guards, wrote to his Lower Ince: lasted until 3.30 next morning. mother in Higher Ince: “Half our regiment are down with The lightening was a continued “We get plenty of fowl which we fever and we have only three mass of fire, the thunder was pinch from farm houses and officers.” deafening, and the rain well you’d kaffirs.” Official Casualty Returns 1899-1902 Water was the big problem. Officers Other Ranks Private Thomas Brimelow, Accidental deaths 27 771 Coldstream Guards again: “We have to get our water from the Deaths from disease 339 12,911 river; when we are away [from the Died in captivity 5 97 river] you have to go without. At Invalids sent home & died 8 500 Graspan we could not get water Killed in action or died of wounds 701 7,091 and those that had a drop in their Invalided home sick or wounded 3,108 71,814 water bottles could get 10s. for a drink.” Private Bate, from 50 Victoria think you had fallen in the river.” Corporal Griffin, although in the Street, Leigh, in the Manchester cavalry, wrote: Regiment, wrote: Typical of the uncomfortable “The other day I walked about a “…..Every morning it is a common conditions this weather caused was mile looking for water to drink.” sight to see 100 men visiting the what happened to Gunner Edge: doctor.” “…..Not long before I was in the Just what had to be endured was land of slumber. No cover over us explicitly stated by Private Ince to It was heartbreaking when, after but the sky and when I woke up I his father in Hindley: surviving the shot and shell of found I was in a pool of water for “….And no water in our water countless battles, local men appeared it had been raining all night….I bottle. When we stopped there was in the casualty lists, having died did not know I was wet through a pit with water in it – well we from disease, such as Private G. till I woke up.” called it water but you would not Boardman Coldstream Guards, of if you had seen it. It was so white Tyldesely and Trooper Tom Rogers, Private Carney, Coldstream it looked like soapsuds, and there 10th Hussars, of 42 Selwyn Street, Guards, also from Ashton-in- was a dead horse in it too. It Leigh. Makerfield, wrote: tasted good all the same.” Private John Hurst of the Ô 6

“We have to sleep on the ground at when you receive this and you “We have to live mostly on night with one blanket and it was know any of them personally, ask horseflesh and mealie meal.” very cold at night and burning hot them to think twice before they during the day.” take such a serious step, for they On outpost duty when war broke are leaving home comforts, out, his three-man patrol had Corporal Ben Tripp again: friends, relatives, and parents. narrowly evaded capture and “We struck camp again at 3 a.m. For what! You might answer to reached Kimberley in only what they and were off by 6 a.m. in torrents fight for your country (Rubbish). stood up in, losing all their kit. of rain…. 12 miles in 12 hours up This is what you leave for. To With only 500 regulars and 1500 to our knees in mud. Next day was work all the hours you are Cape Mounted Police, the bulk of the the reverse….dry, dusty and ordered, day and night, without 10,000 defenders were civilians. extremely hot.” food for hours, often days, Including non-combatants and marching under a blazing sun natives, there were 30,000 inside the Deep sense of duty without water. You have a town. vigilant enemy who is trying his As their units reached best to kill you, besides a Reginald Clarke gave further Elandslaagte, the Wigan soldiers thousand and one different things details of the diet: were suddenly struck homesick when e.g. lying in your trenches all “All were treated exactly alike, they saw it was a small coal-mining night, the rain running in blacks, white, military, and civilians, town. Lance Corporal Will Wood torrents from your garments and and the food daily dealt out to each reflected: no cover but the vault of heaven. holder of a ticket consisted of: “The scene might be Wigan. The These are a few things a soldier horseflesh (inclusive of bone) 4 oz; only difference is that the colliers and volunteer must put up with brown sour bread 10 oz; coffee 1/2 oz; are black when they go down the and for what! What is his reward tea 1/4 oz; sugar 2 oz. This kind of pit as well as when they come up, if he is lucky enough to come out thing went on from week to week from for niggers work there.” alive! A medal in exchange for month to month until that grim perhaps one of his limbs in monster hunger stared out of every Sergeant Hartley had an amusing addition to disease which can face, and when a meal-time came tale to tell: cripple the constitution? Such are round every man would watch his “Our regiment formed the advance solemn facts, but I could fill a neighbour to see whether by any guard, and when the book.” chance a bit might be left on his Elandslaagte collieries came in plate.” sight our fellows gave a shout I Beseiged can tell you. I thought we were Deciding that attack was the best back in Wigan again. How the The eyes of Britain were on the form of defence, the garrison made buzz of conversation turned to pit three besieged towns far away in several sorties at the surrounding work. I heard one chap should: ‘I South Africa, and trapped inside Boers, in which William Ashton took wish we were going down among the thousands of defenders – part: Poolstock Lane to Owd Nat’s* now soldiers, civilians and natives – were “Not three miles out we lost 23 Bill!’ and our sergeant Major who scores of local men. Exactly how men. Colonel Scott-Turner was shot is also a Wigan man had to smile.” many will never be known, but with an explosive bullet which blew letters from some were printed in the the top of his head off….about two Each soldier’s attitude to the war local papers – Private Joseph Grey of miles out of town we lost 29 men came across clearly. Most had a deep the Loyal North Lancashire killed….and at another battle a mile sense of duty and patriotism. Private Regiment from Keble Street, Ince, out we did not lose many. We took Banks, Border Regiment believed: Reginald Clarke, a department store about 30 Boer prisoners after “I am only doing my duty as a manager who had only emigrated in charging with the bayonet. They don’t soldier should and if I get shot I January 1899, James Ashton who like cold steel. We have lost 50 or 60 shall die as a soldier should, had been out there since 1879, and men in our four month siege, so I fighting for his country and his David Barton of the Cape Mounted think we have got off very well.” Queen.” Police were all in Kimberley, while Lance Corporal Edgar Greenbough, Reluctant to attack frontally in Private Gething, Royal Lancaster, King’s Royal Rifles, from Poolstock, case of heavy casualties the Boers from Wesley Street, Tyldesley, held Private J. Bentham, 5th Lancers of concentrated on shelling the town. similar thoughts: Grove Lane, Standish, and Edward Constable Barton again: “They [the Boers] have thrown Leary, another experienced veteran “Many lives were lost in town and down the gauntlet to our country. who had been in the Jameson Raid, the women and children had to take We have accepted the challenge were all in Ladysmith. refuge in the debris heaps and and now it is their lives or ours.” Unfortunately, research has not diamond mines.” turned up any locals in Mafeking An alternative point of view was with Baden Powell. Ashton adds: put forward by Corporal Frank As the three sieges dragged on “The Boers would start shelling at Porter of the Lancashire Fusiliers, (Mafeking lasted 218 days, three o’clock in the morning until half who had been awarded the D.S.M., in Kimberley 123 and Ladysmith 118, past eleven at night. All the people a letter to a friend in his home town conditions for those besieged rapidly who could go (women and children) of : deteriorated. From Kimberley went down the diamond mines some “You mentioned something about Private Grey wrote to his mother: 1200 feet, some 1500 feet at all levels. the Horwich Volunteers coming “It seems a long time to be fighting Others went in holes, anywhere they out here. If they have not gone the Boers on an empty stomach”. thought would be safe.”

* Worsley Mesnes Colliery owned by Constable Barton wrote to his Nathaniel Eckersley. father in Swinley: Continued on page 8 7

job in the Cape Town plain-clothes Spion Kop:. police – at 10s. a day! – and gone to “Ten days ago guns were blazing Letters from Natal in search of action. Between 1887 away within 12 miles of us and we were and 1895 he had served in locally raised led to believe that in a day or two we units and this experience got him the were to be relieved, but we are not the Front job of orderly to General Brocklehurst, relieved and it is beginning to appear accompanying him on active service that we are never going to be. Since then Local men in the Boer and being in charge of the grooms and we have heard no guns, neither has any drivers attached to the general staff. news been published by the authorities War 1899-1902 “Of course I jumped at the offer, the as to how we are fixed. We have a ––––– only thing that troubled me was that I tremendous percentage of sick and was remaining a civilian and would not nothing to give the poor devils to pull Continued from page 7 be entitled to a medal if I got through. I them round.” mentioned this to the general and he said he would do his best to obviate As the food situation worsened he Reginald Clarke also participated in that.” added: several skirmishes. In one there was an “....We are on half-rations now, viz 8 incident over a white flag: It was in this capacity that Leary oz. biscuits 12 oz. meat....out of about “During the attack the Boers hoisted found himself shut up in Ladysmith. On 4000 cavalry horses we can only the white flag at one end of the redoubt, 27 November 1899 he wrote: manage to feed 300, the remainder are and immediately the order was given by “That is nearly a month ago. God let run to grass during the day, under a the British officers to cease firing. knows how many thousand shells have strong guard. Poor brutes. It makes me Directly this was done the Boers been fired into the town. We are awfully sorry to see the state they are in.” commenced blazing away at our troops absolutely surrounded. Ladysmith is in from the other end of the redoubt. A a kind of natural punch bowl There had originally been 408 number of British soldiers raised their surrounded by a circle of small foothills horses in Private Bentham’s cavalry rifles to reply to this treachery when and further out by a circle of high ones. regiment, but all but 20 had been killed Lieutenant-Colonel Scott-Turner drew Our troops are entrenched in the for food. (At Kimberley only horses his revolver and said – ‘the first man foothills and the Boers have the higher killed in action were eaten). When they who raises his rifle again I will shoot ones commanding the town, and it is ran out of tea and sugar they roasted him dead.’ Needless to say rifles were simply a matter of providence that there the Indian corn and ground it to make dropped. Fortunately there were no is a building left standing or a person coffee, and when all their tobacco had losses from the Boer abuse of the white living in the place, as they have big guns gone they used tea leaves, coffee grains, flag on this occasion.” all round and the amount of shells sent weeds – “anything that would raise a into the town is enough to have smoke.” In a masterly understatement, destroyed a town like London, let alone As a result Leary, like thousands Clarke described his feelings at the a Godforsaken place like this.” more in the beleaguered town, grew continuous Boer barrage in the later weak and sick. On 22 February 1900 he stages: The bombardment intensified. On 1 wrote: “One gun at three miles range kept December 1899 he wrote: “I am still alive but speechless. I have dropping a pretty constant supply of “The Boers seem to have got more been having another go in at dysentery, 100lb shells into the town. In one single guns in position and let us have more and I am trying to get my strength day 500 shells came into the town. On shells than usual. Two 40 lb shells have back....if we could only get on to some one occasion a shell burst so close it entered the town hall which is being decent food again I would soon be knocked me down with its violence and used as a hospital and finished off a lot alright.” blackened both my eyes. Once I and of poor chaps who were already some friends had just left a coolie wounded....supplies will not last too Two days later he added: gingerbread shop when a shell landed long, at least we have a good supply for “I find myself too shaky to write plump in the centre of it and blew it up the men but the forage for the horses and much. I have completely broken down like a pack of cards. This kind of sport is mules will not last very much longer.” during the last ten days and am in the all right when viewed from the grand hands of a doctor. They have managed stand at Earl’s Court or the Crystal Hopes rose in early December as the to keep a few things together in the mess Palace – interesting and exciting relief column got closer: in case of emergency and they feed me on without a doubt but it tells on your “The other night a nigger managed porridge at breakfast, sago at mid-day, nerves.” to get through the Boer lines and and a basin of soup at night. I am brought a lot of letters....I believe the debarred from solids.” The arrival of the relief column long talked of Relief Column will arrive brought a surprise to Clarke: any day now....we are still hanging on Four days later, on 28 February “A man (from the relief column) almost hourly for the Relief Column.” 1900, and only just in time if Leary’s came up behind me and put his hands condition was common in the town, the over my eyes and said – ‘guess who’ – it Black Week was a terrible shock to siege was broken. Lord Roberts’ victory was a strange feeling for I knew at once the defenders. On Christmas Day 1899 at Paardeberg caused the Boers to lift I had found a friend and looking quickly he wrote: the siege and retreat into the Orange round I saw a young fellow called “I must write a little today. I have Free State. It was another 11 weeks McLoughlin with whom I went to Wigan hardly had the heart to write since I before Mafeking was relieved, but this Grammar School.” wrote last the news that has filtered was a third glorious episode in British through being so bad, but we are still military history, which hid much of the Ladysmith had an even tougher living in hopes and today of all days I incompetence in the way the war was time. Throughout the siege Edward should not be lugubrious.” being conducted. Leary kept a diary in the form of a letter to his friend Tom, in which he begins by A month later, on 1 February 1900, In the next issue, Fred assesses describing how he had turned down a he was recovering from the shock of the victory, won only at a price. 8

GEORGE ORWELL’S ‘The Road to Wigan Pier’

ERIC Arthur Blair was born at Motihari, standing with two friends only when the book was Bengal on 25 June 1903, the only son of Richard at the corner of Sovereign published that we realised Road. Coming towards us, he had been making an Walmsely Blair, an English civil servant, and his we saw this tall, gangly honest attempt to find out wife, Ida Mabel. On leaving Eton, where he was man wearing Oxford bags what conditions were like. a Kings Scholar in 1921, instead of university, who had a tousled Of course, the name Blair he joined the Burma Imperial Police. appearance and carried a or would clip-board. He began have meant nothing to us Returning to Europe conspicuous by the blue asking questions such as, at that time.” five years later, he set out scar on their faces. On 12 ‘Where do you work? How to learn the facts about February he wrote in his much do you earn? How Bryn Hall Colliery poverty as a dishwasher diary, “Terribly cold, long long is your working and tramp in and walk along the canal week?’ He had a Orwell was taken France. He described his towards some distant slag beautifully modulated underground at Bryn Hall experiences in his first heaps…some which are voice, completely at odds Colliery, Bamfurlong, book, Down and Out in like Stromboli. All the with his scruffy commonly known as Paris and London, flashes are covered with ice appearance, and when he Crippens, the coal owner’s published in 1933. He like raw umber.” Another began to write down our name. He had thought that worked next as a entry stated, “In the early answers to his list of the mine roadways would schoolmaster and morning, the mill girls, questions, we thought he be like those of the bookseller’s assistant, clumping down the was a government snooper, underground railways. during which period he cobbled streets in clogs, trying to catch people out The roads were 4 ft. high wrote three novels, the best make a furiously on the Means Test. It was Continued on page 10 being Burmese Days, a formidable sound like an bitter analysis of the army hurrying into battle. condition of the Burmese I suppose this is the typical natives in the early 1920’s. sound of Lancashire.” The breakthrough into Wishing to see the PARISH VIDEO national recognition came seamier side of Wigan, he with the publication of The left his clean lodgings and STANDISH Road to Wigan Pier in went to live above a tripe 1937. The idea for the book presents shop in Darlington Street, came from Victor Gollancz The History of Coalmining only to find the conditions who advanced £500 to in the Borough of Wigan Orwell to report on the there depressing. On 21 February he wrote, “The condition of the Titles include unemployed in north-west squalor of this place is England. Orwell stayed in beginning to get on my Nothing Too Serious? nerves….there is an Manchester 6-10 February (The last working year and closure unemptied chamber pot 1936, where he was given of ) the address of Wigan’s under the table at Jerry Kennan, a union breakfast this morning”. Blue Scars, Black Diamonds activist; he arrived in The late Sidney Smith, (A History of Mines and Miners Wigan on 11 February. who owned the bookshop in Mesnes Street, was quite in the Wigan area) Decent lodgings definite that the shop was (in two parts) not exclusively a tripe shop Also available He was found decent but sold other things. He lodgings at 25s. a week in recalled his meeting with The Standish Chronicles Warrington Lane and George Orwell; “It was a Part 1, Part 2 quickly discovered that in Wednesday afternoon, and (A General History of Standish) Wigan, wooden clogs were at the time I was working worn, women placed in my paper shop in the For more details: 01257 422108 shawls over their Old Arcade. This was our shoulders and miners were half-day and I was 9

images of poverty but also between 1927 and 1934. He did, it was because the dirt GEORGE ORWELL’S of the goodness and wrote, “More men are was there. ‘The Road decency of working-class killed in the mines every The Town Clerk of people, but could never year than the whole of the Wigan, William Henry to Wigan understand why the men casualties sustained by the Tyrer, Wigan born and Pier’ were ashamed of being Gallipoli Expeditionary devoted to the town, raised ––––– unemployed. He found Force in World War I.” no objection, saying it people could even joke The comparison brought Wigan to the Continued from page 9 about their poverty. Mr. showed clearly there was a notice of the nation. But in Smith recalled for me two kind of war going on with 1919, Mary Elizabeth and the coal face only 3 ft. of the current jokes: “A only one side suffering Connelly, a future member On the way back to the man was refused relief by casualties. Not only that of Wigan Council, had surface he was exhausted, the Board of Guardians but there were what given evidence to a Royal collapsed and had to be because he had been seen Orwell called “….the Commission appointed by helped by Jerry Kennan late at night selling walking wounded, men the Prime Minister, Lloyd and his friends. firewood. He protested whose lungs were damaged George, about the Eventually, after having that he was doing a by dust and eyes by the appalling conditions in had to stop every 50 yards, midnight flit and the poor lighting Wigan. In 1931, there had they reached the surface, firewood was his sticks of underground.” been a riot in Wigan led by leaving Orwell full of furniture.” He also told me He quoted a notation Paul Farrell, protesting admiration of the miners’ that people used to say on a miner’s pay slip about the Means Test and agility to move so quickly they were awakened in the which showed the the dirt and poverty. There in such confined spaces. morning by the sound of deduction of a shilling had been little change in When he bathed later he birds – coughing! whenever a fellow miner the depression years. was amazed at the amount was killed, the money of dirt on his body and the 'Death Stoppage' going to the dead man’s Industrial ugliness difficulty in getting it off, widow. This happened so noting that few miners had Orwell’s research at frequently that the Orwell would have baths in their houses, only Wigan Library showed company used a rubber argued that he was telling a bathtub in front of the that one miner in 900 was stamp marked ‘Death it like it was. Leaving fire. killed and six injured, and Stoppage’. The casualties Wigan, he gave a lyrical Orwell drew from that nearly 8,000 had been were not only the miners description of two crows Wigan not only haunting killed in the Wigan pits but also their families, he saw “….on a bare patch some of whom lived in beside the railway line – poverty on the banks of the courting and copulating.” canal. There he found a He was saying that the BOB DOBSON caravan colony which sterile gloom of industrial reminded him of some of ugliness could be Publisher and Book Dealer the worst slums in Burma. redeemed by nature if “But”, he wrote, “nothing even the ugliest of birds LANCASHIRE there could ever be as bad, could procreate in an for in the East there isn’t urban wasteland. He YORKSHIRE & CHESHIRE the penetrating cold to wrote, “I knew nothing of contend with and the sun is working-class conditions. I a disinfectant.” had read the I buy, sell and search for second-hand How representative of unemployment figures but books relating to these counties: I search Wigan was The Road to had no notion of what they for books: I issue lists. I buy quantities of Wigan Pier? Jim implied. Above all, I did Hammond, the miners’ not know that respectable other books. agent for Wigan at the poverty is always the time, said that the worst. The frightful plight LIST OF MY NEW PUBLICATIONS description of the miners of a decent working man ON REQUEST working underground was thrown on the streets after the best he had ever read. a life of steady work, his Regarding conditions, agonised struggles against BOB DOBSON Jack Winstanley, Editor of economic laws which he “Acorns” the Wigan Observer in the does not understand, the 3 STAINING RISE 1970’s, believed the disintegration of families, STAINING descriptions to be one- the corroding sense of BLACKPOOL FY3 0BU sided and unfair, and that shame – all this was Tel: (01253) 895678 Orwell went looking for outside my experience.” the dirt and found it. If he © James Fairhurst 10

Wigan Heritage Service - Discovery of Regionally Important Textile Archive THOSE of you interested in the social and economic conditions local textile industries will The Charles Hilton & Son in the industry and of its remember an article in Past Archive and the Silk workers, the technical aspects Forward 31 announcing a of production and allow us to Heritage Lottery Fund award of Industry of the follow design innovations and £86,000 to Wigan Heritage North West progressions. The archive is Service and our partners to ––– rare in that it is so complete. Dr survey and catalogue the textile Sykas was delighted to make his pattern books in our discoveries. He tells us, “This collections. As well as the Pattern Book Survey information challenges some of catalogue, we aim to produce an our preconceptions about exhibition and a book in 2005, important and will undoubtedly design in the silk industry. Until based on the knowledge we shed new light on the now, that history has been told gain. The total cost of the Lancashire silk industry; it mainly from the view of the top project is £96,000. The shortfall could even enable the dating of end of the market. But of £10,000 has been made up by dress fabrics that were Lancashire produced dress silks North West Museum Service previously undated. This has for the middle classes, those and contributions from all the the potential to enable museums silks that have a lower survival partners. to date garments in their rate in museum collections. This We are the first of the collections. collection is a resource of great partners ( Museum & Art Briefly, Charles Hilton & Son depth and quality that will Gallery, Macclesfield Museum, was a silk weaving firm, with allow the public to see the , John Moores works in Manchester and Leigh, design choices of ordinary University and Manchester producing dress silks. We have people.” Central Library) to have 48 pattern books with nearly Dr Sykas has now moved on detailed analysis undertaken on 6500 silk patterns woven to work on the collections of our our collection. The work is between 1854 and 1894, partners. Who knows what being carried out by Dr Philip hundreds of point papers other exciting discoveries await Sykas, Research Associate in the (charts used by operatives to set him? Department of Textiles and up the Jacquard ) and We intend to publish an in- Fashion at Manchester various order books containing depth article on the collection in Metropolitan University, and an the names of customers, a future edition of Past expert on historic textiles. We winders, weavers and warpers. Forward, when we have access still await his full report, but so A highly detailed picture of the to Dr Sykas’s full report. far the information he has company’s production in the recovered is astounding. The late 19th century is emerging. Yvonne Webb Charles Hilton & Son Archive All of this information will Collections Development has proven to be extremely add to the knowledge of the Manager PRETORIA PIT DISASTER PRETORIA was fierce fire, killed 344 was issued, listing the the tissue to a relative of Lancashire’s worst mining miners. 436 men working names of the dead and any miner who died that disaster. It occurred on 21 in other parts of the mine featuring drawings of the day. December 1910. An were saved. The miners pit edged in pink flowers. If you would like this explosion at 7.50 a.m. came from the One of the tissues was piece of mining wedged the cage in the Chequerbent, Atherton inherited by a Mr. memorabilia, Mr. shaft. At 9 a.m. the cage and Westhoughton area. Calderbank from his Calderbank would be was released and rescue A relief fund was grandmother. Mr. pleased to hear from operations commenced. opened by the Mayor of Calderbank can find no you. You may contact The explosion, 900 feet Bolton and contributed to family link with the pit him at 154 Wigan Road, below the surface in Yard by the King and Queen. A disaster and would Euxton, Chorley PR7 Mine, and the resultant commemorative tissue therefore like to pass on 6JW (tel. 01257 269397).

11

The (long) road to Wigan Pier

I WAS born in Litherland, a Flamborough Head, fog signals were also still in Flamborough, Portland and northern district of Yorkshire; Lizard Point, use. Lizard where the keeper was between Aintree Cornwall; Nash Point, S. There are three types of resident with his family in and Seaforth. After leaving Wales; North Foreland, Kent lighthouse…. tower rocks, tied accommodation. One school I joined the (Britain’s last manned the type that is usually such station, Hartland Point Merchant Navy, shipping lighthouse). conjured up as a mental in North Devon, was where I out of Liverpool. In 1959 I picture whenever and my family lived for four was the youngest Pretty basic lighthouses are mentioned; years, but when the certificated seaman these are the tall towers children reached school age registered in Liverpool. I Many of the lighthouses that stand out at sea on we thought it prudent to married my wife Louise in at my time of joining the submerged rocks…. island leave the rather splendid 1963, and after a short Service were still operated stations, which, until 1926, isolation for a more ‘normal’ while in a shore job, I by oil, not only in the main were operated by keepers lifestyle. joined the Trinity navigation light, but also and their families. The Lighthouse Service (the the living quarters, and introduction of an A pleasant town lighthouse authority for many stations did not have automatic gas light allowed England, Wales and the the basic facilities of the more remote and barren So, in 1973, I was Channel Islands) in July running water, toilet, islands to be de-manned…. transferred to an off-shore 1966. Following an initial bathroom or heating, so life shore based such as those station again, and after training period of one year, was, to say the least, pretty at the popular holiday looking at various part of which involved visiting basic. Explosives for use as destinations of the country to live, my wife various lighthouses to gain and I chose, for several experience in the different reasons, to settle in Wigan - types of equipment used, I it seemed a pleasant town, was promoted to Assistant fairly central for travel, and Keeper. I then worked at not too far from family the following lighthouses, connections, it had good initially for two months on roads and rail links for station followed by one travel to east, west and month on leave until 1974, south coast, and most when the duty period was importantly, at that time reduced to one month on private housing was and one month off: reasonably priced. Thirty Flatholm Island, Bristol years later, we are still here! Channel; Bull Point, N. Both my daughters Devon; Lundy Island North attended St. Michael’s Light, Bristol Channel; Junior School, Gidlow Lynmouth Foreland, N. Middle, and Deanery High. Devon; Strumble Head, S. My wife worked for two well Wales; Portland Breakwater, know credit companies in Portland Naval Base, Dorset; Wigan before joining Wigan Sark, Channel Islands; Metro’s Social Services Alderney, Channel Islands; Home Care Dept. in 1983, where she completed 20 Hartland Point, N. Devon; years service before her Coquet Island, recent retirement. Northumberland; South In January 1980, whilst Stack, Holyhead, Anglesey. stationed at South Stack Bardsey Island, off Lleyn Lighthouse in Holyhead, I peninsula; St. Bee’s, was involved in the rescue Cumbria; Longstone, Farne of an injured man who had Islands; Inner Dowsing, 15 fallen from the cliffs near miles off Lincolnshire Coast; the lighthouse, and spent Lundy Island South Light, an hour in the sea with him Bristol Channel; Needles, before rescue by the Air Sea Isle of Wight; West Coast North Foreland Lighthouse, Broadstairs, Kent. Rescue helicopter and Control Centre, Holyhead, The last manned lighthouse in Britain. Left to right: Brian Coastguard Cliff Rescue Anglesey (11 stations); St. Clayton, Assistant Keeper; Gordon Medlicott, Principal Keeper; Anne’s Head, S. Wales; Peter Robson Assistant Keeper. Ô 12

THE CART HORSE (c.1938) PLEA FROM THE EDITOR I WATCHED a snippet of a TV programme The horse knew that at certain the other day showing a shire horse being customers it would be fed an apple or a I greatly value all shod at the village smithy in the olden days. crust. One customer took 30 bags at a time, contributions to Past It took me back to the time in my youth when delivered down a chute under a grid in the Forward, and if you don’t I was first introduced to the shire horse by my gateway. I was in the cellar shovelling the have access to a computer grandfather, a coal dealer. coal away from the chute. When we had We were fortunate in that where they finished I was as black as the ace of spades; or word processor, please lived there was plenty of space to house the but there was always a cold drink waiting. don’t let that put you off cart and a large stable for the horse. I first Another of my special jobs was sending me your article - became interested during school holidays supplying fishermen with blood worms preferably typed, but when I would go with my grandfather to the from the midden next to the stable! At one again, if you can only coal yard in Chapel Lane for 30 bags of coal. time the horse was troubled with segs on manage handwritten, Well I remember Chapel Lane – this was its legs which my grandfather treated with where Billy Davies lived with his mother and a bucket full of cow dung, plastering the that’s fine. we often used to see him rubbing stoning the affected area by hand. At least it did the However, if you can steps to the front door. Chapel Lane was also trick! possibly submit your where the sweet shop was where I was In the summer time I had the job of contributions to me allowed to spend my penny. taking the horse to pasture down Coppull electronically ie by Email The railway wagons were in their Lane to Bottling Wood, I also collected. ([email protected]), or on respective sidings, all loaded with the One time I was riding her bare back, when different kinds of coal, nuts, Welch, lumps I gave her rather a hefty slap on the back CD ROM or floppy disc etc. My grandfather would drive the cart and she broke into a gallop (took boggerts together with hard copy alongside the wagon and drop the door to get as they say), nearly throwing me off in the printouts, so much the inside whilst I held the bag to be filled. When process. better. And it would help the cart was loaded we would go off to I mustn’t forget the glamorous part – the production team and various parts of the town to deliver the coal. when it was Carnival time, grandfather myself even more if articles In the winter time, when the roads were plaited the horse’s mane and tail and covered with ice, the horse had to have studs decorated her with ribbons and rosettes were double line spaced fitted to its shoes to dig into the ice. Crossing while the wagon became the base for a with one inch (25mm) the junction of Station Road and Chapel Lane tableau all decked out with crepe paper in margins each side, and a was very treacherous because it was on a glorious colours. word count included. slope. More than once the horse lost its R. D. Heaviside Many thanks. footing and the cart would take charge. Standish Wigan Ed. team, for which I was so fast that events almost removed from post, and left of the major classical awarded the Royal Humane certainly overtook us, and the service on redundancy buildings of the city, in the Society Bronze Medal, the Control Centre terms just a couple of weeks presence of the Master of presented to me by the operations were transferred before the final de- Trinity House, HRH Prince Mayor of Wigan at the Old to the main Trinity House manning. However, I was Phillip, with whom my wife Town Hall in February 1981. Marine Depot at Harwich; asked if, along with another and I were seated during Promotion to Principal with the option of colleague, I would represent the meal. At the end of the Keeper came in 1988, when redundancy or returning to the Lighthouse Keepers at evening each of the keepers I became the keeper-in the lighthouses, I chose to the Festival of present was presented with charge of the Longstone stay employed and was re- Remembrance at the Royal a medallion to mark the end Lighthouse at the Farne stationed at what was to Albert Hall in the company of an occupation that has Islands, the home of Grace become the country’s last of the Deputy Master of been part of our maritime Darling (that well known manned lighthouse, at Trinity House, Rear Admiral heritage. heroine of folklore history), North Foreland, Broadstairs, Rowe, (now Sir Patrick I thoroughly enjoyed my and then went on in that Kent. Rowe), the one and only time in the service, and had capacity, serving in several time that Trinity House has a lot of job satisfaction more station until the end 32 years service ever been represented at from knowing that I did of my service. Appointment this event….and with great make a difference….it was in 1994 as Officer-in-Charge With 32 years service, I pride I was delighted to do a unique way of life that I’m of the West Coast was one of the senior so, at what was to prove to more than pleased to have Lighthouse Control Centre Principal Keepers of the be a most memorable and been associated with. at Holyhead, (with Service; in fact I was moving occasion. Gordon Medlicott responsibility for the lights number three in the To finally end my 6 Yewdale Crescent from the Solway Firth to the seniority list, but as only association with the Wigan WN1 2HP Bristol Channel), should two Principal’s were lighthouse service, I and my have been my final move required for the closing ex-colleagues were invited Since his retirement, within the Service before ceremony at the last to a farewell dinner held at Gordon has been a retirement, but alas, manned station, I was the company’s head office volunteer at Wigan Pier for technology was developing somewhat unceremoniously on Tower Hill, London, one over four years. Ed. 13

Communication via sign language SINCE 2003 is the year of the Disabled, I It was immediately clear that it was able to point them in the right direction. It thought that any reader with hearing going to be no ordinary conversation. To was also a learning experience for me to difficulties may be pleased to learn that begin, I simply had to provide the see how the gentleman communicated via they should not be discouraged from gentleman with a pencil and paper so he deaf-blind sign language to his wife – a visiting the Archives in Leigh as we have could write down what he was looking for, form of communication which is much the ability to communicate with them via but it became apparent, because his initial more tactile than ordinary sign language. sign language. enquiry was quite complex and he wasn’t To say the gentleman was grateful is Have you ever really enjoyed learning a really sure which parish he needed, that somewhat of an understatement. I cannot new skill but secretly doubted that you idea was going to be very tedious. So, I even begin to imagine the problems that he would ever be called upon to use it? When took the plunge and signed to him that I and his wife must come across every time I finished my introduction to sign language knew sign language and could they have to speak to someone other than course a short time ago, I never thought in communicate with him that way. each other. I was so pleased that the course a million years that my job in Archives Needless to say, he was very happy I had taken on a whim had proven to be so would be the place where my newfound with this arrangement, although it instantly useful – even though it only helped two skills would be put to the test. I recently put me at a disadvantage as I tried to read people it had already been worthwhile. It’s helped a gentleman and his wife track his super efficient signing, translate it and also nice to know that should the situation down some burial records and an article think of how I would reply. He was very arise again I am confident that I will be able from a local paper from the 1930’s, which patient with me, and whenever I didn’t to deal with it – and am more than happy to doesn’t sound so unusual until you consider know a word, I simply fingerspelled it to pass some basic signs onto whoever might that they were both profoundly deaf, the him! like to learn them. You never know when gentleman partially sighted, his wife almost Eventually, after much signing, a few you might need to use them….. totally blind and neither of them able to more notes and some mimes that Marcel Amanda Bradshaw speak. Marceau would have been proud of, I was Heritage Assistant, Archives From Up Holland Grammar School to THIS is the title of the latest Winstanley Road. (The book book on Up Holland by Dr. has been written to mark Allan Miller. It tells the story the 50th anniversary of this of the old Grammar School move). from the 17th century to the Under Mr. Maggs and his modern day Winstanley successor, Mr. Ellis,the College. Allan was a pupil at Grammar School continued the school in the 1950’s and, to grow in size and to raise after university, he went its academic reputation. In back to teach there in the 1977 it became a sixth form 1960’s. He is thus well college known as Winstanley qualified to recount the College, to avoid confusion fascinating history of this with Up Holland College, the respected institution. Roman Catholic seminary in During the 1640’s Adam College Road. Under Martindale was attracted to Principals Lavelle and teaching in Up Holland Watson, Winstanley College because of its ‘prettie has been consistently church towre’. However, he ranked among the top stayed in the village ‘not The first Up Holland Grammar School (1661), in School Lane. colleges in the country. much above a quarter of a yeare’ on account of the the end of the 18th century grammar school pupils with Old pupils and anybody ‘many great inconveniences’ Rev. John Braithwaite and a separate teacher in the interested in the full story and ‘constant alarmes’ his son-in-law, Rev. John upper school. will want to buy a copy of associated with the Civil Bird, converted the failing In 1875 the lower school this book, published in War. After the trauma of the grammar school into the moved to new premises in hardback, with 38 wars, villages from both much more fashionable ‘Up Church Street. Meanwhile, photographs, by the sides of the conflict Holland Academy’. It became the enlightened Rev. European Library in a determined that Up Holland an exclusive boarding school William Berridge effected limited edition of 500 copies should have a grammar catering for the sons of the the move of the upper and all personally signed. It school and donated the new middle class by offering school to new premises in is available directly from the necessary resources for the them a ‘new’ curriculum Ox House Road, the site of author, Dr. Allan Miller, 8 building in School Lane. The designed to prepare them the present High School. Holgate Drive, Orrell, Wigan Rules of Up Holland for the age of the Industrial Despite threats of closure, WN5 8SL (tel: 01695 Grammar School were dated Revolution. the school’s fortunes were 625370 or E-mail 4 April 1661, which was When this experiment improved by the remarkable [email protected]. probably the date of its ended in 1812, the school headmaster, Rev. Charles co.uk) @ £9.95 post free official opening. went into decline. In fact it Cox. Eventually, the Ox (Dr. Miller is donating his For the next 100 years, became virtually an House site proved to be share of any profits to local Up Holland Grammar School elementary school where a totally inadequate and in churches and other good experienced fluctuating certificated master taught 1953, under headmaster causes). It can also be fortunes and dissatisfaction pupils basic reading, writing Alfred Maggs, the Grammar obtained from the History with a curriculum and arithmetic on the lower School was re-located in Shop (please add £1.05 for dominated by the Classic. At floor, with a handful of purpose-built buildings on p&p if applicable). 14

Rachel‘In Prescott Their (d.1824) Own Write’Thine is the merit, be the laurels thine, wherewith our gratitude shall bind thy RACHEL was the only surviving Further brow; daughter of John Prescott, a the female sex in common thanks shall join, bookseller and printer who ran a biographies of in heart-felt tribute all thy worth to show. business in Old Millgate, women writers Manchester. By the end of the 18th In her will both her cousin, century, after a lengthy residence in associated with Richard Pickering Higginson, and his Manchester he moved to Bedford, the area mother Rachel were named as Leigh, where he died in April 1811, beneficiaries. In the Leigh trade aged 79. Rachel also died here in Shall rude quaint maxims of a gothic age directories for 1818 he is listed as December 1824. She was the writer erect their standard o’er the scythe of time? being in trade as wholesale and retail of a small book of verse entitled Shall prejudice disdain the female page, grocer and draper of Market Place. ‘Poems’. This volume was published which teems with truth and sympathy By 1821, his address was given as in 1799 by Messrs. Richardson of divine? Market Street. He died in November 1838 at ‘The Walmsleys’, a house that Cornhill, London at a cost of 2s. 6d. Thy potent eloquence can fully prove and was dedicated to Mr. the force of language not to man confin’d; he had built. Later occupants of his GeorgeNicholson, editor and nor mental powers constrain’d alone to residence included William Charles publisher of the ‘Literary move, Jones of Jones Bros. & Co. (1850’s), Miscellany’. In total it contained 29 within the orbit of his narrow mind. Thomas Kirkpatrick (1881) and, in the poems. Obviously, she was 1940’s, Henry Speakman. If nature’s Author, with the same design, Rachel Prescott’s poetry must have reasonably well educated and literate, gave us reflection, reason, memory, sense; probably because of her father’s why each dear privilege to man resign? achieved some kind of recognition as occupation - one of her poems is a A proud fallacious scheme, without she is listed in Charles William response to her reading of Mary defence! Sutton’s book A List of Lancashire Wolstonecroft’s major work A Authors, published in 1876. Vindication of the Rights of Women, Is he permitted scientific skill, while woman, doom’d to puerile employ, first published in 1792, which is now resistless quits, t’avoid the satirist’s quill, Mary Thomason regarded as one of the earliest refinements nature form’d her to enjoy? feminist classics. Entitled Stanzas to (1863-1937) the late Mrs. Godwin, on reading her While letters are consign’d to man alone, Mary Thomason was born in ‘Rights of Woman’, this is an example they swell his dignity to dronish ease, Westleigh on 3 March 1863, the of her literary output. and rights disputed, which we long have daughter of Thurston and Alice known, have scarcely left him any rights to seize. Continued on page 16 Esteem’d defender of the British fair! with firm contempt of prejudices born; ordain’d of Reason to make us thy care, and rescue female faculties from scorn.

Matur’d by science, thy rhetoric pen has amply trac’d our Rights, and sought redress, in bold defiance of scholastic men, who would enslave the powers thy sex possess.

Man’s claim admitted, why ignobly seek to chain in ignorance our source of thought? illiberal! deeming mind as body weak, and spurning science when by woman taught?

Unaw’d by Fopp’ry’s superficial sneer, for ever jealous of superior sense, ‘t is conscious error makes them justly fear ‘The Walmsleys’, the home of Richard Pickering Higginson, cousin and beneficiary the reprehension due to insolence. of Rachel Prescott. 15

Long may its jennies spin good yarn For looms that will not shirk. Its shirtings, silks and calicoes ‘In Their In markets o’er the earth, Maintain the fame of good old Leigh, Own Write’ Where jenny had its birth. Further biographies of women writers associated In 1931 a lyric entitled ‘Give a with the area Little Squeeze’ was accepted for ––––– publication by James Reed & Co. Continued from page 15 London, provided she could supply a musical setting. She also wrote about Pemberton. Her early life was spent other local features, including in Westleigh which she loved Pennington Hall, Lilford Park, the intensely. She married Mr. Joseph Beech Walk and the opening of Leigh Mary Thomason Thomason, a postman, who later Town Hall. became Assistant School Attendance being a teacher at Westleigh Her publications include: Officer in Leigh. He died in 1895. Wesleyan School, also wrote poetry. New Poems for little bricks – A.H. For 34 years Mrs. Thomason was a Stockwell, [1924] 20p. Although none of it was published, school teacher and taught at Warp and Weft: cuts from a Lancashire some of her manuscripts are held in Westleigh Wesleyan Elementary – Leigh Chronicle & Printing Co., Leigh Local History Library. Schools, having started her teaching [1938] 183p. Few people had a greater love for Baa Baronet and Maggie – a fast piece: career at the early age of 13. She was Leigh than Mrs. Thomason. She sang two stones – Leigh Chronicle & Printing also later at the Leigh British School, its praises in her poems, and would Co., [1959] 185p. while as a supply teacher she taught never tolerate disparaging criticism The Poetry of Mary Thomason – A.M. at most schools in Leigh at one time Prescott [195-] 306p. of the town. or another. The last three books were illustrated by Mr. Thomason was the son of I have heard some of beauty speak Roger Hampson. John, a printer, who was the first And say Leigh is without Tony Ashcroft shorthand teacher in Leigh. They had That they don’t know what beauty is Local History Officer, Leigh Library three children, a son and daughter I have not any doubt. who died in infancy, while the Forthcoming Publication Whatever other people surviving daughter taught at A new book by Tony Ashcroft on May think of old Leigh, Westleigh Methodist School. Mrs. Atherton and Tyldesley is due to ‘Tis the dearest spot be published by Tempus at the Thomason took a deep interest in the in the world to me. educational and religious life of the end of August. It will have the town. At one time she was a Leigh and the is a same format as those on Leigh, Hindley and Abram, Ashton and representative on the Lancashire and poem typical of the style penned by , Standish and Cheshire Institutes, an honour she Mary Thomason. Shevington and the Wigan greatly appreciated, being the first Of good old Leigh my song shall be, Coalfield. woman from Leigh to enjoy that A town of wide renown, distinction. She was a member of the Long for inventive skill and work Leigh Literary Society and served for Its people have been known. many years on the Educational Board When Arkwright but a barber was of the Leigh Friendly Co-operative And travelled up and down, Society, where she rendered excellent The world’s first spinning jenny he service. She was also a devoted Saw in our good old town. member and an active worker at Westleigh Weslyan Church. Tyldesley, Bradshaw and Shuttleworth, Mary Thomason died on 16 Worthies bygone of Leigh, March 1937, aged 64 years, at her If here you could but come again residence, Pemberton Cottage, Beech A greater town you’d see. Crescent, Leigh. As a native of Thousands of spinning jennies now Immense in size there be, Westleigh she was well grounded in All sprung from the small jenny that local tradition and could tell many Invented was in Leigh. good dialect stories happening within her own lifetime. Her daughter Alice Then sing of Leigh, long may it be M. Prescott (nee Thomason), besides Far famed for skill and work, 16

Wigan Casino Memories of the “Heart of Soul”

READERS under the age of 35 could be forgiven for thinking that Wigan’s only pre-Verve contributions to popular culture were George Formby and clog- dancing. In fact, Wigan in the 1970’s was at the forefront of a massive soul revival, making its Casino Club not just nationally but internationally famous. The 3-storey building on Station Road was constructed by the Atherton Brothers around the time of World War I and bore, on its façade, the name ‘Empress Hall’. Known locally as ‘the Emp’, it served at various times as a theatre, a billiard hall and, under the ownership of Eddie Farrimond, a venue at which one could jive to the best dance bands. A second dance hall, later christened ‘Mr M’s’ (the Casino’s ‘oldies’ room) but known initially as the Palais de Danse, was subsequently added. In the 1960’s the building was bought by a brewery and renamed the Casino Club. By the time it came into the ownership The ‘Soulies’ a blast furnace” – a unique aromatic of businessman Gerry Marshall in the cocktail of sweat, talcum powder, early 1970’s, the Casino was in a With the Casino now long gone, it is cigarette smoke and deodorant, and, of dilapidated state. Nevertheless, with its hard for those who weren’t a part of it course, the music. Many patrons were large Maplewood dance-floor to appreciate just how big the northern almost religious in their fervour for the surrounded by a balcony and topped soul scene – and the profile of Wigan forgotten soul classics that resurfaced with a dome-shaped ceiling, it was Casino in particular – actually was in its during the Casino years – records such considered a perfect venue for the heyday. Despite strong competition as I Got to Find Me Someone by the weekly soul music ‘all-nighters’ that from the likes of the Mecca Club in Velvets, The Duck by Willie Hutch and commenced in September 1973. Blackpool, the Casino regularly pulled Born a Loser by Don Ray. A particular Based on the Motown 4/4 beat, in thousands of adherents from all over feature of the Casino that some may “Northern Soul” originated in the the UK. The ‘soulies’ would arrive in remember was the record bar where American cities of Detroit, Chicago and Wigan by car, coach, train or on foot; dealers could buy and sell, and swap New York, and was so called to many clutching sports bags decorated lists of ‘wants’ and ‘offers’. distinguish if from the Sly Stone/James with badges obtained either on previous ‘Mr M’s’, the oldies room, opened an Brown/funk-oriented sounds domin- visits to the Casino or at other favoured hour later than the main room, at 3 ating the London soul scene at the venues. These bags typically contained a.m. From February 1976, however, an time. In the early years of Gerry a change of clothes and assorted oldies all-nighter on the first Friday of Marshall’s ownership the Casino played toiletries – dancing all night is a sweaty each month complemented the weekly host to such people as The Tams, Major business! Popular outfits were singlets, Saturday all-nighters at which both Lance, Edwin Starr, Arthur Conley, enormous flares and footwear that best ‘oldies’ and ‘newies’ were played. (I Jimmy Ruffin and Chairmen of the facilitated moves such as side-stepping, should perhaps explain that the term Board. These acts, however, were just spins, backdrops and stomping (Clark’s ‘oldie’ here refers not to the year of the tip of an iceberg of black recording Polyvelts were popular for a time). original recording or release but to the artists who, during the 1960’s, had Except on anniversary nights, fact that the song was already familiar sought to emulate the Motown sound. admission was by payment in cash (to to the dancers. It was thus Although more contemporary records Mrs. Woods) prior to being ushered up distinguished from a ‘newie’ which, were later added to the play-lists, it was the stairs by the doormen to avoid although possibly recorded as long ago mainly the sound of these forgotten blocking the entrance (“Straight up the as 1965, had yet to be ‘broken’ i.e. recordings, mostly commercial failures stairs please!”). On opening the double introduced to the audience by the DJs). at the time of their original release, doors to the main room, one was The oldies all-nighters again proved that filled the Casino during the famous immediately assailed by three things: all-nighters of the 1970’s. the heat – “like opening the doors onto Continued on page 18 17

ST. NATHANIEL’S, PLATT BRIDGE ST. Nathaniel’s Parish Church, Platt Bridge, was consecrated for worship on 10 June 1905, but its centenary is marked in October 2003 as it was in the autumn of 1903 that the church 1903-2003 foundation stone was set in place by J. Eckersley J.P. Since that time the mission of the church to the parish has developed to meet local need, with the establishment of a mission church (now demolished, along with the original vicarage) in Victoria Road. One of the most famous occupants of the vicarage was Revd Arthur (later Canon) Dean, vicar from 1923 until his sudden death on Walking Day in 1956. The vicarage is now situated in Ridyard Street, although the present vicar of St. Nathaniel’s lives in Abram vicarage with his wife, the vicar of Abram and Bickershaw. In the 1980’s, pastoral reorganisation in the area saw the parish boundaries extended to take in the village of Bamfurlong, formerly part of the parish of Abram. This move parish have grown in their relationship Bamfurlong to St. Nathaniel’s in June, led to the Bamfurlong mission church – with one another, and it is hoped that a Flower Festival 23-24 August, and a known as “The Church of the Good greater co-operation will be possible. centenary Festival service on 26 Shepherd” – becoming part of Platt A number of activities have been October. Bridge, which was not necessarily a planned during the Centenary For further details contact the popular move with those most affected celebration year, including a special Vicar, Revd Kevin Crinks, on 01942 by the changes! The two parts of the Walking Day route through 866269.

Granada Television council employees. now otherwise unobtainable. The documentary about the The loss of Wigan Casino following are singled out for the Wigan Casino was broadcast in left a massive void in the simple reason that the packaging ‘ 1977), were resented by Northern Soul scene that has includes some great pictures of many Wiganers. Station Road never been properly filled. Wigan Casino in its heyday: After Hours: Northern Soul Casino became virtually impassable The ‘faith’ is still kept at a Masters (Warner) at opening and closing times. series of lower profile venues, More Northern Soul Memories Memories of the Much time and energy was but none has come close to (Sanctuary) “Heart of Soul” expended by the police in rivalling the popularity or Northern Soul Floorshakers trying to keep the traffic longevity of the Casino. (Music Club) ––––– moving, control the crowds Despite the controversy and Continued from page 17 and deal with problems internal wrangling over **30th Anniversary surrounding the musical direction that Weekender** phenomenally popular. consumption of illegal drugs. dogged its later years, Wigan Original Casino DJ Russ In 1978 Wigan Casino was (The strongest beverage that Casino – the “Heart of Soul” Winstanley has organised an voted “Best Disco in the could be obtained inside the – remains a treasured anniversary weekend at 51st World” by Billboard Casino was cola, but some memory for those who were State on 23-24 August, 2003. Every DJ who played on the first Magazine, ahead even of New relied on more potent fortunate enough to attend. and last nights at the Casino has York’s ultra-trendy Studio 54! substances to sustain them been booked to appear, and the Recommended reading At its peak, the club is said through their nocturnal event will be broadcast live on to have had in excess of dancing and record dealing.) Soul Survivors – The Wigan Casino Story, Russ Winstanley & David BBC Radio 2. 100,000 members! Finally, by 1981, it Nowell (Robson Books Ltd. ISBN seemed that Wigan Metro 1861051263). Keep the faith. The ‘Soulies’ had decided to deal with “the Nightshift – Growing Up in and Anthony Pilgrim Casino problem” once and for Around Wigan Casino, Pete The History Shop will be The Casino’s eventual all by terminating the lease McKenna (S.T. Publishing, ISBN mounting an exhibition demise has been attributed (the Council owned the land, 1898927405). featuring Wigan Casino in to various factors. Certainly, Casino, Dave Shaw (Bee Cool though not the club itself) 2004. If you have any its passing was not mourned and demolishing the building Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0953662624). memories of the Casino or by some sections of the local to make way for a proposed the Empress Ballroom, community. The regular civic centre. The very last all- Recommended Listening please contact Claire invasions of their town, and nighter was held on 6/7 Various Northern Soul Hawkins on 01942 828124 the media interest that December of that year. The compilations are available on CD, or Email [email protected] followed (a still-controversial site is now a car park for many featuring tracks that are Ed 18

HISTORY SHOP NEWS Friends of Wigan Heritage Service THE latest meeting of the Friends was area of the History Shop so that they will you would not enjoy doing it. It has to held at Leigh Library, where those who be able to conduct one to one workshops remain relevant and engaging to produce attended were treated to a behind the with the public. The idea is that these are quality results, so if there is some other scenes tour of the collections by Local organised in advance and the public will area you feel should be tackled, then let History Officer Tony Ashcroft. Thanks are attend by appointment (see right for me know. If you can spare the time you extended to Tony for this -those present details). may find yourself co-ordinating a project certainly felt his enthusiasm for his work in the future, so do get in touch. rubbing off! Indeed their own interests Local History were so fired that a project to work on the Other areas of our work, particularly Family History Workshops collection is being looked at by our local history, also generate a lot of The Friends of Wigan Heritage Service, Chairman Max Finney and Tony (see below interest with the public both as in conjunction with the staff at the under projects). researchers and as potential volunteers. History Shop, are planning a series of The next meeting is to be held mid- Projects on newspapers, maps and family history workshops over the week as a change to its usual Saturday photographs have already been looked at, autumn. These sessions will probably take slot. We are hoping this will prove a more and a project on the local history the form of individual consultations and popular time. As usual, all Friends and collection at Leigh is also under are to be aimed predominantly at anyone else who is interested are invited investigation. beginners to the subject. to come along. Please let me know here This would entail working with our The sessions must be booked in at the History Shop in advance though, so Local History Officer in Leigh, Tony advance at the History Shop and will carry that I can cater for the correct number. Ashcroft, who is based at the Turnpike a nominal charge of £1.50 to cover any We are always looking for more people Centre (Leigh Library). The collections reproduction costs, with the remainder to get involved, either with helping to there are wide ranging and the project going directly into future Friends projects. organise the Friends themselves or with could involve all areas from newspapers the project work. If anything that you and maps to books and pamphlets, to DATES FOR THE WORKSHOPS: read on these pages appeals to you then electoral rolls and council minutes! Wednesday 10 September, 10.30-12.30 please do get in touch. (01942 828128). The project is likely to be co-ordinated Monday 29th September, 2.00-4.30 by Friends representative and Chairman Tuesday 14 October, 2.00-4.30 Max Finney. If you are interested and if Friday 31 October, 10.30-12.30 Friends Roundup you would like to do something to help Work has been progressing on the Thursday 13 November, 2.00-4.30 the development of local history in Leigh, Saturday 29 November, 10.30-12.30 indexing of the 1841 census and the end then please contact Max through the is in sight. Co-ordinated by the hard History Shop or go direct to Tony Ashcroft Obviously this is something of a new working Barbara Davies for the Friends, in Leigh Library on 01942 404559. departure for us. However, if there is the project will hopefully generate strong interest in the workshops then we another CD available to our readers. may repeat the exercise in the New Year. Already certain Friends have been Appeal for ideas for projects For further information or to book call turning their attention to what the next The range of projects tackled and the the History Shop on 01942 828020. project might be. We still need some areas subjects is partly down to you, our Friends of the 1891 census indexing, and and volunteers. Philip Butler although the whole of Lancashire is now Without you the work would not Visitor Services Manager available on CD in the History Shop, this progress and without your interest in it tel: 01942 828128 is only indexed by place name. As we are getting to see just how good our new 1861 and 1841 indexes are on CD, we FRIENDS OF WIGAN HERITAGE SERVICE might like to see it in the same format as them. In fact, in the future it would be Name ...... good to have all our indexes done in this way. Plenty to work at there then. Address ...... Of course, indexing is not the only way Friends can help with genealogy, and ...... genealogy is not the only subject with which Friends can help the Heritage Interests ...... Service...... Heritage Projects Please enclose £5 subscription for one year’s membership. Cheque/P.O. payable to Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust. Please return to the History Shop, Library Street, Wigan Genealogy WN1 1NU. Wigan Heritage Service is piloting a scheme of Family History Workshops for Remember your subscription entitles you to a priority mailing of Past Forward three beginners to the subject. For this the times a year, starting with the currrent issue unless you request otherwise. voluntary assistance of the Friends is N.B. If you do not wish to cut this coupon out, a cheque along with your details on plain vital. A small group will be trained in the paper is fine. use of all the resources in the research 19

HISTORY SHOP NEWS YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE All summer at the History Shop visitors are invited to join us in the celebrations that surrounded last seasons outstanding performance by Wigan Athletic.

The exhibition ‘You Are My ‘non-league’ football in the from our own collection are joined Sunshine’ traces the development Cheshire, Lancashire and then the by items lent by the club, JJB the of the professional game in the Northern Premier Leagues, with main sponsor, the fans and the town, a story going back some 120 only the occasional FA Cup in years. It is revealed in the adventure to excite the town. Preston. exhibition, for instance, that Wigan Finally, as recently as 1978 the We have a collection of shirts had no less than five teams Latics gained admission to the showing the development of the between 1883 and 1932, and the Football League, and this season strip over the last 25 years, but did last one of these, Wigan Borough, climbed into Division One for the you know that until the Second actually had League status. Then, first time. World War Wigan’s colours were 70 years ago, Wigan Athletic was The story, from the 19th formed and the rest, as they say, is century through to this last Ô history. glorious season, is told with text, And what a history it has been - objects and pictures in the Taylor Is your community years in the relative obscurity of Gallery of the History Shop. Items group trying to reach a wider audience, looking NEWSPAPER INDEXING for an exhibition venue?

Wigan Observer Newspaper indexing 1950-1990………………. Sign up now! WE want to encourage community All you need is an interest in recent local history, a familiarity with our local groups to use the History Shop as an area and a few hours to spare each week (or more!) indexing the papers. exhibition venue. If you are a local historical society, craft group or other group with a story to tell and the commitment to carry it through, then I would like to help the Friends of Wigan Heritage Service with their we want to hear from you. We can index of the Wigan Observer. offer advice, practical help and, if relevant, objects from our collections to supplement your display. Both the Name...... Wigan and Atherton Photographic Societies use the History Shop for Address ...... their annual exhibitions, you could too. If you are interested, please ...... contact me at the History Shop for an ...... informal chat, I will be delighted to hear from you! Tel ...... Yvonne Webb Collections Development Preferred day to attend the History Shop ...... am/pm Manager tel: 01942 828123 20

HISTORY SHOP NEWS red and white shirts with black shorts? Exhibitions and Events There is a model of the new JJB stadium, produced by the company WE now have a new leaflet out, everyone and take notice!!” and during the planning stages of the Exhibitions & Events 2003, which “Simply the best day of my life and project at Robin Park, and the details all our activities and my mum’s, grandad and grandma’s”. exhibitions until the end of the year I think we get the message, and we (you can’t miss it, it has a picture of a will ensure that it is passed on to the Wigan Athletic player on the front). It club, even though we are sure that includes our telephone numbers, they already know what great fans opening hours and a handy ‘how to they have. find us’ map. It is available at all Here is a quick rundown of the libraries and, of course, the History rest of the years’ exhibitions (see our Shop. new leaflet for full details) Our current exhibition in the Taylor Gallery is You Are My 23 August – 6 September Sunshine – A History of Professional Wigan Photographic Society Association Football in Wigan (until Annual Exhibition 16 August). As you can imagine, this has been a great success (see Philip’s 13 – 27 September article opposite). Wigan Athletic Atherton Photographic original Football Association log- could not have timed their promotion Society Annual Exhibition book from the 1931-32 season, to Division 1 better, 70 years as a club showing the demise of the fated and 25 of those in the league - what a 13 – 31 October Wigan Borough Association celebration! Latics fans have been Legacy of the Commonwealth Football Club who resigned after flocking to express their joyous Games only 12 matches of that season on feelings in our visitor’s book. Typical 26 October 1931. comments include “Wonderful 19 November – January 2004 And of course we have plenty of memories – here’s to Div 1”, “Here’s Paintings of Wigan and to the Premier League, sit up Beyond by Gerald Rickards photographs and programmes to tell the story and evoke memories of the past. TWO NEW HERITAGE SERVICE CD’S! Two new CD’s are now available There is a visitors book where from the History Shop, at only we are inviting you, not only to tell £7 each. us what you think of the exhibition, The first includes the superb but also to send any messages of audio-visual programme which support and congratulations to the club. At the end of the exhibition, accompanies the Wigan on the which closes on 16 August 2003, Map exhibition, along with an we will be sending all of the extract from the Mapping the comments through to the club, so Millennium programme and come down and let them know what images from all 28 maps which you think. have not been used until now. There are also two free This compilation is also competitions to test your judgement available as a video, again at and knowledge. One, a ‘spot the £7. ball’, is for our younger visitors Genealogists will be keen to whilst the ‘Football Crazy Quiz’ is buy their own copy of the 1861 guaranteed to test even the most informed of Latics fans. You will census for the Wigan area on have to be quick though, as the CD, to use at home. closing date for both is 31 July Available from the History 2003, but it is worth it as great Shop, or by post (please add £1 prizes are up for grabs. for p&p). 21

INCE Here, Gerald Rickards returns to his Austin. Demolished due to mining land where nine cottages once project of producing a line drawing of subsidence in 1978. surrounded a small green, in an area all the townships in the Borough. Ince 6. Pit waste heaps; sometimes described still generally known at Ince Bar. is the fifth area to be covered. Gerald as the 'Ince Alps'. 26. Ince Moss pit disaster memorial, in writes: "I made the decision to do the 7. Water areas or 'flashes'. memory of many who lost their lives Ince drawing, influenced by a recent 8. Hitchen Foods' processing factory there in 1871. commission to produce a stained glass which has been considerably extended 27. The First World War Memorial, not far window for St Mary's Church. Seeing over the years. from the pit memorial, in Ince that the window is being done in a 9. Rose Bridge High School. Cemetery. similar style it seemed an obvious 10. The band practice room. 28. Sometimes described as the Town Hall decision to make. Incidentally, this is 11. Morrisons supermarket. Opened in but 'Council Offices' is clearly inscribed the third stained glass window I have 1979, on the former site of the railway on the large central plaque, and done, the previous two being a Guild goods yard. amongst the decorative features above Window at Preston and the large 12. Former school, converted into the new the entrance is A.D. 1903. window in the Queen's Hall, Wigan." St Mary's Church in 1978. Part of the 29. St. William's Roman Catholic Church. Gerald had another good reason for original school wall and gateposts can 30. Christ Church, which is often referred to choosing Ince, as his wife Mildred lived still be seen but the railings have gone. as Ince Parish Church. at Westwood Lodge before they were 13. The Church Hall which was later added 31. One of the locomotives at Ince Moss married. This also seemed an to the church building in1995. came from Stephenson and Company appropriate location to include the 14. Springs Branch Loco Sheds. Ltd. customary 'mog', even although the cat 15. Regal Cinema in Bryn Street. When it 32. Locally built colliery tubs. never actually visited the building. was opened in 1938 there were seats for 33. Gateway to the William Foster Playing Gerald is well aware of the more than 700. Since 1959 it has been Field. constraints of time and space. "With every project in the series I become more used for other purposes but the areas on 34. Britannia Bridge, where Warrington aware that there is just not enough space the wall, where information on the films Road crosses the Leeds and Liverpool to include every interesting item I used to be displayed, can still be Canal. discover. It is very time-consuming identified. 35. The not uncommon sight of a looking at all the different places and 16. 'Walmesley Arms'. fisherman sitting on a stool on the canal then selecting which to include. In the 17. Ince Moss Coal Pit, Number Four. Pit towpath. space available I aim for a balance, head gear in background; materials tub 36. Short Boat with the Britannia Bridge trying to include buildings and hoist in front of sheds. lock gates in the background. landmarks with links with the location, 18. Westwood Lodge as it used to be before past or present. I also aim to adapt the recent renovation. Today there is little to items to my style of drawing and try to see of the hall, which was once such an link the whole composition together - an imposing building. interesting exercise and a test in decision 19. Artist's cat. making." 20. One of two railway carriages, standing Gerald has now completed on concrete blocks, which were once paintings based on his Aspull, Orrell used as pavilion and refreshment area at and Leigh drawings, and these should Spring View Cricket Club. be included in his exhibition in the 21. Police station at Spring View, often History Shop in November (see p21). referred to as Lower Ince Police Station. 22. 'Anderton Arms', with the large sign 1. Westwood and cooling indicating the link with Rosebridge towers. Created a considerable amount Amateur Rugby League Football Club. of interest when they were demolished 23. St. Mary's Church of England Primary in August 1989. School in Derby Street, which was 2. Three of the many pylons in the region. previously a secondary school, built in 3. Distant view of the Pennines with 1906. Rivington Pike in the centre. 24. A unique piece of mining equipment, at 4. Centenary Primitive Methodist Church the start of a long journey from the Joy building in Delegarte Street. Mining Machinery works in Seaman 5. East end view of St Mary's Church. Way. Consecrated in 1887, it was the work of 25. Library opened in 1985 as part of the the highly regarded architects Paley and Smithy Green Shopping Centre. Built on

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IN THE dream I am a child brown paper carrier bag with again, running over the string handles – there were back-field to the ‘pens’ no plastic carriers in our where the men keep hens little world. and pigeons. I run in slow- Today there is a fish-and- motion – I don’t mean to – chip shop in Ince Green that’s just how it is in the Lane; in my childhood it was dream – that, and the strange THE DREAM the Co-op – in the dream it fireplace is a mirror etched My dad always recited the still is. Everyone called it silence. I can see my dad with a picture of a crinoline- stations between Wigan and chatting with a pal by the ‘t’cworp’ or ‘t’stores’ then, lady in a garden. I can see Southport: Gathurst, Appley and there were chairs to sit pigeon-cotes, and he waves that room yet, and I can hear Bridge, Parbold …. and to me, the fragrant aroma of on; the lady assistants wore the clock ticking and the fire somewhere along the way little caps with “C.W.S.” on, his pipe-tobacco mingling crackling. Mam was the Mrs. there was a bone-works with the scent of privet and and served you personally, Malaprop of Ince – always which stunk to high heaven, reckoning up your bill at the rosebay willow-herb, filling getting her words wrong and and the thud-thud of carriage the air with familiar, speed of light on long slips mixing proverbs with a kind windows being shut was like of paper, licking pencils comforting smells of of reckless abandon: “A bird machine gun fire! which they kept behind their childhood. High above, an in th’and”, she would state ears, and our mams collected aeroplane, inaudible in the dramatically, “gathers no ‘Mary’s Cafe’ little yellow ‘checks’ which odd silence, leaves a trail of moss!” – and then she would they stuck onto a card for white vapour in a perfect laugh with us, good- Arriving in Southport, their ‘Divi’. summer sky. naturedly, at her own we always went to ‘Mary’s I feel safe here, in the mistakes. Those precious Café’ for our dinner; the past, and I hold on to the Sticky yellow moments have gone down in building that was ‘Mary’s’ is flypaper dream, not wanting to wake history in our family – lovely still there, just down a side up, because I know that, reminders of that patient, street – no longer a café, and Just further down the lane whilst I dream, my mam will gentle soul whose whole seen today through misty was ‘Little Amy’s’ off- still be at home in the world lay in the vicinity of eyes and memories, but in licence, which was in a time kitchen, standing on the the damp little terraced the dream we can still go warp even then! Ancient, pegged rug in her faded house that was her home. inside. A ride on the faded showcards portrayed miniature railway and a turn cross-over pinny, humming A bus-ride into Wigan, young ladies of a bygone era on the ‘caterpillar’, and all to herself as she makes with a look round enjoying Bulmer’s cider – too soon it was time to go potato pies – a family one in Woolworths and a cup of tea the only decoration to grace home. the big brown dish and two in Gorner’s Café, was a treat, Amy’s, apart from the sticky As we walked from Ince tiny ones in little white, and half a day at Southport yellow flypaper hanging by Station the evening sun illicit ‘British Rail’ cups – a was her holiday. We went the one dim electric light- slanted on terraced rows, regular Saturday-teatime from Ince Station, our feet bulb. Packets of crisps were throwing into shadow the treat for my friend Christine echoing over the covered kept in a blue tin with a corner-shop with its huge and me. She likes a ‘flutter’ elevated walkway of Union Jack painted on each potato-scales and its tiny on the horses, does mam – wooden planks, and I tried side, and we bought toffee-scales. On the shelves, sixpence each way on not to look at the ground so ‘Spangles’ and ‘Penny bundles of firewood and “Newsboy” – and I hurry far below. My dad bought Arrows’, ‘Black-Jacks’ and packets of Omo with 4d off with her down the back- our tickets from the little ‘Sherbet Fountains’; does jostled for space with entry to a house where bets ticket-office, and there was a anyone remember …. not ‘Twink’ home-perms and are laid out on the table, and tiny waiting-room whose boxes, but bars of milk-tray bottles of ‘Drene’ shampoo. where the bookie’s wife and coal-fire lay unlit on our chocolate – six different Cards hung haphazardly on unmarried daughter are summer outings. Oh! The flavours all in one bar? We always ready for a gossip. thrill as the train chugged the walls, each holding a pretended to smoke our into the station, filling the air dozen combs or babies’ ‘sweet cigarettes’, which in ‘A bird in th’and’ with the heady smell of dummies or the little bottles these so-called enlightened steam on a sunny June of patent medicines in which days have to be called ‘candy There is a plaster morning – it was enough to our mams had such faith. sticks’ in case they encourage Alsatian dog on a crocheted make you dizzy! Strings of paper bags hung children to smoke, and yet I runner on top of a huge We sat in long narrow on nails by the “penny tray” must have eaten enough to radiogram which, come carriages with pictures – little white three-cornered sink a battleship, and never Sunday dinnertime, will above the seats and leather ones for sweets and square once had the urge to try the broadcast ‘Two-way Family straps to let the windows up brown ones for fruit and real thing. Favourites’ . . . “And now a or down, and I can still feel vegetables; everything else As I emerge from Amy’s request from B.F.P.O. 17” . . . the tingle of excitement as went straight into the dim little shop into the followed by ‘The Billy the guard blew his whistle customer’s own shopping- Bandshow’. Over the and the train gathered speed. basket, or a threepenny Ô 24

'Their Name Liveth For Evermore' WHILST recently working in Skopje, Liveth For Evermore", and a the capital city of Macedonia, or to single poppy was placed on give it its official title, the Former one of the graves. Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, my As I walked along the host mentioned there was a local rows of graves I noticed the British war cemetery and she would words “Lancashire be happy to take me there as it was Fusiliers”; I could not only in the suburbs of the city. believe it, all this way from The morning prior to my return my home in Appley Bridge home was a beautiful day, with the in Lancashire, only to find mist just clearing to reveal clear blue memorials of soldiers from skies and the sun, which lit a small the same county. Then for a stone-walled area containing 123 war moment the reality of what graves of soldiers and one nurse from I was looking at dawned on World War I. me, these poor young lads who made this all the more poignant was The memorial garden seemed such probably lived not far from my own that he died 3 November 1918, just a peaceful area, especially as we had home, had left their homes and days before the end of the war. just left the hustle and bustle of the travelled across Europe, I guess We can only imagine the grief of city. The cemetery itself, with a small mostly on foot, only to die in what their poor families. Their mothers, whitewashed church to the left and a was then a remote part of the fathers brothers and sisters, smallholding on the other, was Balkans. wondering where on earth their loved maintained to an immaculate Then, on the last row of graves, a ones had been laid to rest. standard, the grass recently cut, and memorial unusually gave both the The following day, as I am waiting even though it was November some of name and address: M2/226053 for my flight, thoughts of those poor the rose buses between the graves Private W. Seddon, 102 St Helens lost soldiers are still in my mind. Let's still bore their scented flowers. Road, Leigh, Lancashire, Nr not forget them. Remembrance Sunday was only the Manchester, England. I could not Russell Parry previous weekend and four wreaths believe my eyes, this address was just tel: 01257 254999 lay below the plaque "Their Name seven miles or so from home. What Email: [email protected] brilliant sunshine, my mind brown envelope to spend at running, again in slow- Beccy, my lovely daughter- begins to wake from the Southport or Blackpool; and, motion, down Ince Green in-law, but they would have dream, but I fight it – I want twice a year, I can visit Lane, over flagstones whose loved her as I do. I see their to stay, just for a while, in Silcock’s Fair on the spare every crack and crevice is as faces, smiling through the my childhood, where old land, with its toffee-apples familiar as my own hands. mists of time, but today they ladies sit out on chairs in the and candy-floss, where the Little terraced homes, long must stay behind in the sun, watching ‘t’childer’ at older girls, sporting beehive demolished, still stand, and dream, as I walk down the play – little girls jumping hairdos and stiletto heels, friendly neighbours, path of a lovely old London into skipping-ropes …. “All eye up the fair-lads who kneeling with buckets and church, 200 miles and a in together girls, very fine stand fearlessly on the donkey-stones, slowly smile million years away from my weather girls”...…. or waltzer, spinning the and nod as I pass by in the childhood home, to witness whipping tops along the screaming girls dizzily eerie silence. Our terraced their grandson’s wedding. pavement with whips made round to the strains of row stood back from the Their little girl is today the out of ‘banding’ – a kind of ‘Cathy’s Clown’ or Bryan road, invisible until you bridegroom’s mother, and I tubular string which my Hyland’s haunting ‘Sealed reached it, and strangely, in am conscious, as I enter the Aunty Mary brought home with a Kiss’. The fair came the dream, I never do reach it cool, dim interior of the from the Empress Mill. I twice a year – once in the – never get to see again the church, that I must walk walk, a child again, through spring and once in the little row of six houses where slowly with dignity, as befits a vanished world of rag-bone tingling autumn dusk, when I grew up, but I know it is my role. men and gas-lamps, of we entered a magic world of there, waiting for me, just out But the child in me is factory-hooters and outside glitter and flashing lights, of sight. running – running through toilets, of jagged pieces of and it is only when we wake I wake, slowly and the clear air of a sparkling glass stuck into cement on from the dream that we see it reluctantly at first, and then sunlit morning long ago, the tops of walls to deter as a few square yards of I remember that this is a running for the sheer joy of thieves, and of running to the tattered gaiety set between very special day; the past is living, as only a child knows shop for a ’gas-shilling’ back-yards and factory walls. a dream and I must let it go how, across the back-field when the gas was ‘begging’. – the present is real and it’s and down the dear, familiar I know that, if I stay Donkey stones here, and I have a wedding road that will take me home. asleep, I can still go on the to go to! Mam and Dad Irene Roberts Labour-Club trip and I will I always know when the didn’t live to see the day; Abram be given 10 shillings in a dream is ending; I am they never got to meet our Nr Wigan 25

Victoria’s Secret AS FAR back as I can Henry Gibson, a drawer remember history has by NEIL CAIN at one of the Haigh pits, fascinated me. As a daydreamed, our thoughts images of the past. How was asked if he saw lads youth I had clearly a million miles away from wonderful it would be if we beaten? defined images of what boring acts – Reform Act, could conjure up visions of “Yes, there is another constituted history; Factory Act, Ten Hours Act our ancestors in a Wigan lad called Andrew….he is Lancashire’s past and so on. The Victorians where rosy cheeked mill about eight years old…. instantly appeared in had more acts than the girls chattered their way [he] is half clammed and my mind’s eye as a Apostles, or so it seemed! down Wallgate in a golden many times he comes without dinner or anything tableau where a Years went by, and I dawn, or well scrubbed to eat, and we give him Roman soldier was sitting in the History little boys bowled hoops in Shop in Wigan peering at the Market Place. Perhaps ours.” marched across the Should we ever need land now occupied by census figures which a trip in a time machine contained lists of could show us such sights, proof that another’s the Wiend – his suffering can elicit Coccium – and ghostly occupations as extinct now but it would also show us as those of the muffin man an x-rated Wigan; a dark compassion, despite one’s monks drifted through own adversity, surely this the ruins of Burscough or orange seller. violent world. This is where I would like you to come is it. Priory. Vikings pulled with me, to uncover some of their ships up on the Dark violet world Queen Victoria’s secrets. Employment shore and moved ‘Cotton spinner’, A few publications will disputes inland to settle at ‘underlooker’, ‘pony driver’, give us ample information. Goosnargh with its ‘fettler’, ‘shingler’ and Let us delve into the report Where life was this wonderfully guttural ‘thrutcher’ …. My eyes read prepared for The Children’s harsh it is no wonder that Scandinavian name, on. Returns for the canal Employment Commission any additional burden and Cavaliers and bank at Ince threw up the of 1842. tipped the scales towards Roundheads fought following entry for one A lad by the name of violence. Protest and riot across the Bloody inhabitant…. “Lives in a John Charnock, a were never far from the Mountains of the shed”. The contrast with waggoner at Kirkless Pit streets throughout the Douglas Valley. the present hit me, and near New Springs, was 19th century in Wigan, Victorian history? Well suddenly the Victorian era asked his age. His answer – usually associated with to me the two words just was history, real history. “I do not know.” [They employment disputes. didn’t go together. Heavens Forget the list of acts, this estimated he was ten]. Resistance by the above! Grandad Cain was was life as it was lived. The “Have you any clothes authorities was equally born in Victorian times and fact that these were the besides those you have on?” determined. Prior to Queen it seemed too recent to lives of old people I knew as – “No”. There is then a Victoria’s time a warrant the term ‘history’. a child now made it doubly comment, “His clothes were disturbance led to two Schoolboy days drifted by interesting. Of course there a tissue of rags; the wonder cannon being taken from to the accompaniment of is always the danger of was how they hung on the and set up droning masters while we falling for the Pears Soap child.” outside . During a miners’ strike in November 1853 a particularly violent riot took place. A mob assembled outside the Royal Hotel, (what many of us still think of as Woolworth’s corner at the top of Standishgate), and stalls, lamps and windows were smashed. The hotel was set alight and premises were looted. The police were driven off with missiles before the military was called from Preston. Relative calm prevailed for the following day, but then a gang attacked the sawmills at New Springs, intent on spilling the blood of Welsh ‘blacklegs’ billeted Library Street, Wigan, c.1900. Ô 26

there. Shots rang out, and then writes, “and “Not one of the eleven supporters there, a maul in woundings, and a possible sometime since we heard of was earning anything goal became so boisterous fatality, occurred among a garrotting in the except the father who was that the police had to make the mob. Soldiers were neighbourhood of working for 1s 3d [about a baton charge to sort out stationed in Scholes and a Warrington Lane.” 6p] a day.” the combatants – and this cavalry troop arrived from Many readers will Other cases are almost was only a friendly match!” Manchester. remember Bawkhouse Pit, too painful to contemplate. According to the article, The unrest of 1853 had or ‘Button Pit’ at Red Rock. Witness the following: hacking and punching were followed violence in 1841 Fewer may know how it got “The woman, fever perfectly allowable under when John Coulton, its popular name. This was stricken, sat on an orange early rules! employed at the Arley and due to the murder of James box….and to prevent the Aberdeen pits, was shot Barton there in 1863. A fire going out, she was ‘Halfpenny Day’ through the head. Further search was made upon his pulling her seat to pieces for shootings occurred around apparent disappearance fuel bit by bit.” Mike Clark’s book The the Haigh area at that time and blood was found. When In the same house…. Leeds and Liverpool Canal and Lord Balcarres’s the boilers were riddled his “The wife was very near her contains this marvellous manager, William Peace, remains, including a confinement and had not indication that the female received a death threat. button, were found. After tasted food for two or three of the species could be just The following year prolonged investigations a days.” as deadly as the male. He man was charged Such misery, multiplied does not say whether this and sentence to across so many families in happened in Wigan, and if death at Liverpool one town, is almost beyond so whether it was in Assizes three years our ken. Let me lighten the Victorian times, but it is so later. mood a little, though, and good that I hope it was. The conclude these snapshots Canal Company exercised Clog fighting of the other side of 19th their right to claim a toll century Wigan with the from anyone using the James more bizarre aspects of towpath on one day in the Fairhurst’s violence and ‘shameful year – known as Halfpenny interesting book doings’. Whilst football Day. Their employee Policing Wigan appears to have helped approached two ladies for throws up the fact reduce certain violent their payment, only to find that during the tendencies within the himself under attack from 1870’s a number of town, sometimes the cure umbrellas. The ladies had deaths were caused would seem to be worse decided he was a beggar by clog fighting – or than the illness, or almost. and waded in with gusto! ‘purrin’. The After reading Allan What Queen Vic would situation became so Miller’s recent articles on have made of it all we can bad that the Home the early years of Wigan only guess. Had she Secretary was Rugby League Club in opened the Wigan informed, and the issues 32 and 33 of Past Examiner for 30 November The writer (with Mum) at ‘Parbold churches in Scholes Forward, I was inspired to 1878 she would have read Bottle’, built to commemorate the exhorted to influence trawl through my club that it was common 1832 Reform Act. their flocks against memorabilia and found practice among the youths the practice. Mr. this description of a match and young men of Billinge Chartists succeeded in Fairhurst makes the point played at Dicconson Street to run naked, and that closing collieries and mills, that this was a traditional in an article headed ‘Tough complaints from ladies and throwing 3,000 people out method of working class Days of Early Rugby”. ministers of religion had of work. duelling in Lancashire, “On one occasion when been received. Violence was obviously which only really died out Wigan supporters were Can’t you hear her not limited to industrial with the gradual playing Pagefield now? “We are not amused.” unrest. One instance of this acceptance of football! is quoted in John Perhaps no other event "… acquire your own piece of history …" Hannavy’s excellent book exceeded the Cotton Historic Wigan where the Famine of the 1860’s for Heritage Estates UK fear of assault is quite bringing hardship to the clear. A letter from Canon town. The disrupted supply Fergie to the authorities lines caused by the The perfect gift for any occasion has to be a masterpiece of American Civil War for anyone with an interest understatement. He writes produced untold misery. I in Wigan of his willingness to teach can do no better than point young men at the readers in the direction of Mechanics Institution, “but Fred Holcroft’s A Terrible www.heritage-estatesuk.com neither Mrs. Fergie nor Nightmare (a Wigan Tel: 00 44 1942 770202 myself think it would be Heritage Service Fax: 00 44 1942 770205 very comfortable for me to publication). The full scale E-mail: [email protected] be knocked down, robbed or of the suffering in Wigan Contact: Richard Weston garrotted”. He alludes to a may be judged from Heritage Estates UK, Caroline Street, Wigan, Lancashire, England, WN3 4EL robbery at Pemberton and contemporary reports: – 27

THE MEMOIRS OF JOHN VINCENT GORNER

MY FIRST eight or nine those dazzles, somebody years were spent in Long These memoirs are transcribed would say ‘Top Place’ and Lane, or rather, Lung Lone. verbatim from a letter dated 16 on we played. It is one of my Nearly everybody there October 1969, from John Vincent most vivid memories; the fact worked at Garswood that it was a dazzle in the Collieries, but they were Gorner to his eldest son Patrick. dark helped it to be, of always called Smethurst’s course. Pits, because for many years An old chap, very tall and Arthur Smethurst was the Dear Sir, lean, used to come hobbling manager there, and the big The enclosed memoir was written by my father, along Long Lane, and looked thrill of the year, the Saturday John Vincent Gorner (24 June 1891 – 14 May 1976). as if he had one heel shot excursion to Blackpool, was He was born and raised in Ashton-in-Makerfield, and away. That could very well always spoken of as have been, because he was Smethurst’s Trip. Lung Lone although he lived and worked in London since the said to have been in the buzzed with excitement the 1930’s, he loved Ashton and visited it frequently. famous Charge of the Light evening before. Everybody It was coincidental that the article in Issue No. 31 Brigade. None of us ever seemed to be going to covered the 5th Manchester Regiment, since my father dared ask him if that were somebody else’s house to served in the 3rd Manchester Regiment during World true, but the grown-ups said make arrangements for the War I. I have been trying to piece together a record of that it was so, and we kids following morning. his service from old letters and postcards; censorship, gazed on him with the The train was taken from of course, did not allow much detail to be sent back to greatest awe. He didn’t Bryn, of course. There were the home front, so the record is limited. If any of your appear often; may have been several trains; I was always visiting friends in the vicinity. for the earliest one. The big readers have knowledge of the 3rd Regiment, I would Little Sammie’s chip cart bridge over the Ribble at very much like to hear from them. was a regular Saturday lunch- Preston was a never-failing For a while during World War II, I myself lived in time arrival. He would come thrill, then miles before we Ashton, so I know it and Wigan well. Whenever I have along ‘Nicco Lone’ like a got to Blackpool we were all visited the U.K. after my emigration to the U.S.A. in Cunard Liner steaming up hanging out of the left-hand 1956, I always managed a few days in Ashton. It was the Mersey, and he did a window for the first sight of during my last visit that I was delighted to find Past roaring trade. Mother always the Big Wheel and the Tower. Forward; it is excellent, and I eagerly anticipate each had a couple of basins ready I fancy that my first trip issue. and all I had to do was trot out was when I was five, and I to the cart. Little Sammie was can well remember my first Denis J. Gorner really a VERY little Sammie. sight of the sea. I ran away 29488 Beach Drive NE I had to stand on tiptoe to see from mother and father to Poulsbo him. cross the prom and get to the WA 98370-9339 Another regular at almost rails. It WAS safe to cross U.S.A. the same hour as Sammie was roads in those days, with the Cassinelli ice cream cart. only an occasional phaeton Then it was a case of going trotting along. This immense Pier; we saw a shoal of always made her first buy out with teacups and getting sheet of water made me think dolphins quite near the boat there. There is still a biscuit each cup filled with a at once that the famous Nicol and I felt distinctly nervous stall in the same spot and I ha’porth. Whenever I am in Lane ‘flash’ which was just of their attacking it. always wonder if the woman Wigan these days, I see a behind our house was a mere running it is the daughter, or Cassinelli ice cream cart drop. The Tower building Owd ‘Wiggin’ rather grand-daughter, of the doing good business outside was a fairyland: admission woman who handed over the Market Hall. I don’t doubt 6d. for grown-ups (I think it Dear owd ‘Wiggin’ gave biscuits to me in the middle that the proprietor is the was 6s. when I was in me a lot of thrills; mother 1890’s. grandson of the chap who Blackpool last year). The took me several times a year, The Wigan Coal & Iron served me with many a aquarium seemed like a big and we always went straight Co. had blast furnaces in ha’porth. On one memorable fairy cavern to me, and was from the station to the Market Ince, spoken of as Ince Top Saturday, the cart arrived to as big a thrill as the Hall. It looked enormous to Place. On inky black nights, introduce us to the ice cream menagerie. It was a most me, and the big name, carved suddenly the sky, Wigan way, sandwich. It was our first wonderful 6 penn’orth, with deep and in enormous letters would be brilliantly lighted sight of wafer biscuits, and of a concert in the Roof garden on the stone rectangle set in because a furnace was being course they caused quite a thrown in during the the brickwork, and the huge refuelled. The dazzle would sensation, and seemed a afternoon. I probably did figures, 1877, also carved last only a few seconds as the marvellous invention, even to Smethurst’s Trip 10 or a themselves on my memory. fuel was being tipped in, but the men who were always dozen times. On one of the Just inside the hall was a in another few seconds would waiting the arrival of earliest I took the one hour’s biscuit stall with a great be another dazzle. We kids Cassinelli. steamer trip from the North variety on view. Mother always halted our play for Ô 28

Garswood Park see the lovely park being Crystal clear The horseman with muffled carved up by the Watson drums was awe-inspiring too; For Queen Victoria’s estate. By then my family had the military band played what Diamond Jubilee in June moved from Long Lane to seemed to me the most 1897, we had a great day in The Prince of Wales Stonecroft Terrace and our marvellous and solemn music Lord Gerard’s Park, as it was house was overlooking the I had ever heard. Doubtless it called, rather than Garswood The Prince of Wales brook, which in those days was Chopin’s famous Marche Park. At six years old I was came to Garswood Hall in was crystal clear. It is not Funebre, which of course still young enough to be popeyed 1897 or 1898. The schools many years back that Stone’s thrills me whenever I hear it. with excitement. Buns and had a day’s holiday; in front collieries began pumping Weeks of thrills lashings of tea figured largely of our infants’ school there water into it and making it a in the celebrations. Mr. Leach was a little grandstand horror of grey, clingy mud. Harry Greenwood’s sent up several hot-air erected. We were still living Stonecroft was called Steam auction mart provided many balloons during the day, and in Long Lane then and father Engine, or rather Steeum weeks of thrills around 1900 it was always very hard for took me down to school. Of Injun, because there was still and 1901. The war songs I him to maintain elbow-room course we had to go by the the ruin of an old mill with heard there fix it as during the to get the thing ready. There path that comes out onto some of the machinery rusting Boer War, and they included, was a great craning of necks Wigan Road at Dr. Hunter’s away; the old building was a of course, the outstanding to watch the balloon as it or, as it was then, Dr. favourite playground. favourite of that war’s songs, slowly rose skywards. When Latham’s, and I vividly One of my pals, Teddy ‘Goodbye Dolly Grey’. The one caught fire in mid-air remember coming out onto Clark, had a brother in the proprietor came from excitement simply bubbled Wigan Road, for there was a cabbage-cutters and he Warrington and he himself over. long line of policemen seemed to write home fairly did most of the auctioneering. But besides the Jubilee standing on the sidewalk on often so that Teddy showed The mart was of wooden occasion, we had an annual either side of the road and at me all his letters. Quite a partitions with the canvas top half-day in the park and it intervals of about 20 yards. number of the troops were like the shows in travelling was always a most happy The Prince was arriving at killed or died of fever. One fairs. From the front of the occasion. I can see old Mr. Bryn station and driving chap, George Plunkett, got a platform there ran out three Boardman arriving in his down Wigan Road in a packet of shrapnel in the leg, plank runways about five feet trap, with one of the huge landau. Of course from the and the shrapnel found its way above ground level, along cans milkmen used to come school stand I had a popeye to the window of a which the assistants could go around with; but this time it view when he actually photographer whose shop was to show the article being was full of tea. We kids sat in arrived at the park gates. at the bottom of Bryn Street, offered, or to take the sold big circles and the teachers Several years later we and so the said George became article to the buyer. The mart came around dishing out the school kids were taken on to a very famous man among us remained for weeks, behind tea and buns. Bakers in those the park to see the arrival of kids. Years later he became the where the Queen’s cinema is days were much more General Buller, who was also landlord of a pub overlooking now, and it was my nightly generous with currants than a friend of Lord Gerard. Ashton Heath, and whenever I mecca. The big wall clock saw him on my walks in that they are nowadays! Naturally I knew a lot about here in the kitchen was direction, he was nearly The Gerards figured very him from my Boer War bought from Harry always across the road from reading. A few years back, Greenwood and it is still a largely in Ashton life. Lady the pub chatting. when I was with a bunch of marvel; night after night it Mary Gerard gave a huge George Heath, who had Christmas tree to St. Poly students in Winchester strikes to the split second with been out there, came home Big Ben when the 10 o’clock Oswald’s. The tree always Cathedral, I was interested to safely but was soon afterwards arrived at the boys’ school a come across Buller’s tomb news is coming on. killed in a strange accident at During my Steeum Injun couple of days or so before there. the Old Boston pit. They were days Ashton Town played in THE day, which was on The Boer War had a unrolling a new steel cable the Lancashire Alliance, and breaking-up day. There was a special interest for us in from a big wooden drum; it I was a keen supporter; Ash’n because Lord Gerard breathless excitement as the broke loose when nearly fully nearly all the players were men manoeuvred the tree in had a troop of hussars which unrolled and coiled up again locals, which made it almost through the school doorway; the younger fry of the town like lightning, killing poor a family affair. Admission lessons just ceased to be. called, very unflatteringly, George on the spot. His home was 1d. but we sometimes Lady Mary always came Lord Gerard’s cabbage- was exactly across the road managed to sneak on for to give out some of the cutters. All the same we used from St. Oswald’s Boys’ nowt, up the steep slope from prizes, coming in her open to troop to watch them School and Mr. Leach let us the brook. Bryn Central was carriage with the coachman practising horse-riding in a go out to watch the funeral the other local team and there looking very posh. We had all big field right behind the procession leave his home. was great rivalry between the been shown how to make our British Schools. Of course There was a big contingent of two; the two derby days each curtsey on receiving our we knew practically every his old fellow-troopers, but season had the district in a prize, and to say “Thank you, one of them as they were all THE thrill was to see his horse ferment of excitement and my lady”. My memory of her locals. The day they marched with his riding boots fastened there was always a squashy is of a very delightful person, off to Bryn station to entrain into the stirrups. I am sure that crowd. Bryn had a forward and she was immensely for Liverpool or all the other boys were as named Joe Scholfield, who popular in the Ashton district. Southampton was one of breathless with awe as I had a terrific shot and I had a Garswood Hall looked like a stupendous excitement. After myself was; the horse seemed near heart-attack every time fine building from the that there was the to sense the solemnity of the he had the ball anywhere near palisades near Hunt’s Farm undiminishing excitement of occasion, for it stood perfectly the Ash’n goal. He is still on Liverpool Road. I grieved learning who locally had got still while the coffin was alive; must be around 90, and to see it being taken down a letter from them and what brought out of the house and has been living in Billinge for many years ago, and later to its news was. fastened onto the gun carriage. a good many years. 29

Pre-School Memories ONE of my earliest Judy and I would be sat nailing new irons onto inquired Joe. My mother memories goes back to at the step when he clogs, I placed the said pie replied, “He has just shot when I was four or five arrived a few minutes onto the stool. Joe then past me like a scalded year of age. I lived in a later. asked me to pass him a cat. Why, what has he mid-terraced house in When he opened up small hammer, which I done?” “Nothing” said George Street, Hindley. the place, it had a smell did, then seated myself Joe, “other than convert Between two rows of all of its own; halfway onto the stool, forgetting my pie into a pancake”. terraced houses there down, he had a pot bellied where I had placed the “Come on”, he shouted was a patch of land on stove which heated the pie just a few seconds into the house, “its o.k.”, which Joe Lyons’ clog hut within minutes. As he earlier! I knew and peering out from the making and shoe repair came in he would remove immediately what I had curtain at the bottom of business stood. It his coat, put on a white done, but was not the stairs I could see he consisted of a wooden hut apron, sit on his stool, prepared to mention it. was smiling. Holding approximately 12' x 20 ', remove his silver pocket Once Joe had nailed the hands we walked back to painted leaf green with watch from his waistcoat irons to the clogs, he was his hut where we spent Georgian windows to its and wind it up fully ready for his pie. the rest of the day, and north facing side. The before placing it before “Where’s my pie?” he the incident was never door on the south side him, hung from a one asked, as he moved mentioned again. had a small display inch nail. Surprisingly newspapers shoes and Today I find it difficult window to the pavement the hut did have large sheets of leather to remember what I had side with the only electricity. There was a looking for it, “I can smell for my dinner only an advertising poster, of two single light bulb hanging it”; and he spent the next hour before, but I have no small kittens who sat just a few inches over three or four minutes trouble in looking back with their heads peering Joe’s head which could be looking for it. more than half a century out from two highly switched on and off from At the first to those days I spent with polished black boots, a six inch string pull opportunity, when he had Joe in his green wooden advertising a well known switch. I particularly his turned his back, I hut with the pot bellied brand of black shoe enjoyed sitting on a stool quickly jumped from the stove and a dog called polish. – no mean feat for a five stool and shot down the Judy, the distinctive This hut, ‘Joe’s year old, as this stool backs and in through our smell of leather and the workplace’, had a charm stood six or seven inches back door, past my mam sound of laughter coming all of its own, and as a taller than I did! doing the washing up at from a small boy, only youngster, I was allowed, Directly opposite Joe’s the sink, and hid myself punctuated by the and indeed welcomed, to hut was a corner shop to on the stairs for what comings and goings of the spend many countless which we referred as seemed an eternity. Then odd customer. I can see hours with Joe, long Annie’s. On occasions Joe I heard footsteps coming Joe’s smiling face as if it before I started school. I would arrange for Annie from the cobbled backs was only yesterday. would be fascinated the shopkeeper to heat up and stopping at our back John Westwell watching him repair clogs for him a meat and potato door. “Where is he?” Leigh and shoes, and hammer pie for dinner, which she in bright brass nails did in the back room, in which he held in his lips. the oven of the old black The hut had three grate which most work benches, each terraced houses had at HIRE OF covered in clogs, shoes, that time. On these large sheets of leather occasions he would send MEETING and the odd newspaper me across the road, about a foot deep. The having first made sure ROOM work benches themselves there was no danger – not The History Shop has a Meeting Room, with a were rarely seen! that there was a lot of capacity for 36. This is available for hire by local traffic in George Street in Pot bellied stone 1950! The hot pie would groups and societies at a very reasonable cost: be placed onto a strip of SOCIETY RATE Joe himself lived in cardboard and put into a Argyle Street, just a paper bag. Then I would £8.25 street or two from George stand at the kerb until PER MORNING/ AFTERNOON SESSION Street. I was so keen to be Joe spotted me, and wave in his company that me across when it was £12.35 sometimes I would be at safe to do so. PER EVENING SESSION ‘his hut’ before him. The COMMERCIAL RATE first indication Joe was "Where's my pie?" on his way was the £20.00 appearance of Judy, his On one of these PER MORNING/AFTERNOON/EVENING SESSION black spaniel, around the occasions I remember If you are interested, contact Philip Butler corner three or four entering his hut and, as minutes before Joe. Both he was preoccupied Tel (01942) 828128 30

Ashton-in-Makerfield October and April. New members are Probus Club SOCIETY NEWS welcome – anyone wishing to join Members of the Club are retired should contact H. Wilkinson (01942 business/professional people, who 671943). meet at the Angel Hotel, Ashton-in- Makerfield on the first Wednesday of To all Secretaries Shevington Memories Group every month at 11.00 a.m. New Would Secretaries please note the This small, informal group meets each Friday at 2.30 p.m. in Shevington members are always welcome, and can copy deadline on p2, and ensure receive details from the Honorary Methodist Church (New Lounge), to Secretary, Alan Bradshaw (01942 that you send in all details of your share memories about old times. 726493) meetings up to Easter 2004 for Anyone is welcome – just turn up! 6 August inclusion in the next issue. Thanks. Contact Maurice Hilton (01942 The George Formby Story 223107) for further details. Jack Pendlebury Hindley History Society Standish Probus Club 3 September D Day Our AGM will be held on Monday 8 The Club was only established in 2001 September at Hindley Library, Market but already has 70 members. Members Fred Holcroft are retired business and professional 1 October Street, Hindley, at 7.00 pm. New members are always welcome. For people. Meetings, which are open to “Shiver Me Timbers” both men and women, are held at ‘The Ted Machin further details contact the Secretary, Mrs Joan Topping (01942 257361) or Owls’, Rectory Lane, Standish on the 5 November the Treasurer, Norma Brannagan second Tuesday of every month at The Reivers Way (01942 258668). 10.30 a.m. New members welcome. David Cookson Further details from the Secretary, 3 December Leigh & District Family History Bryan Shepherd (01257 424994) Christmas Readings and Lunch Society James Fairhurst Meetings are held on the third Tuesday Tyldesley & District Historical of every month at 7.30 p.m. in the Society Aspull & Haigh Historical Derby Room of Leigh Library. For Meetings are held on the third Society further details contact the Secretary, Thursday of every month from Meetings are held in Our Lady’s R.C. Mrs. O. Hughes (01942 741594). September to May at the Tyldesley Church Hall, Haigh Road, Aspull on the 19 August Pensions club on Milk Street at 7.30 second Thursday in the month at 7.30 Getting Started p.m. We do not charge an entrance fee p.m. Further details from the Secretary, 16 September although voluntary contributions are Barbara Rhodes (01942 222769) Sin Sex and Scandal - Old Newspapers always welcome. Refreshments Roy Stock available. Contact the Secretary Atherton Heritage Society 21 October (01942 514271) or email Meetings are held on the second The 19th Century Family in the [email protected]. You can Tuesday of the month at 7.30 p.m. at St. Community also visit our website at Richards Jubilee Hall, Atherton. Iris Johnson www.amw02593.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Admission £1 (members), £1.50 (non- 18 November members). Further details from Mrs. M. Local Men on the Somme Wigan Archaeological Society Hodge Tel: (01942 884893) Fred Holcroft The Society meets at the BP Centre 12 August 16 December (Scout HQ) in Greenhough Street on Haigh Hall Poets and Poisoners the first Wednesday of the month at Carol Banks Lizzie Jones 7.30 p.m. Entrance is only £1. 9 September Wigan Civic Trust Joseph Evans and the Boothstown Leigh Literary Society Botanists Meetings are held in the Derby Room in The Trust stimulates public interest in John Aldred the Turnpike Centre, Leigh,on alternate the Wigan area; promotes high 14 October Monday evenings at 7.30 p.m. Annual standards of planning and architecture; Meet Mr Edward Bear (preceded by subscriptions £13; visitors £1.50 per and aims to secure the preservation, meeting. For further details contact conservation, development and AGM) improvement of the historic parts of Jennie Todhunter Tony Ashcroft, Local History Officer, Leigh Library (01942 404559) town and country. The Trust meets at 11 November 6 October Drumcroon Education Arts Centre, The Police Museum Cotton Wool Country Parsons Walk, Wigan, on the second Duncan Broady Margaret Curry Monday of the month at 7.30 p.m. For 9 December 20 October further details contact the Secretary, The Language and Laughter of The York Story A.J. Grimshaw, 6 Bridgeman Terrace, Lancashire (followed by Christmas Neville Holt Wigan (01942 245777). New members buffet) 3 November always welcome. Brian Clarke Market Day Agatha Brown Wigan Family & Local History Billinge Local History Society 17 November Society For further details contact Jack Francis Trolloppe Meetings are held on the third Tuesday Boardman, 38 Garswood Road, Liz Williams of every month (except in July and Billinge, Wigan, WN5 7TH, (01744 1 December August) in the Springfield Hotel, 892613), or visit our web site at Sea Bird Summer & Birds of the Springfield Road, Wigan, at 7.30 p.m. www.billinge-history.com. Pennine Forest for 8.00 p.m. The meetings alternate Gordon Yates between members’ evenings and Golborne & Lowton Local 15 December external speakers on history related History Society The Last Lighthouse Keeper topics. Annual Membership fees are £6 Founded in 1984 the society now has Gordon Medlicott for individuals, £7 for families and £10 an average monthly attendance of over for overseas membership. A meeting 20. Meetings are held at Golborne Leigh Probus Club fee is charged at £1 per member and Library on the second Tuesday of the Members of the Club, which is non- £1.50 per non-member. For further month at 7.00 p.m. All newcomers are sectarian, are generally retired information contact John Wogan, 678 welcome. Further details from Derek professional/businessmen. The Club Warrington Road, Goose Green, Briscoe (01942 747366) or Jim meets at the Leigh Masonic Hall on Wigan WN3 6XN, Email Scotson (01942 719291). alternate Thursday afternoons between [email protected] 31

Childhood Revisited THE new class, Standard not likely to join as I had been Four, was on the upper (Part three) earmarked for a new school floor of the school, by recently built in Ashton-in- commanding a bird’s eye Makerfield. Mr. Waterhouse view of the south transept J. Harold Smith was the only male teacher at of Holy Trinity Church the school and very popular and one leg of the of the horse (usually four) previously had emigrated to he became – he was of graveyard, separated drawn hearse and following Australia on medical advice. immaculate appearance, from the school’s entourage, either coached or There was, of course, the possibly of recent army playground by a low on foot, slowly making their added joy of receiving three officer rank, and simply stone wall. Looking back way up Rectory Road, totally rosy apples following the oozed attention. at the scene now, I am oblivious to the fact that their Harvest Festival. Though destined never to reminded of the figure of every stride was being Singing was something I be in his class, I had a few Thomas Gray seated in monitored and relayed used to like, but with extra curricular sessions with that churchyard in Stoke semaphorically to the rector, hindsight, I could never Mr. Waterhouse who had that Poges, scribbling the lines bell ringer, choirmaster (if understand its inclusion as a enviable facility of putting of his famous elegy, in present) and any other official lesson in the school people at ease and getting particular the one, ‘Into by the super efficient Tommy curriculum, especially as down to a level from which his narrow cell for ever Bold, sexton par excellence there was no such thing as a the pupil could make strides. laid’. whose services never failed. singing lesson involved. It was, however, from pupils Once sitting down at those Certainly there was a fairly in his class that I learned more long, form style desks, Cranking up extensive repertoire which about his skills. One of the however, the view was was monotonously repeated, lads showed me a crude, blocked out, replaced by the It was a time when the including many which I though quite efficient electric rows and rows of forms with motor car was still in the would categorise under, “Oh motor which Mr. Waterhouse the familiar grooves to embryo of total acceptance no, not that again”, such as had taught him to make. accommodate pens or pencils, but not as yet being reliable Where the bee sucks, there Another lad had made a pin holed here and there to house enough to oust the well tried suck I, the ‘round’ song, Go to hole camera, using a ceramic inkwells. In front and revered services of the Joan Glover and tell her I cardboard box on front of there would be the teacher’s horse. I suppose it would love her, a song which which a Beechams Pill box table and a blackboard and evoke irreverent pictures of painfully reminded me of my had been fixed and the base easel, perhaps a duster silk hatted, frock coated, pet hate – a girl in my class. I pricked with a pin – what hanging on one of the pegs cravatted drivers, cranking up suppose in view of the fairly else? At the rear of the box supporting the blackboard a hearse whose engine had recent cessation of World War was a slot in which a and, of course, the ever just ‘conked’ or with his head I, such chart toppers as Rule photographic slide could be present teacher. All in all, not under the opened bonnet in Britannia (parodied by those accommodated. Via this, and a very inspiring atmosphere to search of the reason. Even at the back of the class as, I suspect other Waterhouse bring out the best in the self-starters were looked upon “Rule Britannia, two tanners cameras, there were a number would-be academic. with a mechanical scorn and make a bob, three make 18 of monochrome pictures of The ecclesiastical not yet even fitted to all pence and four – two bob”) the graveyard (from Standard connection with the Church vehicles. and Ye Mariners of England. Seven) in evidence. was never far from the mind, Little did I realise on Come early November, O, But Mr. Waterhouse’s even during lessons. It was a listening to those muffled Valiant Hearts would be quite thinking went well beyond fairly regular occasion when, peals that, just over 10 years appropriate, as would the the bounds of the classroom absorbed in some subject or later, I would be the operator, appearance of Flanders and, with the benefit of other, a muffled “bong” in my official capacity of Poppies and preparations for hindsight, I think he would would invade the atmosphere. church bell ringer and organ the ‘Eleventh hour of the have liked to have imbued A mental note would circulate blower at the annual stipend eleventh day of the eleventh every child in the school with throughout the classroom…. of £4, paid in eight increments month’. But singing the same facility. One Funeral!! The first muffled of 10s. (50p). Previous to that, lessons….never. occasion he organised a peal would set in motion a until my voice broke I was in Saturday train trip from combined sort of metronomic the choir – no stipend but the Oozed attention Garswood to Liverpool – for anticipation at every 15 recipient of 3d., after some, probably the first time seconds or so, throughout the attending New Year Watch- During my sojourn in on a train and certainly for class. night Service. We were told Standard Four, there arrived a others, the furthest they had To those of us familiar that this was a legacy new teacher, Mr. Leonard ever ventured from home. with the scene, a mental connected with a local miner, Waterhouse, in Standard picture would flash before us James Lowe who, some years Seven next door, a class I was Ô 32

Sheer exuberance going liner of which there then, his lasting glory, the though he had never been might have been half a dozen conversion of his private away, but still remained his It was not just a train trip, or so then, the heyday of garden to a passenger usual taciturn, lugubrious self. however, but the itinerary – Liverpool as a passenger carrying model railway. Long Feeling sorry for the lad, I again Mr. W’s brainchild – terminal. Having just about may his memory live. stepped up my contact with that made the experience so got over the sheer explosion One day a new lad him, though I have to confess interesting and enjoyable. The of incredibility, our minds appeared in our class who was that curiosity, rather than sheer exuberance of climbing were about to be set on fire as introduced as Bill L….. His sympathy was the motive, the endless white steps up to we watched Mr. W. arrange general appearance and seeing his escapade as an the museum and Walker Art with some official the actual clothing (trousers well below enviable adventure and Gallery and, after a conducted boarding of one of these the knee) suggested that he something I wanted to know tour by, yes Mr. W., just to sit floating monsters for the was not of local stock. When more about. on those steps and watch purpose of a tour throughout he spoke, which was not very Though his mien remained Liverpool go by. The view in as much of the ship that time often, it was in a strange unchanged, I was able to those days was, to kids of our would allow. The last ship I accent. He was of melancholy gather a sort of piecemeal age, something majestically remember in this connection mien, a description that story from him, how he had panoramic, rather like a was the three funnelled, HMS seemed to tally with the slept in a Dutch barn, the Roman amphitheatre with Samaria, but don’t ask me the rumour that got around about thought of which sent shivers traffic, now filled with the line. his being rescued from a cruel down my spine, having in edifices of the entrances to home in a place we had never mind all the little rodent Queensway, the Mersey Rescued heard of, called Shropshire. visitors that might have shared Tunnel. For the very first time As far as everyone knew, his bed. His diet was almost in the lives of most of us, we Then it was back up to Bill settled down and became confined to turnips, eaten would have seen a coloured Lime Street and the train what we thought was a fresh (washed or not, he didn’t person or watched barefoot home to Garswood with the normal class of pupil, just like say) from the field. children playing in the streets. feeling of wanting to do it we were. But one day, he went When asked where he But then it was ‘fall in’, again ere long. Sadly for me, I AWOL, leaving no trace of actually grew up, he replied, and off we would follow our was to leave the immediate his whereabouts or where he “Muckleton, near Wem”, pied piper down to the docks contact with Mr. Waterhouse, might have gone. He was which I took to be some kind where, for the very first time but I never lost spiritual touch absent for about a week of joke or perhaps a Salopian in our lives, we would with him. In his later years his before turning up again. He actually set eyes on an ocean- name often hit local news and returned to school just as Continued on page 34

Mon Ashton Library Orrell Library The Pension Service comes Wigan Road, Ashton-in- Orrell Road, Orrell Post Makerfield Orrell to the Libraries 10.00am-12.00 noon 2.00pm-4.00pm

Age Concern Wigan Hindley Library Are you aged over 60 years? Do you have a benefit 68 Market Street, Wigan Market Street, Hindley related query and would like specialist advice? You 10.00am-12.00 noon 2.00pm-4.00pm may be entitled to claim one of many benefits but are unaware; by asking our staff they will be able to Tue Standish Library Signpost Advisory Service, identify potential income, which may be available Cross Street, Standish TCEC Building, Upper George St to you and help you make that claim. 10.00am-12.00 noon Tyldesley 1.00pm-3.30pm If so, the Pension Service has joined up with the Atherton Library Aspull Library Libraries and other partners to ensure we are in York Street, Atherton Oakfield Crescent, Aspull convenient locations throughout the borough to 10.00am-12.00 noon 2.00pm-4.00pm offer help to pensioners, their families and those who are planning ahead for their retirement. Wed

Help is available for: - Thur Marsh Green Library Golborne Library • Completion of Minimum Income guarantee Harrow Road, Marsh Green Tanners Lane, Golborne forms 10.00am-12.00 noon 1.30pm-3.30pm • Completion of Retirement Pension forms Higher Folds Community Centre Abram Library • Verifing Saving Documents, Birth/Marriage Stirling Close, Leigh Vicarage Road, Abram Certificates (no need to post off these items, 10.00am-12.00 noon 2.00pm-4.00pm handed back immediately!) • Winter Fuel queries Fri Wigan & Leigh Pensioners Link Ince Library • Signpost to other Pensioner Services 27 Charles Street, Leigh Smithy Green, Ince 10.00am-12.00 noon 2.00pm-4.00pm

You can make an appointment at any venue Shevington Library convenient to you or simply drop in. To arrange Gathurst Lane, Shevington an appointment please ring 01942 758000 and 10.00am-12.00 noon ask for the Pension Service.

33

It was some years before our Right?....no not yet. Then off male singers, father a fine house aspired to such dizzy the men went. solo baritone and church Childhood heights, an occasion which to On the following day, they choirmaster to boot. There this day, whenever I have turned up again to complete was, however, the intrusion of Revisited reason to press my remote the wiring which started at the some of the popular music of ––––– control button, thus saving me set, through two holes (one for the era, though how, in the the energy sapping trek all the aerial, one for earth) which absence of radio in those Continued from page 33 way across the hearth rug, I they had drilled in our back days, such ‘rubbish’ (father’s think of all the things that kitchen window by brace and words, not mine) infiltrated it non sequitur rather like when were needed to give me, bit. The earth wire was was not clear. we used to be asked, perhaps roughly, the same level of attached to a metal rod, driven The resultant picture was cheekily, “Where you gooin?” technical satisfaction and into the ground. The aerial one of a sort of music no- and we would reply, entertainment. wire? Well that was almost as man’s land on which was “Warrington fer two eggs”. I see the set, a exciting to follow as the first being fought a battle of the But sure enough, Bill was Marconiphone, four valve broadcast to come into our tastes of the ages with father, telling the truth, a fact I (wow!) effort being delivered house. This went through the general of the light classics proved many years later when and deposited on our kitchen window frame, then vertically and religious, down to my my job took me into many table, followed by the to a white, ceramic insulator level of the vo-do-di-oh-do remote corners of the UK, speaker, a rather posh, fixed to the wall, just below syndrome, as yet, not even including Muckleton and circular, polished walnut the guttering, thence fed out given a uniform. I can, Wem, no more than an hour’s affair, about two feet from its reel, along our however, see father’s point run from here by car. diameter, later to be hung on backyard, through the gate, much clearer now than I Had Bill’s flight been the wall above the set. But across the backs and into our could then, especially when made today, it would most what’s this they’re lugging in allotment. Here a hole, big remembering such discordant certainly have been the subject now? A wooden cabinet about enough to accommodate the ingredients as, for instance, I of a local, if not national radio 4' high x 5' wide by 2' deep. burial of a large dog or small Know That My Redeemer broadcast. At the time, Placed in position, the set then pig was dug. Lowered into Liveth, and Oh Shinanikida, relevant details were just plain placed on top and the speaker that was a large beam onto he play a guitar, outside a facts to be digested as and how somehow secured on the wall, which was attached a sort of bazaar, bazaar, bazaar (I can the recipient received them. a couple of feet or so above, flag pole about 20' high, near assure the reader that this As for radio, (no such word thinks….the big moment has the top of which was another number really was quite then, it was wireless – it was arrived. But no, the men are ceramic insulator through popular, I am not making it the Yanks who started calling still bringing in a strange which the aerial was fed. Once up) and many other numbers it radio) reception of such a looking rectangular section, the mast was raised and with equally crazy titles. luxury was still quite a glass containers, containing secured, the aerial pulled Were I to have been asked number of years away. flat plates and a liquid just reasonably taut, and it was all at the time, to quote just one deep enough to cover them. hands back to the house for the example of justification for Crystal set moment of magic. possession of a wireless set, I “Every fortnit er so” For me, that really was a would have said that it was It could be said that there magic moment, a moment the guarantee of regular was a sort of awakening to the Opening a long shallow which even now I cannot timing of my homecoming development. Presence of a lid near the top of the cabinet, describe. To hear music and from school. There was crystal set here and there was one of the men proceeded to voices relayed via the ether something magical about heard of and in fact my father place these glass articles on a into our house, was sitting down to do my acquired one. None of the rest shelf made for their absolutely unbelievable. The homework, or other of the household of ten, installation, at the same time twiddling of the knobs scholastic imposition, in time however, ever heard as much announcing, “These is wot yu became a family habit in the to hear the voice of Jack as a screech from it, mainly caw th’ eye tenshun batteries early days but eventually Payne introducing his due to the fact that father was an’ every ney un agen, yull programme choice seemed to afternoon broadcast of the non, nay, anti-technical. ‘ave t’ avum charged.” sort itself out fairly amicably. BBC Dance Orchestra, The parents of one of my Reaching again into the box together with the background friends had the latest ‘set’, containing the, as yet Large family sound of his signature tune, complete with one of those unfamiliar objects, he . Say it with Music (I still love curly type loud speakers produced two more glass If there was one area of to hear it on Desmond proudly sitting on the objects of larger capacity, listening common to all Carrington’s Sunday mid-day sideboard. Also sitting on the fixed to which there was a members of our large family, Radio 2 programme). The sideboard was a little wooden carrying handle. “These is t’ it would have to be music, a sound of some of the old casket accommodating three low tension batteries – yull legacy I suppose from our tunes of the early ‘30’s still woven wire rings from which ‘ave t’ ave um charged every pre-wireless days when music haunt me. two connection pins fortnit er so”. And so he went was very much in evidence in protruded. They were the on, at the same time coupling our house, four pianists (one To be concluded in the means of changing wave up the batteries to wherever doubling on ukulele, though next issue in which Harold lengths….all highly technical! they had to be connected. not simultaneously) and five moves on to a new school. 34

Definitely think Joan Barlow (all IT’S THE HAT! Sunday School teachers). Dear Mr. Gillies, Miss 2nd row: (seated) far I refer to the picture of St. Michael’s Sunday School right Miss P. Greene. teachers in Past Forward 33, p35. I agree with the Beatrice 3rd row: Starting 2nd identifications made by Miss Norah Hall, and confirm from left, Jane Jolley, Mr. the lady near to the Vicar was Miss Beatrice Simm and Simm A. Harris (Headmaster), not the Vicar’s wife. Annie Frost (Sunday I even remember the hat she was wearing! Dear Sir, white on the Vicar’s left is School Superintendent), Maria Seddon With reference to the definitely Miss Beatrice the Vicar Rev. A. Wigan photograph again Simm. Regarding the Whitehead, Beatrice published in Past gentleman on the back Simm, far right Maud Forward 33, p35 of St. row, far right in the Meadows. MEMORIES OF OLD Michael’s Sunday School picture, I would say that is Far Back: Harry teachers, elders, and Mr. Smith, who was a Bickerstaffe, Harry WIGAN – FROM Women’s Bible Class Sunday School Benning, Mr. Hampson ‘DOWN UNDER’ members. The photograph Superintendent. (Churchwarden), and far Dear Editor, was probably taken on the I can also identify the right Mr. Smith. I wish to thank you very much for printing the photo occasion of St. Michael’s following members of the I must say how much of a group of members of St. Michael’s Church, Swinley Annual Field Day group: I enjoy reading Past Road with the Vicar, Rev. Whitehead, (who officiated at (preceding Walking Day), Front Row: starting Forward, and my wedding in 1939) and churchwardens, Sunday at Bull Hey field, Parsons 4th from left – Grace congratulate you on an school teachers, etc in Past Forward No. 32 and 33, Walk. Martindale, Bill Sharrock, excellent magazine. which I have just received from my sister, Mrs. G. Guest In reply to your Amelia Bradshaw, M. Ellison of Marsh Green. I originally sent the photo to her and request, the tall lady in Winifred Barnes, and I Swinley, Wigan she in turn sent it to you. I emigrated to Australia 21 years ago, but do like to keep in touch with my home town of Wigan, so enjoy July 1936 and lived in Makerfield Grammar each issue of your great magazine. Also, I have so many All proud Bank Street, Platt Bridge School before we moved relatives here, and ex-Wigan friends who also enjoy until 1944 when we to Blackpool in 1951. reading it, so I pass it around. Wiganers moved back to the old Dad worked at With regard to the photograph the Vicar’s wife was family home at 5 Maypole Colliery and his sick that day, and did not go with us; the person in white Dear Sir, Bickershaw Lane, uncle Albert Draper was next to him was Miss Simm. I was Phyllis Ashworth I am writing on Abram. By then my sister killed in the Maypole then, and am in front of the Vicar, my friend next to me behalf of my dad Sydney Eileen and myself had explosion. Dad now lives in white, with a hat on, was Olive Abbott, whose mother Draper, and enclosing a joined the family. with me in Poulton-le- had a fruit shop for many years next to the Millstone photograph he has asked Unfortunately mum Fylde but we are all proud Hotel on Wigan Lane. Grace Martindale was our friend me to send to you. died on 6 January this Wiganers and my sister also, and I would like to know if she is still with us. We He was born 6 April year, aged 92 years 11 and I have season tickets were all Sunday school teachers for many years. I lived 1908 in Walthew Lane, months. If she had lived for . in Beech Hill then, and had to walk there and back to St. Platt Bridge, and when till July they would have A friend passed your Michael’s three times every Sunday – 8 a.m. still a baby moved to celebrated 67 years of magazine to me, hence Communion, Sunday school in the afternoon, and Bickershaw Lane, marriage. the letter and photograph Church in the evening. I don’t know of any one who Abram. He married My sister and I both plus a bit of family would do that today! Nellie (Ellen) Meadows went to Abram School history. Also, I have read with great interest Harold Smith’s at Zion Methodist and I spent one year Sylvia Houldsworth articles, ‘Childhood Revisited’. He must be similar in Church, Platt Bridge on 4 (1950) at Ashton-in- Poulton le Fylde age to me – 88 years old. I also could write a book of my childhood. I remember well the coal strike, when we had to queue up at St. Stephen’s School in Whelley for bread and jam, pea (so called) soup, and potato hash (as it was called) – all terrible stuff to eat. Later on, a lorry would come and stop on the road, and we queued up there, with basins. I also went on the pit slags in Worsley Mesnes, where I lived after I married, to pick bits of coal and slack, and wheeled bags of it, along with my baby, to Newtown for my grandmother who was very sick in bed at the time. I went every day, to keep her fire burning, and to feed her, etc. Coal was rationed at that time, as was everything else. Hard times. I lost my first husband in Caen, France in the Invasion, aged only 27. I remarried four years later – he was also in the Middle East fighting for three years. Now I have lost him, with cancer! The men were forced to go in the services those days; now we are having all the young ones demonstrating, ‘no war’ as they think they will have to go. Also, I enjoyed the article by Helen Prescott about Standard 7 Abram St. John’s C of E School c.1919-20 Ramsdale’s Ice Cream Shop, which I do remember, as I Front row: Fred Burrows, Sydney Draper, Harold Parkinson, Tommy Fairclough, worked with their daughter Kathleen when I was 16 to Stan Briscoe, Jimmy Smith, Wilf Jameson 18, and used to spend my week-ends at their house. 2nd row: ? Partington, ? Briscoe, Frank Lomas, Billy Harter, Billy Whitehead. Happy memories and thanks a lot for giving all these 3rd row: Teacher Mr. Ewart Charnock, Jack Crompton, Vinnie Hornby, Leslie Peet, to me. Good luck and best wishes to Past Forward. Billy Wilcox, Albert Burrows, John Cunliffe, John Houghton, Headmaster Mr. Joe Phyllis Rawcliffe Falcon. 109 Blaxland Drive Back row: Dick Molyneux, George Cottam, Leslie Jeffries, John Holland, Len North Dandenong Morgan, Billy Patterson, Tommy Grimshaw, Peter Smith. Vic. 3175 Australia 35

was Civil Defence H.Q, when I lived in ONE OF THE Standish. Past Forward No. 25 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE with ‘Childhood Reminiscences’ by Jane Fairhurst was MUNICIPAL YEAR THANK particularly interesting as she taught me in Dear Editor, presented (usually by the Town YOU VERY Standard 6 as Miss One of the highlights of the Clerk or other Chief Officer) to MUCH Marshall. On turning Municipal Year in Wigan was an the Captain of the winning team. the page I was annual football match between The following day, several of Dear Sir, delighted to see the the participating players suffered Thank you very heading Charles male members of staff from the much for the pleasure Sawbridge Ltd. over a Town Hall (Borough Treasurer’s aches and pains, stiffness and and enjoyment I get letter written by his and Education Departments) and bruising, especially those (like from your excellent granddaughter (who is the Municipal Buildings (Town myself) who did play football newsletter, which is a friend of many years) Clerk’s, Borough Engineer’s and regularly and for whom this was a sent to me by my and gave me the Health Departments). ‘one-off’ game. brother George greatest pleasure. As one would expect, the The enclosed photograph Nicholas of Platt I wish you continued occasion created great shows the soccer team which Bridge. I was success. represented the Municipal particularly pleased to Muriel Meitz enthusiasm and rivalry, and a received issue no. 31 (nee Nicholas) good following of supporting Buildings in 1953/4, with staff with the line drawing of 359 Bent Crescent staff came along to cheer (and from three departments – Health Standish showing the Richmond Hill jeer) their favoured team from the (H), Town Clerk’s (TC) and schools I attended and Ontario touchline. Although the games Borough Engineer’s (BE). Does Ashfield House which L4C 1C4 Canada were taken very seriously, they any reader recognise the four were generally fought in good unidentified members from the FROM AN OLD spirit. There were many amusing Borough Engineer’s Office? If incidents and occasionally a few so, please contact me at home or WIGAN BOROUGH injuries (mainly minor ones). via the Editor of Past Forward. After the match the teams and Roy Ashurst SUPPORTER followers retired to a local pub for 62 Greenford Close drinks and a hot pot supper, and Orrell Wigan Dear Alastair, the ‘Corporation Cup’ was WN5 8RH As always I very much enjoyed receiving and passing on the latest issue of Past Forward. 1953/4 TOWN HALL v MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS In your editorial you mention Wigan Athletic at Springfield Park. As you alaready know, I was ANNUAL FOOTBALL MATCH an old Wigan Borough supporter, and even played at Lord & Sharman (Ross Works) Pemberton remember the incident when Frank Barson was sent off for jumping on an opponent and subsequently never played football professionally. I can remember the Latics team of 1938:

Preedy Moran Dennis (Capt.) Humpish Wilson Robb Welsby Welsh Smith Harris and Hughes

An interesting fact of those days was that because there were so many unemployed who couldn’t afford the shilling entry fee (5p), they would hang around outside until about ten minutes or so after half-time when the gates would be opened and they would be allowed free entry! Ernie Taberner 62 Westwood Road Standing: Coach (BE) Bob Brown (BE) Les Boardman (Capt. TC) Coventry Goalie (BE) Alan Gore (H) Bert Stockley (H) Tony Kay (TC) Linesman West Midlands CV5 6GE with skull & crossbones flag (BE) Front row: Roy Ahsurst (H) Gordon Rigby (H) ? (BE) Brian Leigh (H) 36

PHOTOS OF GREAT PERSONAL INTEREST

Dear Editor, memories from her mum Betty Bell. I have an Browsing through the spring issue of Past autograph book that belonged to mum with Forward, the larger photograph of the WAAFs signatures dated 5/10/44 from ‘B’ Watch and outside Winstanley Hall caught my eye. In others. Betty’s name isn’t among them but I particular the WAAF seated 6th from the right on wonder if Bell is her married name. However, THE the 2nd row from the front. I was sure that this was someone with the surname Bridgewater has WATSONS, my mum, then Pat Taylor but, as she had died in written a short verse. I can’t decide if the initial is 1963, (I was 13 years old) I couldn’t quite believe it M or H. If it is M then perhaps this is Betty’s friend AN OLD was her. On checking with dad he confirmed that with whom she warmed mince pies on a shovel AND she had been billeted at Winstanley, so to make one Christmas Day. RESPECTED doubly sure I got out the photos that I have. Not Mum originated from Pinner in Middlesex. She only do I have the same picture you published in and dad met when he, a delivery driver, called into FAMILY your magazine but also one taken in February 1946 De Roma’s café in Station Road, Wigan, for a drink. of ‘C’ Watch, Blackbrook, which has the names of Mum was there with two other WAAFs and they all Dear Editor, the personnel written on the back. got chatting. Dad offered to give them a lift back to Please find The articles which accompanied the photos Winstanley Hall. They married in February 1947. enclosed a cheque for were of great personal interest to me, especially Dee Phillpotts the subscription to the letter from Carol Jones when she relays Orrell Wigan Friends of Wigan Heritage Service. Sadly, my husband, John G. Watson, died last June, but I know he would be pleased for me to continue contributing towards Past Forward. John looked forward to receiving the newsletters – the magazine took him back to the old days of Ashton-in-Makerfield with which he was familiar and back further into history. The Watson’s were an old respected family in Ashton. John Watson senior was a master builder (as was his father in Newton- le-Willows) who was Taken outside RAF Station, Blackbrook, St. Helens, February 1946 later joined by one of 1st row (seated left to right): Eric Craven, Mary Bradley, Jean Grant, Ralph Stevens, F/Sgt. Dudley, S/O his two sons, Ernest. Reid, Sqdn/Ldr. Fraser, Flt/Off. Wentzell, Pat Taylor, Isobel Hamilton, Emmy Robinson. 2nd row: “Jock” My husband was born Read, Ron Coates, Tommy Perkins, Pat Scott, Doris Cochram, Lilian Thompson, Doris Foley, Kay Smith, in Ashton, and went to Alison Dick, Dot Edgar, Edna Drake. 3rd row: Albert Sherrington, Doreen Blackwell, May Lenehan, Betty St. Thomas’s Church Harrison, Lucy Sherlock, Sylvia Selby, Kath Smith, Joyce Orton, Sylvia Wild. Back row: Frank Hyde, Sid School before going to Fernley, Janie Smith, Joan Akroyd, “Gerry” Chambers, Peggy Wilson. a boarding school in Arnside. He served in the Royal Engineers Master’s Degree in demolished Lord Thomas’s churchyard from them. during the whole of the Civic Design. Gerard’s Hall in the and some in the In closing I must War, going through Some of John Park, using some of the Newton-le-Willows congratulate you all in France, Holland, Watson’s (senior) Hall to build his own churchyard. If there the Heritage Service Germany etc. On work included house in Liverpool are any of your readers for producing such an demobilisation he building housing Road. who recognise the excellent magazine. returned to his roots – estates and schools in I am trying to piece name of Watson’s, gaining an Honours and around Ashton, the together a picture of (Builders) and have Audrey Watson Degree in Architecture National Westminster the Watson family over any light to shed on 56 Hawthorne Road at Liverpool Bank, Pit Head Baths the years gone by. the family, I would be Kings Norton University and then a etc. He bought and Some are buried in St. so grateful to hear Birmingham B30 1EG 37

Mites’, who were trimmings. clog dancers and I know the names MYSTERY OF singers, and also of six of the eight - WIGAN’S PAST part of a concert from left to right: group formed in Annie Sumner, Dear Mr. Gillies, Leigh during World Florrie Stout (?), A couple of years ago I was browsing and War I by Edward Lizzie Smith, Edna chatting in a local antique dealer’s warehouse, and Bromilow and Sam Bromilow, Alice THE as it sometimes does, our conversation turned to McMaster, both Nicholson, Ida Wigan and its history. The friendly dealer said, ‘EIGHT miners from Plank Simm. “come into the yard and have a look at some items MITES’ OF Lane. They Does anyone out there”. To my amazement, leaning against the performed locally, know the names of wall were two large stone slabs; it seems they LEIGH sometimes in the two ‘mites’ on the were found on a dump some years earlier, cinemas during the right? purchased, and had lain there ever since. Dear Editor interval between the The other One of the slabs was pretty obviously the old I wonder if any of first and second film. photograph is of a Wigan emblem of the Moot Hall, but what wasn’t your readers could Their ages ranged Plank Lane rugby obvious to me was where on earth was its original provide me with from 8 to 14 years. team. Can anyone situation? Could it possibly have been part of the further details Their costumes were date it and identify structure of the old Town Hall itself? Intriguing! regarding these two skirts/shorts in red any of the players? The other slab is even more of a mystery to old photographs of and white stripes, Mrs V Lirakis me. I have spent some time at the History Shop, Plank Lane, Leigh? red blouses trimmed 74 Lordstyle Lane checking anything heraldic, and reread Jessica The first picture with white, and Bromley Cross Lofthouse’s Lancashire’s Old Families, but to no shows the ‘Eight cream hats with red Bolton BL7 9JY avail, and so in desperation, what else but to turn to readers of Past Forward. I am sure someone out there will supply the answers. Needless to say I asked for permission to return with a camera and enclose the results. Don Rayner 8 Edale Drive Standish Wigan WN6 0LN

The ‘eight mites’

Plank Lane, Leigh, rugby team 38

conducted controlled trials using water In the last issue of Past was abandoned 3 months later. infusion to cut down the Forward, Frank Winnard Mark has carried out dust when cutting the recalled a summer evening extensive research into local coal face. Trials were German bombing raid in 1940, aviation history, including carried out at Golborne, when some incendiary bombs various crashes (apologies for Cronton, Lea Green, were dropped on or near omitting an acknowledgement Clock Face, Bold, Wood, Billinge Hospital. He to you in the Sabre Jet crash William Sutton Manor, wondered if any reader could article in the last issue, Mark), Challenor Ravenhead and Llay add some more information. the Wigan Presentation Main Collieries. The Mark Gaskell has contacted Spitfire and the amazing story Dear Editor, findings and conclusions me with details from the of its main pilot. I am The article by James were published and Lancashire Control Centre delighted that he has agreed Fairhurst (Past Forward Wigan Library was Incident Record Books. These for the history he has compiled 33 p35) seems to be given a copy along with show that a report was made at to be serialised in Past referring to work carried many of his text books out by my father William relating to the history of 2.30 am on 5 September 1940, Forward, starting with the next Challenor who was a mining on his death in of ten high explosive bombs. issue. It will make fascinating Senior H.M. Inspector of May 1969. One failed to explode, and the reading. Ed. Mines (coal mines, salt Margaret G. Tonge records state that its recovery mines and quarries). He Springfield Wigan LABOUR HALL CINEMA ANECDOTES Dear Editor, supplied power for the and was in sore shape how all those Heaton and Past I am a subscriber to carbon arc projection when they got back businesses and houses Forward for the happy Past Forward, and I machines. When they Please find fitted in that small memories. was very surprised to were ready to start the enclosed a copy of the space. The only thing Ken and Betty see an article in the first movie someone final poster that still standing on that Roocroft Summer 2002 issue would shout to Betty to announced the closing side of the road is the 1454 Major Oaks Road No. 31, p24; it was start the ‘geny’. I of the cinema; this is a ‘Earl of Balcarres’ pub. Pickering Ontario headed Open Door for started going out with reduction of the posters Thank you Mr. L1X 2N5 Canada the ‘Penny Rush’. The Betty and did some that Freddie would article was written by minor repairs to the have stuck up on Tom Heaton, a nephew rewind equipment, various bill boards and of Fred Heaton who which lasted until the telephone posts around was a projectionist at Labour Hall - ‘The Scholes. I wonder the Labour Hall Show’ as it was called whatever happened to Cinema in Scholes. He by the family - closed. I ‘White Eagle’. mentions Rueben guess that I did some I never experienced Williams, his wife and portion of my courting the ‘empty jam jar their daughters. at the Labour Hall. admission’, but I had I became involved After the ‘second heard about it when I with the Williams house’ ended, I would was a youngster. After family in 1951; by this walk with Betty and the Labour Hall closed time Rueben had her mother – I called Margaret Williams passed away and her ‘Ma’ – back to their sold their home in Vine Margaret his wife was house in Vine Street, Street, and bought a running the Labour Whelley. small haberdashery Hall with her daughters Tom Heaton and ladies wear shop Betty in the cash box describes his uncle as a practically across the and Joy in the office fit man. Freddie did road from the Labour selling ice-cream. have to be very agile in Hall, between the Rueben and Margaret swinging around the hardware shop (Joe had a large family end of one machine to Howards) and the consisting of seven start the next machine paper shop (Allan daughters and one son, and reel on cue; Woods). Joy was Edith (Ada), Anne, however, on one of his running the shop but Edna, Peggy, Mary, quick swings around unfortunately business Betty, Joy and George. the machine he missed was not very good and Ada, Anne and Edna his footing and ended it eventually closed, as had been in Canada up sat in the fire did many more small from some years. bucket. Tom also places in Scholes. As I said earlier, mentions Tommy We come back to when I became Allen and his biking; Wigan each spring for involved, Betty was my wife Betty (sorry, I a vacation and doing the cash and forgot to mention that whenever we are doing the books we got married in driving through ordering films etc; in 1954) went for a Scholes we look at the the cash box area was a tandem ride with spot where the shop DC generator that Tommy to Southport, was and marvel as to 39

‘THERE’S NOWT LIKE A BLAST FROM THE PAST...’

Dear Editor, was a little patronising, and took no There’s nowt like a blast from account of the dire economic climate the past to warm the old cockles. of the ‘30’s. Jobs were really hard to And so it’s warmest thanks to Rev. come by, and as the oldest child in a Roger Taylor for his remarkably large family, Johnny simply had to detailed reminiscences on the life take what was on offer in order to and time of Wigan Grammar bring a wage home. But then, there School’s form 5C – for the most part, was ever an air of snobbery by the the ‘awkward squad’, as I recall. ‘haves’ over the ‘have nots’! School reports of ‘easily satisfied’ Nonethless, I am indebted to and ‘could do better’ summed up Roger for an erudite pen-picture, fairly the attitudes there prevalent. which will doubtless have been At that time I was living in fascinating to the alumni of W.G.S. Scholefield Lane – not the most affluent part of town – just across the Stanley Greenough road from Johnny Lynch. I must say (late of 5C) that reference to him in the article Leyland Lancs

Congratulations to Rev. Roger Taylor on his article in issue 33 I knew the Hewitts and Les Gee and was in his class at Poolstock School when Mr. Wood was Headmaster. My history lessons were copies of Mr. • Extracts from a booklet containing school certificate W’s, especially his Lord Nelson and Cromwell – wonderful dramatisations examination results for 1937 kindly sent in by Mr. which have remained with me to this day. Greenough. The list records matriculation of Rev. Taylor as H. Bonikowski well as the results for Wigan Girls High School and Wigan (formerly Sawbridge) Notre Dame High School.

40

This letter was received in response to a ‘Memory Lane’ feature which appeared recently in the first issue of Wigan Council’s magazine ‘Borough Life’. PLEASANT MEMORIES OF THE OLD CORN MILL Dear Sir, This photograph MINER’S shows the old corn mill which was at the bottom FRIEND – end of Coppull Lane on the left hand side going THOMAS down (i.e. north side). ASPINWALL The mill was connected to a stone-built farmhouse to its right hand side (the corner of the farmhouse roof is just visible in the photograph). In the late 1800’s/early 1900’s the farm and mill belonged to my great grandfather, I THOUGHT I must William Leather, and put pen to paper to tell subsequently passed to of the Douglas, with My grandfather, Wood, so there was a you a little more of his eldest son, my great most of the inhabitants Joshua Leather, was a tremendous community Thomas Aspinwall, uncle, Dick Leather. being re-housed in their younger brother of Dick spirit – with almost miners’ agent for the The mill/farm was council houses. and he brought up a everyone related. I and Wigan District and part of a thriving Although all the family of 12 children my many, many cousins Vice-President of community in that part property had been (including my father in the Swinley/Whelley Wigan Infirmary. A of the Douglas Valley, demolished, when I was Tom) in a cottage (in area may never have plaque was erected by called Bottling Wood, a boy I well remember fact, two cottages lived in the valley, but the miners of Wigan and included a pub that the mill race was knocked through) with we heard so many stories and surrounding called ‘The Woodman’. still clearly visible where its back to the Douglas of the old days from our districts and hangs on The whole lot was it had run through the on the south side of forebears that it became the corridor of Wigan demolished in the early mill, driving its Coppull Lane, i.e. almost very real to us, and Infirmary, near to the 1930’s ‘for health waterwheel and then opposite the farm. remains so to this day. MAV Department (the reasons’, and the across the field on the Several of my Thanks for stirring old South Ward). Bottling Wood estate south side of Coppull grandfather’s brothers pleasant memories. Thomas Aspinwall was built at the top of the Lane and back into the and sisters also raised Joshua Leather was born at hill on the Whelley side river Douglas. their families in Bottling Eccleshall Staffs Bickerstaffe, near Ormskirk, in 1846. He settled in up to the day of his and Labour candidate Royal Albert Edward funeral procession, Skelmersdale at the death. As miners’ for Wigan. He was a Infirmary in Wigan. which was headed by age of 14 and agent he came into man of the people Thomas Aspinwall two local brass bands. commenced an the front rank of who took for his motto died on Thursday 21 To all my association with the miners’ leaders and “Come Let us Reason March 1901, after colleagues, friends colliery village. He his word had great Together”. The suffering from a and visitors of Wigan began working in the weight in the Conservatives painful internal Infirmary, when you mine at an early age deliberations of the admitted that they disease; he was only go past Thomas and from the pit rose Lancashire Miners were fighting a strong 55. The funeral took Aspinwall’s plaque on to a high position in Federation and other candidate, as the place on the following the corridor near to the mining world; and mining organisations. result of the poll Monday afternoon the MAV Department, in the political world He was practical; his proved – Sir Francis S. amid signs of just take a minute to he nearly won a seat experience combined Powell only beat universal mourning read the inscription; in the House of with his sound Aspinwall by a and respect. The the tablet was erected Commons. commonsense made majority of 110. internment had been by the miners of In 1887, on the him a representative He took a great delayed until late in Wigan and death of the late Mr. of which any mining interest in public the afternoon, so that surrounding districts: William Pickard, he community would affairs. He was the men from all “In his prosperous became miners’ agent have been proud. Chairman of the Local districts whom the hours he had but this for the important When the Labour Board, Urban Council deceased had so ably pride, to be the weak Wigan District – a cause became so and School Board, represented could man’s help, the poor position which he held prominent Thomas held the Principal Lay attend the graveside. man’s guide.” with credit to himself Aspinwall entered the Offices in Wigan More than 600 miners George Davies and benefit to the men political arena, being Parish Church and from all over the Ex Councillor and whom he represented adopted the Liberal was Vice-President at districts joined in the Unison APF Officer 41

would be interested to know if they joined the RAF and what happened to them. On the third row, second from the left, is Johnny Berry, the fifth is Kidd, and I am the fourth from the right; the War fourth from the left on the second row is years as Calderbank, next to the C.O. a Flight You did not have the choice of which Engineer aircraft to fly on; in my case the fact that my Air last number ended in 44 meant that I was Gunner allocated to being a Dear Editor, Flight Engineer/Air 1178 Squadron ATC. I was very Gunner on 202 interested in the article Squadron, flying the North Atlantic The troops were seated bring back. On the in Past Forward 33 by Catalinas. Apart from from Loch Erne in N in the bomb bays on return journey we Alan Davies on Tom the throttles, the Ireland on anti-U Boat canvas seats. I am on landed at Lydda Bennett, whom I met Engineer controlled patrols and convoy the far right in the (Palestine) instead of some years ago as, the engines, fuel and escorts. enclosed photograph. Cairo, where I used to being of similar age, floats, and climbed via After Germany We flew from pick up silk stockings he would probably a small ladder to a surrendered, we Cambridge via Tripoli, for my sister Margaret have volunteered for position under the should have gone out Cairo and Shaibah and cigars for my aircrew around the wing. On Coastal to the Japanese war, (Iraq) to Mauripur, father. same time as I did. I Command, as well as but the powers that be being the airport for J.H. Dennis never asked Tom at the being Flight Engineer, decided we were not Karachi where we 17 Gidlow Avenue time whether he was in you also had to be an needed; in retrospect it bought small carpets to Wigan WN6 7PF 1178 Squadron ATC. Air/Gunner, and in the was probably because I enclose a front gun position you they had the atom photograph of the were stood up in the bomb. The Skipper squadron; Dickie Nutt open air. and I were sent on a SON OF THE VILLAGE of Wigan Grammar The squadron conversion course on School was the C.O. I operated in the South Liberator bombers POSTMAN cannot remember all Atlantic from which had been Dear Editor, the names but some of Gibraltar, on anti-U converted to troop It was with some interest that I read the article your readers may Boat patrols and carriers, by removing in Past Forward No. 33 entitled ‘Childhood recognise members of looking for blockade the gun turrets and Revisited’ by J. Harold Smith, as I am Tom their family, and I runners; and later in sealing the bomb bays. Silvester, son of the village postman. Together with my sister Dorothy, we are the only ones left, apart from our families. We both do remember our mother telling us about the incident as mentioned by Harold. I was born in April 1923 and so am younger than Harold, with no recollection of those strike years. One incident I do remember while at the school in Garswood, however, was when the Airship R101 came over the school, and everyone ended up in the school yard looking up at it. I also recall playing piggy cricket, football and many other games on the croft, not to mention lighting small fires which I was told not to go near. I also remember spending time climbing trees with my friend Jim McLennan in and around Monks Wood. I have a photograph of Jim and myself sitting in a tree which had been struck by lightning. I too was a friend of the son of the landlord at the Railway Hotel, Teddy (Edward) Heaton, and as well as exploring the large buildings in the pub yard and on the bowling green, we spent a night or two in his tent on a patch of ground bordering onto Victoria Road. Tom Silvester The writer is pictured (far right) in Shaibah (Iraq). Ashton-in-Makerfield Nr Wigan 42

OWEN GRAY, BETTER THAN HEAVEN APPRENTICE BAKER Dear Mr. Gillies In reference to the article about the American Gray was brought up in knowledge of this Sabre Jet crashing in Billinge (Past Forward 33, Liverpool Workhouse baker, for which I p24). One of the ambulance crew who took Lt. W.B. and eventually was would be very grateful. Stockdale to Wigan Infirmary was a certain Mr. apprenticed to a James M.A. Miskin William (Billy) Maggs who hails from Ince but now Dear Sir, Spencer to become a 4 The Old Priory lives in Billinge with his wife Edna. After reading the article Billy told me the story of how when Lt. I am currently Hall Drive baker in 1861. James Stockdale woke up briefly on his arrival at Wigan researching my family Spencer’s address on Sutton Scarsdale Infirmary he said, “Am I in heaven?”, Billy’s history, and I am my copy of the Chesterfield immediate response was, “now owd lad, thar wondering if any of apprentice papers is Derbys S44 5UR somewhere better than that, thar int Wiggin your readers can help. given as 119 Scholes, P.S. I think Past Infirmary”. My great great Wigan. I would like to Forward is a great K. Dutton grandfather Owen know if anyone has any magazine. Billinge Wigan BORN IN LANCASHIRE – I PRESUME? WILLIAM BARON was the stock in trade and his parents insisted that generally thought. His Mary’s was living. born I know not where, William’s wife. Later to “they were legally age on the death I would appreciate c.1860’s – in Lancashire I hush things up he paid for married”. certificate is given as 70. hearing from anybody presume. I was told by a their passage to the On the birth I believe that William who has any information relative that his father United States. certificate of their first Baron had a brother who on this family. I know that was a proprietor of a hotel I know that William child, Leslie, born 13 subsequently became Lt. some of my or inn in either Blackburn Baron had a son by his March 1904, his parents Co. A.(?) Baron and was grandmother’s sisters or Burnley. His mother first marriage by the were living at 239 Stanley a Dental Surgeon in married and lived in the died and his father name of Cyril, who Road Bootle, and Mary Rodney Street, Liverpool. Wigan area and it may be married again; the new subsequently married a gives her maiden name as I have been in touch that some of their wife did not like William Lizzie(?), and they had a Houghton; similarly with the Goldsmith’s descendants might be around, so he was packed pawnbroking business in when their second child, Company but there is no able to impart more off to a boarding school Bootle from which they Laura, was born on 22 record that William Baron information on the life of with a name like were bombed out during March 1906, at 51 was apprenticed with William Baron. Mary Houghton or Hoghton the Second World War. Harrow Road, Walton. them; nor is there any Heaps had sisters called Towers. N.B. There was a My maternal William’s occupation is record of him being in Nellie and Edith and school in the village of grandmother Mary given as a photographer business in Bold Street. brothers, Tom and Houghton but the Thompson took me there on the birth of Leslie, a Coastlines records, now Joseph, Nellie married a Lancaster Record Office during the War. freight clerk on Laura’s in the Greenwich Mr. Alfred Simms and has no papers concerning Mary Thompson’s and when their third Maritime Museum, have lived at 16 Warnford pupils there for the mother, Elizabeth Heaps, child, Jack, was born, no information on staff Street, Swinley in the middle to late 1800’s. As had Dining Rooms in also at Harrow Road, on employed in their 1920’s, while Tom lived everybody including his Makinsons’ Arcade, 12 November 1908, he is Liverpool Office. I have in Diconson Street, wife said he was a perfect Wigan (she is listed from a book-keeper. On the not been able yet to trace Ormskirk at the same gentleman one assumes 1903 until 1928 in the birth of Jack, Mary gives William Baron on the period. the education he received local directories); her correct maiden name 1901 census for Wigan. S.A. Arden-Brown (Mrs.) must have been good. In William Baron had a of Heaps. But the Directory gives 14 Southfield Close the family there is a business selling jewellery The family moved to an address at Donnington Chichester portrait of him aged four, and clocks in the Arcade 19 Duke Street, New Standishgate where I West Sussex PO19 8SD showing a little boy with and is in the 1903 Brighton, somewhere believe a relative of Tel: 01243 781009 blonde curls sitting at a directory too. It seems around 1912/14, William table playing with bricks. very possible that worked for Coastlines in Published by Wigan Heritage Service, Wigan Leisure & He is wearing a white William went to Heaps Liverpool as a book- Culture Trust, Market Suite, The Galleries, Wigan WN1 1PX dress decorated with Dining Rooms for lunch keeper; in the mid 1930’s The views expressed in this issue are not necessarily corals. and met Mary there. At he moved to Aughton, supported by Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official The relative also told the moment there is no near Ormskirk. William announcement unless so stated. me that William later in trace of their marriage, died on 9 August 1938 in Neither Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust, nor the Editor, life was in a partnership and at some time around hospital in Ormskirk, but accept liability for any matter in this publication. with another man in a this period William he is buried in the same Contributions are welcome but no responsibility can be jewellery/goldsmith’s changed his surname to grave as his son Leslie taken for loss or damage to contributors’ material. business, which was Thompson. Later their (who died in 1923) in supposed to be in Bold third child needed to Rake Lane cemetery, Street, Liverpool (I have prove his parents’ New Brighton. No age is not been able to confirm marriage and had to given on the grave stone this) in the latter part of produce a copy of their for William, but it is the 19th century. One day marriage certificate; one believed that he was © Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust, July 2003. this partner went off with could not be found, but much older than 43

We’re still not sure about the location of the bottom two photographs in last issue’s Who? Where? Who? Where? It would appear that the farm (top left) is Birch Tree Farm, Highfield, Wigan. As for the top right photograph, there has been a huge response. All three clergymen have been positively identified as, from left: Rev Roger Mitchell of St John’s, Hindley Methodist Church, Rev John Morgan Williams, the Circuit Superintendent and Mr John Dootson, Circuit Steward and lay preacher. Many respondents, including Mr Dootson’s widow, who now lives in the south of England, believe that the presentation was made in the Brunswick Street schoolrooms, Hindley Green, probably in the mid 1960’s. James and Hilda Bibby of Shevington have particular reason to remember Rev Mitchell, as he married them; sadly, though, he was to die young, soon afterwards, while rescuing a child from drowning.