FORWARDFORWARD ISSUE No. 28 SUMMER 2001 The Newsletter of Wigan Heritage Service FREE From the Editor A SPECIAL THANK YOU WELCOME to the summer edition of Past Forward which, as usual, THIS edition of Past Forward carries a work for our study area. contains a splendid mix of articles by special thank you to a good friend to us, Often in association with co-worker contributors old (or not so young!) and Mr. Ted Cheetham. Ted has been a tireless and typist (!) Mrs. Margaret Davies, Ted new. ‘Old faithfuls’ such as Ernie worker in the field of local history and has produced many useful titles over the Taberner, Harold Smith, James genealogy, not by researching his own years. Concentrating mainly on areas just Fairhurst, Fred Holcroft and Neil Cain are again represented, along with a history but by making the secrets of local outside our borough to the north and west, goodly number of first-time churches and records available to all. He these titles prove particularly valuable, as contributors, many of whom have has also been very generous to us at the they are on areas not previously covered. been stimulated to put pen to paper as History Shop over the years, making sure Here is only a flavour of what Ted has a result of reading Past Forward – that we always get a copy of his latest done for us over the years: something which in all probability they would never otherwise have done. St. Michaels’s Croston – Burial Plan Therein lies one of the many glories of Past Forward. Croston Hall R.C. – Baptisms 1812-1828; Confirmation 1825 As always, a number of themes Holy Cross R.C. Croston – Baptisms 1858-1883; 1964-1984 have taken shape – this issue sees an Courage Remembered –Military Memorials of the 1914-18 and excellent analytical article on a particularly emotive aspect of World 1939-45 Wars War I by Fred Holcroft, while Ernie St. Gregory’s Weldbank – Burial Plan and Memorial Inscriptions Taberner and ‘newcomer’ Harold St. James the Great Heskin – Burial Plan and Memorial Inscriptions Seddon recall their war years, the latter giving us a splendid insight into with Wrightington Burials 1857-1933 his distinguished service with the St. Joseph’s Wrightington –- Baptisms 1839-1992 Grenadier Guards. The response to James St. Peter & Paul Mawdesley – Baptisms 1856-1993; Marriages 1862-1998; Fairhurst’s article in the last issue on Burials 1856-1885; 1903-1934; 1961-1998. Dr. Mary Tomlinson shows that it really Burial & Cremation receipt books 1981-1998; is ‘a small world’ – throughout which Past Forward is now widely read. It is Monumental Inscriptions; Parish Roll 1846- gratifying to learn of how so very 1866; Living Rosary 1874; Confirmations 1845. many people have been put in touch with each other – and again it’s all St. John’s Pemberton – Cemetery Plans down to Past Forward. Roll of Honour for the 53rd Welsh Division on CD Do keep the letters and articles coming in – I obviously can’t print Information relating to the Normandy Cemeteries everything I receive, but I’ll certainly A number of Ordnance Survey maps from the original Lancashire Series 1894- do my best. As always, thanks again 1939 for all your interest and support. The Heritage Service has an Quite a list I’m sure you will agree. The Archivist once again – after an latest gem Ted has passed on to us is his MYSTERY PARCEL! unavoidable delay, I am delighted to work on the parish church at Coppull – Back in May, the Heritage Service received announce that Alan Davies has plans for the old and new graveyards, an anonymous gift of photographs. recently joined us (see p3). I am Although we are grateful, we would like to particularly pleased to welcome Alan full listings of the plots and Monumental Inscriptions. This is now available for know who sent them, and the names of the at this time, as the Archives Service – people depicted. There are 17 photographs and indeed the History Shop where study at the History Shop. So once again (1 in an oval frame) mainly of family groups. there is also one unfilled post – has a heartfelt thank you to you, Ted, for all The most interesting are a class of young been increasingly busy of late, which your hard work – long may it continue. children at Castle Hill School c.1910, a man has put an additional burden on the in what could be a railway uniform and a Heritage Service staff. They have all We can never receive too much help, group of young girls having a domestic responded magnificently, and I am science lesson c.1910. Some of the extremely grateful to them. The letters and despite all Ted’s good work there photographs were taken in Southport and and comments which we receive remains much to be done. We are Colwyn Bay (holiday shots?), others in clearly show that their efforts, and the always in need of volunteers or Leigh and Westhoughton studios. public service which they provide, are researchers to undertake specific Without information, the usefulness of very much appreciated. projects. If you feel you may be the pictures is diminished. So would the sender please get in touch with Yvonne interested in such work contact Philip Webb, Collections Development Manager All comments and correspondence Butler at the History Shop or see the (01942 828123). should be addressed to: section on the Friends (p19). Editor, ‘Past Forward’, Wigan Heritage Service, Market Suite, The Galleries, Wigan WN1 1PX Cover: This delightful photograph of the Pendlebury’s “staff rave-up,” c.1950’s, has been kindly loaned by Colin Bean (see p21 for details of Colin’s story, available from the History COPY DEADLINE Shop). Colin describes the event as “one of the occasions in Wigan Society – almost on a Please note that the copy par with the Mayoral Reception! And no, it’s not a fancy dress do – people actually dressed deadline for issue no 29 of like this to go dancing. I shouldn’t think there were many rock ‘n’ roll numbers on the dance Past Forward is 5 October. card!” Colin’s father is standing, first right, while his stepmother is second right, seated. 2 THERE have been a few charge of the collections at changes both in Wigan STAFF CHANGES the Lancashire Mining and Leigh. Museum, not an Firstly at Wigan David with the locally recruited working with us as a inappropriate Tetlow has left the History 5th Battalion of the volunteer, building up background I’m sure you Shop to take up a full time Manchesters, ‘The Collier useful work experience will agree. He is a local post at the Greater Battalion’. Other staff will before embarking on a man, living in Tyldesley Manchester Police now be taking this post-graduate course. and knows the area well, Museum. Those of you forward but they need Ideally, Alex has his sights and is very keen to get to who knew Dave will note your help. If you served set on a career in archive grips with his new that he had always kept an with this battalion or administration, and will collection. This interest in the Police know someone who did, be working in our local appointment will herald a Museum, initially as a and have any stories to tell and family history study return of the popular Past volunteer and latterly or can lend us any area for a month before Forward slot ‘News from balancing a part time job material, particularly moving across to Leigh the Archives’ – but not there with his job share photographs from the and working with the just yet, we’ll let him settle role in the History Shop. 1940’s, then the exhibition archive collection. in a little first! I’m sure you will join with team would like to talk to Remember, if you want us in wishing Dave all the you. See the full appeal * * * to make an appointment at best for the future and under History Shop News the Archives, the thanking him for his work (p18). Finally, on the subject searchroom is open on and service in the History of our Archive Service, we Tuesdays and Thursdays, Shop. * * * would like to welcome to but don’t forget to book His departure has left the staff Alan Davies our your documents in us with one small problem A new face you may see new Heritage Officer advance. Alan can be though. He was working at the History Shop will be (Archives). Alan joins us contacted on 01942 404430 on an exhibition dealing Alex Hodge, who is after many years in at Leigh Town Hall. The North West Catholic History Society HIRE OF has great pleasure in announcing the publication of the Address for the Dedication of the Hopkins Memorial Plaque, MEETING ROOM St. Joseph’s Leigh, The History Shop has a Meeting Room, with 9 June 2001 by John McDermott. a capacity for 36. This is available for hire The plaque, which reads by local groups and societies at a very ‘Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ reasonable cost: priest and poet – served this church October-December 1879’, SOCIETY RATE was dedicated and blessed by the parish priest, Fr. Hughes, £7.80 on 9 June 2001. PER MORNING/ AFTERNOON SESSION The lecture by John McDermott, which is now published, presents a picture of Hopkins’s life and work in £11.50 Leigh in 1879. PER EVENING SESSION John McDermott lectures in English at the University of Birmingham and is the author and editor of a number of COMMERCIAL RATE works on Hopkins.