Nostalgic memories of Wigan's local history
Share your own memories of Wigan and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 11 in total
Dad would walk me from Hindley up to Plantation Gates then we would get the little train that ran from behind Haigh Hall plantation gates.Started walking in 1952 & went many times.
I was born in Poolstock lane in Wigan and this was my local church. I particularly remember comming to the church for an Ascension Day service in the late 50s early 60s before the annual school trip to Rhyl. I was christened at this church and many members of my family were married and had funeral services here. Does anyone have any photographs of the Paxton or Dickinson family of Poolstock or can remember anything about them?
My grandma, Louisa Atherton, grew up in the Grayson family in Wigan. They later relocated to King Street, Eccles, Manchester, Lancashire.
She had a son, Norman Atherton who was in the army(Burma). Are there any relatives out there?
Norman emigrated to Australia.
She later married Samuel Brown.
That's why it's called 'Haigh' Hall and not Wigan Hall. It's NEAR Wigan.
I have wonderful memories of sunny day outings to Haig Hall. Mum and I would catch the bus from Newtown to Wigan and then we would walk from the town centre up to the main gates. A short walk in from the main gates and the little tractor would be waiting to take us on a lovely bumpy ride through the plantaions up to the Hall. Once there and it was straight to the playground. Mum would spend hours pushing me on the swings ...see more
I was born in Queen Street, off Wallgate Street, in 1949 and lived in Queen Street till late 1959. I remember going to see Wigan rugby play Workington at Wembley 1958 and in 1959 beating Hull. I attended the Wesleyan Methodist school in Dickinson Street before going onto Gidlow Secondary Modern School in Buckly Street, leaving in 1964. I remember the girls with their clogs making a noise on the cobbled street ...see more
The clogs I wear were made by an old craftsman in Wigan. I had them made around 1980 at which time I was dancing with a morris side in Barnet named Old Bull Clog Morris Dancers - so called because they practised each week at the Old Bull Arts Centre in Barnet. It was nearly thirty years ago and my clogs are are still looking good and are comfortable despite the knocks they ...see more
A view deep inside the Plantations.
I was 3 years of age when my dad came home from the army (national service). We didn't have a car or much money, so my mum, dad and myself took long walks, Upholland, Dalton, Newburgher, Parbold. When I was tired my dad carried me on his shoulders. We knew all the farms which served tea and cake (still rationing), my dad loved cake and would have lived on it, with a large mug of tea and a woodbine. My mum knew all about ...see more
Wigan-made clogs always did have a reputation even way back when - so it's nice to have this confirmation of their quality holding up even to today. I've even discovered that one of my ancestors made his living as a Boot and Clog Repairer having been Apprenticed to a Clogger at a very young age by to-days standards. I unfortunately never did get to own a pair - but oh! how I envied my ...see more
