Leigh
Leigh maps (2 available)
Map of Lancashire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of Lancashire
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Leigh books (3 available)
Did You Know? Bury - A Miscellany
Hardback
Manchester Photographic Memories
Paperback
Leigh memories
Read and share memories of Leigh and Lancashire inspired by Frith photos
Be the first to add a memory of Leigh.
You can also read memories of nearby places in Lancashire below.
Lancashire memories
Astley Street Park
My grandfather Thomas Elliott was the Park Superintendent and appeared on early Frith Photographs.
A memory of Tyldesley contributed by Dorothy Lee
Tyldesley Recreation Club
My grandfather (A E Rahr) donated a silver cup for competition on the Crown Green Tyldesley recreation club. This was competed for in the 1930s and the winners were: 1933 J Baker, 1934 J Hodson, 1935 E Lythgoe and J Crook, 1938 T Farnworth, 1939 W Putter.
I have just donated this cup to the Wigan Museum / History Shop and hopefully it will be preserved. I will see if I can upload a photo of it.
Peter Rahr
A memory of Tyldesley contributed by Peter Rahr
I was born there
I was born in Tyldesley at 13 High Street - the house is gone now. I emigrated to USA in 1953, married and had 3 children. I went to St Josephs RC School and Sacred Heart Church. We all went to school in Hindsford, Tommy, Norah, Maureen and Paddy. I am the only one who left UK, Tommy and family still live in Atherton. Will look up photos after the holidays and send. Merry Christmas to all. Mum's Mum owned and operated the theatre on John Street after my grandad died. I would love to hear from somebody from Tydesley.
A memory of Tyldesley contributed by Norah Keleher-Burke
Good Yimes
Lived on Windsor Rd... Ashton Heath... 68 to 81 when I first got married. Good times in the Eagle and Child .. Hingemakers .. Commercial .. pubs etc. Are they still there?
Bill Harrison, Canada.
A memory of Ashton-In-Makerfield contributed by bill harrison
Extracts From Leigh & Lancashire books
This aerial view of the swing bridges at Barton again shows them swung to let a large cargo ship through. Note that the cargo ship has tugs fore and aft to guide it through this section of the canal. Barton Monastery stands just to the right of the swing bridges; it was formerly All Saints RC Church, Barton. The area at the top of the picture was the wood seasoning area for one of the large timber firms using the canal, and is now a housing estate.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".
This view shows the two bridges at Barton upon Irwell both swung to let the paddle steamer ‘Ivanhoe’ pass. When the Ship Canal first opened (our view is only twelve months after that opening on 1 January 1894), many people wanted to travel, and see the wonders of this new waterway. A Ship Canal Pleasure Steamer Company was formed, and weekends and Bank Holidays would see two or three of these paddle steamers taking passengers on sight-seeing trips up and down the canal.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".
When the Duke of Bridgewater planned his canal into Manchester in 1760, the original plan was to stay on the Salford side of the Irwell. Because he could not purchase the land he wanted, he was forced to cross the River Irwell and go into Manchester via Stretford. He was given permission to skirt the Trafford Park Estate, but his big problem was crossing the Irwell, which he did with a beautiful stone aqueduct designed by James Brindley. This aqueduct lasted over one hundred and twenty years, until the emerging Ship Canal needed it out of the way for the large vessels to pass. This swing aqueduct that carries the Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal was the answer to their problem.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".
When the docks first opened, it took a while for them to reach their potential, but by 1900 they had started to show that they could be successful and profitable. Moves were then made to enlarge the dock, and the land belonging to the Manchester Racecourse Co was purchased ready to build No 9 dock. This dock, the largest of all the docks, was officially opened by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on a royal visit on 13 July 1905.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".
When the Ship Canal opened in 1894, traffic really was a mixed bag of sailing ships, steam ships and motor vessels. Here we see the docks with a mixed array of vessels just a year after opening. Our photographer is looking from the very spot where the Lowry Centre on Salford Quay is today.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".