Gone But Not Forgotten
Remember certain buildings and landmarks? So do I and here they are again. Click on any photo for a larger version.
The Park Hotel was one of Wigan's most famous pubs and was the last of Wigan's pubs to retain waitress service. This picture was taken after it closed in 1985.
The site of the pub is now part of The Galleries shopping complex.
Despite being included on the original model of the complex it was controversially demolished not to make way for the complex itself, nor its car park, but for the access ramp to the car park!
The site is now occupied by Greggs's bakers shop while some of the fixtures and fittings are included in The Way We Were exhibit at Wigan Pier.
The Co-op Emporium was a shop that many older Wiganers will no doubt remember well.
The shop changed hands after the Co-op moved into the Wigan Centre Arcade (now Marketgate) in the mid 1970's.
The picture shows it shortly before demolition in the mid 1980's after it had been occupied by a kitchen firm. The site is now obliterated by the Northway section of the ring road.
This building housed the children's library downstairs and the Powell Museum and Art Gallery upstairs.
In all the visits I made to the museum over the years, I don't think the exhibits ever changed!
I always remember some superb carvings made from cannel coal that they had but I was always puzzled though as to why they had an ostrich's egg on display!
Like so much of the town, it was demolished in 1985/6 to enable completion of the ring road.
I wonder how many people remember the iron bridge? The first photo is from the King Street end looking towards North Western Station while the second is the opposite view.
The bridge was a mecca for trainspotting kids as it spanned the line to Wallgate while ending at the side of North Western station.
The stretch from King Street over the railway track remains and seems to be used mainly for nocturnal romantic arrangements by customers of the nearby nightclubs, if you know what I mean (and I think you do!)
The Horse Shoe Hotel is another one of Wigan's lost pubs.
I only went in there a few times in 1983/4 but thought it was brilliant - bit seedy, but brilliant.As far as I know, it was the last pub in Wigan to have an outside toilet!
Closed by June 1985 when these photos were taken, it was demolished in 1985/6 along with the adjacent building which housed the museum, art gallery and children's library.
A couple of photos of the Market Hall.The first shows the view from across the market square car park. This is now occupied by Morrisons supermarket and the new market hall.
The second shows a closer view from the old bus station.
Both photos were taken during the initial construction of The Galleries in approx. 1987.
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Page last updated on 6 May 2002
The Co-op Emporium was a shop that many older Wiganers will no doubt remember well.
This building housed the children's library downstairs and the Powell Museum and Art Gallery upstairs.
I wonder how many people remember the iron bridge? The first photo is from the King Street end looking towards North Western Station while the second is the opposite view.
The Horse Shoe Hotel is another one of Wigan's lost pubs.
A couple of photos of the Market Hall.