Then 'n' now images of Wigan including Mesnes Park, Wigan bus station, the Wigan Hippodrome, the old town hall, Wigan north western Station and various town centre locations.
I've just seen this!! I was born in Wigan. Billinge Hospital to be honest, in 1962. I lived at 274 Wallgate, Wigan, between the train bridge and canal, near Seven Stars Bridge and pub. We used to go to Robin Park and Little Lane? Park to play. The house is long gone. We left for Australia in 1970, when I was 8 and I was last there in 1983, so 40 years ago!!! I just watched a walking tour of Wigan as well. I wouldn't know the place anymore😕 I'd love to get back for a visit. I actually miss the old country. All my rellies live over there too❤
When you,your mum(Mary dad Thomas and brother Stephen) visited us in Dicconson street, I used to give you and Stephen my Dandy and Beano comics, I’m not sure but I think a few comics went to Australia with you.
I thank you for this. I left Wigan, where I was born (1961) in 1984. I now live in Henley on Thames. The character of and civic pride in Wigan buggered off ages ago. I visit regularly to see my family and get reality checks !
The character of British pride and of Britishness itself is buggering off from the whole country. Native Brits are forecast to become a minority in their own homeland by 2065. So sad. Condolences from an American. We are in the same situation.
I was born 1968 still in wigan schokes u recall how it was great ppl use it as reality ✔ great u made life better in Henley inspirational goal movement I'm on my way
I don't really know Wigan but I could cry when I see how many wonderful, individual old buildings you have lost, only to be replaced by faceless monstrocities that you can see in any high street, sad to say.... :(
mariaud999 yeh it is upsetting when you used to go in these places when we were younger and they no longer exist made a right mess of it i live in wigan and not been into the centre of wigan since 2013 now and before that was 2008 ☹️
Great memories, Wigan town Centre is dying on its feet, thanks to 90 years of Labour rule, Wigan Athletic FC are the only bright spark left in our once glorious town!
The best time in wigan was the 80's remember going out to the town on a fri/sat night, everyone knew each other. There was chaplins for the smooth, pemps for the chosen few, tiffaniy's which changed to maximes, frank richards used to be on the door their (British chapion body builder) He was a nice guy frank. There was also in standish Henry Africas and loads used to meet there, great music and stunning women. I had some great times in wigan then, not really much trouble as everyone was having a good time. It used to be packed out with loads of pubs, atmosphere was the best. I loved it in then i was only 25. It changed around the late nineties and not the same and never will be, I remember yvonne and david a brother and sister whom owned chaplins and a few other places. Yvonne was a good friend of mine and always got me in free with free drinks a nice lady.
An amazing piece of work about an amazing little town. I now live in Crete but it ain't a patch of Wigan. Hopefully I will be back home soon...................
I was born in Wigan 1962 Dicconson street the changes have been a mixed bag of tricks.I think I’m related to Yvonne Caldwell, my name was stuart Caldwell, I took my wife’s surname when we married so now it’s Stuart Atherton, but old friends still call me Caldwell .
I have never been to Wigan. However when I see films of large industrial cities I always think it a great pity that the old terraces could not in some way have been modernised to make them more attractive to live in. Whole communities were destroyed when they were torn down. Surely it would have been better to have let the inhabitants remain there rather than stuffing them into soulless ill built tower blocks, many of which have now become slums. Maybe I am being a little impractical, but it is just the way I feel. By the way the song accompanying this film is beautiful.
When I was a kid I lived at robin park and went to the ritz on Saturday mornings. All the kids did for the Saturday morning matinee I remember seeing Tom Wally walking his black panther all the kids stroking it This happened most Saturday s. His pet shop was like a seen from Tarzan crates everywhere and monkeys. How the world has changed at 18 me and my cousin was walking through the centre of Wigan with two beretta shot guns. A Bobby came over to us and said. Don’t be shooting them around here. We was taking them to Oliver summers for a service and to buy gun bags. But that’s all the cop said. Seems mad but common sense was the norm back when police where police even better we’d bought the shotguns. From a clothing catalog. Ha ha
wow you dont realise something has gone till its gone i was only thinking about kays military store the other day where i used to look in the window when i was going past on a Raleigh chopper in the mid - late 70`s do you have any photos of kays it was quite a big shop also anyone remember the old army base near maximes its now the car park looking forward to some more nice one
aaah nostalgia! i was born and bred in Wigan(Pemberton to be precise)Have you any pics of Pemps or the beachcomber? lovely video.Great to see some of those old familiar sights.
excellent post. have you got any pics of the new arcade? (relax i dont mean the grand arcade i,m sure you know what i mean ;) ...)circa 1976 onwards. looking forward to your reply :}
i lived in whelley from birth to 1988 and moved on. the place as changed somewhat. Whenever I come back it feels very sad and not what it was. Can't wait to get away from the place when i come back. Im not dissing wigan but I don't like what it as become. too many skegs and scallies, druggies and immigrants. maybe it's just nostalgia but I recall rumbelows record shop - mooching around for 7''. I recall when the Pier was great as opposed to the sh*thole it is now.
Born in 1984, lived in Wigan all my life. Seen many changes in the relatively short time I've been alive, most of 'um for the worst. The Wigan-ness is disappearing, the Lancastrian culture is all but dead. I walk around town & hear the way these young gen z lot speak, it's completely different. They fake an accent to sound cool on their phone to folk they don't even know. The town is being destroyed & it's a bloody shame.
I was born in Wigan in 1941, remember the Price of Wales pub, in Higher Ince, Close by was the Rubber dump were the Yanks dumped all the tyers rescued from the aircraft, loved to play there.the Americans used to visit the Prince of Wales pub and one day I jumped on the back of one U.S.A a lorry, that l me ending up in hospital. Then my mum would take me outside at night to see the bombings of Manchester and liverpool, On the way home they dropped the bombs closer to home, luckily it was a dud, my mum told me later. it landed in the street at the side door of the pub
wigan rules wether old buildings are crushed or new ones are built, wigan owns! hey guys theres a water festival at scottmans flash on 7th august, everythings free!! free bbq, sailing, wind surfing, kayaking and other water sports. every1 welcome :)
Im 22 yrz old and think Wigan is the best town in the world therez no place better, but like other people have said its going downhill, i mean look at the last 3 pictures of the building at the bottom of king street, first on looks new, second one looks clean and tidy, but then on the third u get the boarded up windows and messed up posters on the walls but worst of all is the CCTV cameras that are everywhere
Good video but lot has changed again. I'm originally from Wigan, but lived Devon Exter for ten years during late 90s and millennium. Then Blackpool for further five years. The Pier is a lost asset because that used to attract a lot of outsiders. "Way We Were" museum. The presentation in the town centre isn't good... empty shops. There are other places worse! Market okay for food. I don't think the council are doing enough. They need to attract business and consumer's and make it the hub of the North.
I've just seen this!!
I was born in Wigan. Billinge Hospital to be honest, in 1962.
I lived at 274 Wallgate, Wigan, between the train bridge and canal, near Seven Stars Bridge and pub. We used to go to Robin Park and Little Lane? Park to play. The house is long gone. We left for Australia in 1970, when I was 8 and I was last there in 1983, so 40 years ago!!! I just watched a walking tour of Wigan as well. I wouldn't know the place anymore😕 I'd love to get back for a visit. I actually miss the old country. All my rellies live over there too❤
When you,your mum(Mary dad Thomas and brother Stephen) visited us in Dicconson street, I used to give you and Stephen my Dandy and Beano comics, I’m not sure but I think a few comics went to Australia with you.
I grew up in wigan from 1969 till the family left for Scotland in 1983. This brought back some memories. I loved Wigan and still do.
Not Worsley mesnes by any chance was it
I thank you for this. I left Wigan, where I was born (1961) in 1984. I now live in Henley on Thames. The character of and civic pride in Wigan buggered off ages ago. I visit regularly to see my family and get reality checks !
The character of British pride and of Britishness itself is buggering off from the whole country. Native Brits are forecast to become a minority in their own homeland by 2065. So sad. Condolences from an American. We are in the same situation.
I was born 1968 still in wigan schokes u recall how it was great ppl use it as reality ✔ great u made life better in Henley inspirational goal movement I'm on my way
I don't really know Wigan but I could cry when I see how many wonderful, individual old buildings you have lost, only to be replaced by faceless monstrocities that you can see in any high street, sad to say.... :(
mariaud999 yeh it is upsetting when you used to go in these places when we were younger and they no longer exist made a right mess of it i live in wigan and not been into the centre of wigan since 2013 now and before that was 2008 ☹️
Fantastic... Im a Wiganer and it used to be beautiful.
Great memories, Wigan town Centre is dying on its feet, thanks to 90 years of Labour rule,
Wigan Athletic FC are the only bright spark left in our once glorious town!
The best time in wigan was the 80's remember going out to the town on a fri/sat night, everyone knew each other. There was chaplins for the smooth, pemps for the chosen few, tiffaniy's which changed to maximes, frank richards used to be on the door their (British chapion body builder) He was a nice guy frank. There was also in standish Henry Africas and loads used to meet there, great music and stunning women. I had some great times in wigan then, not really much trouble as everyone was having a good time. It used to be packed out with loads of pubs, atmosphere was the best. I loved it in then i was only 25. It changed around the late nineties and not the same and never will be, I remember yvonne and david a brother and sister whom owned chaplins and a few other places. Yvonne was a good friend of mine and always got me in free with free drinks a nice lady.
An amazing piece of work about an amazing little town. I now live in Crete but it ain't a patch of Wigan. Hopefully I will be back home soon...................
Thanks for the memories but cant help but think wigan hasnt changed for the better.Great post well done.
I was born in Wigan 1962 Dicconson street the changes have been a mixed bag of tricks.I think I’m related to Yvonne Caldwell, my name was stuart Caldwell, I took my wife’s surname when we married so now it’s Stuart Atherton, but old friends still call me Caldwell .
A very interesting walk down Memory Lane Thank you.
very nostalgic.....quite moving...
truly great film benn lookink for something along these lines for years especially love the 70s and 80s pics well done more please
completely messed that town up, like many northern places, so called 'improvements' were just back handers for the council
I know. I first went there when I was 18 (20 yrs ago) I miss home so much at this time of year. Sink one for me mate!
Wow, the 'now' is getting on for a couple of decades ago, be interesting to see an update showing then 'n' now 'n' actually now.
Does anybody remember going to Blue Coats school in Wigan in the 70s? I used to go there in the late 70s.
It used to be were the Bus terminal now is.
I just fell in love with a place...
an excellant post as to how we lived and how things are now
Thanks for your comment...have hundreds, will be doing some more then ' nows soon. Cheers
Time changed Wigan as well as everywhere else. The characters of Wigan will never change
Blackporsche roadster don’t be too hard on your mam
Blackporsche roadster awww you can read well done little boy your mama gonna be so proud of you
Blackporsche roadster bye bye boy
Thanks for introducing me to this lovely singer, anyone tell me the name of the song.
very well done thanks alot
Oh it's beautiful. I am exiled in South Yorskhire.
OMG. This already need updating. Everywhere!!!
really liked this video
Love this!
@TrilogyofC This is so true.. I never thought I'd miss it, but as soon as you move away you realise theres no place like home! :)
Very very good
Great vid ov ma home town
I have never been to Wigan. However when I see films of large industrial cities I always think it a great pity that the old terraces could not in some way have been modernised to make them more attractive to live in. Whole communities were destroyed when they were torn down. Surely it would have been better to have let the inhabitants remain there rather than stuffing them into soulless ill built tower blocks, many of which have now become slums. Maybe I am being a little impractical, but it is just the way I feel. By the way the song accompanying this film is beautiful.
When I was a kid I lived at robin park and went to the ritz on Saturday mornings. All the kids did for the Saturday morning matinee I remember seeing Tom Wally walking his black panther all the kids stroking it This happened most Saturday s. His pet shop was like a seen from Tarzan crates everywhere and monkeys. How the world has changed at 18 me and my cousin was walking through the centre of Wigan with two beretta shot guns. A Bobby came over to us and said. Don’t be shooting them around here. We was taking them to Oliver summers for a service and to buy gun bags. But that’s all the cop said. Seems mad but common sense was the norm back when police where police even better we’d bought the shotguns. From a clothing catalog. Ha ha
wow you dont realise something has gone till its gone i was only thinking about kays military store the other day where i used to look in the window when i was going past on a Raleigh chopper in the mid - late 70`s
do you have any photos of kays it was quite a
big shop also anyone remember the old army base near maximes its now the car park
looking forward to some more
nice one
aaah nostalgia! i was born and bred in Wigan(Pemberton to be precise)Have you any pics of Pemps or the beachcomber? lovely video.Great to see some of those old familiar sights.
@PlazaMoon im going to the john bull tonight for a few. its one of the oldest buildings in britain
I go to wigan is new2023
Lovely video. How much has Wigan changed since you made it?
Not for the better..
Wigan keeps getting all these grants and obliterate the original landscape in order to spend them. Crazy
Pies and beer. Pies and beer. Pies and beer and so on. There is nothing else at the edges of the world for Wigan. It is just pies and beer.
its just curries and mosques for blackburn ;)
Blackburn is my surname.
excellent post. have you got any pics of the new arcade? (relax i dont mean the grand arcade i,m sure you know what i mean ;) ...)circa 1976 onwards. looking forward to your reply :}
Ah. I live in Mexico city now and I wish I was back in Wigan tonight, sinking a few in the John Bull and going for an Indian afterwards
ciez best town in the world!!!!
i lived in whelley from birth to 1988 and moved on. the place as changed somewhat. Whenever I come back it feels very sad and not what it was. Can't wait to get away from the place when i come back. Im not dissing wigan but I don't like what it as become. too many skegs and scallies, druggies and immigrants. maybe it's just nostalgia but I recall rumbelows record shop - mooching around for 7''. I recall when the Pier was great as opposed to the sh*thole it is now.
Born in 1984, lived in Wigan all my life. Seen many changes in the relatively short time I've been alive, most of 'um for the worst. The Wigan-ness is disappearing, the Lancastrian culture is all but dead. I walk around town & hear the way these young gen z lot speak, it's completely different. They fake an accent to sound cool on their phone to folk they don't even know. The town is being destroyed & it's a bloody shame.
Hasn't changed much in 13 years since uploaded video
some places have changed further still
yes but the grand pies and peas lass!
I was born in Wigan in 1941, remember the Price of Wales pub, in Higher Ince, Close by was the Rubber dump were the Yanks dumped all the tyers rescued from the aircraft, loved to play there.the Americans used to visit the Prince of Wales pub and one day I jumped on the back of one U.S.A a lorry, that l me ending up in hospital.
Then my mum would take me outside at night to see the bombings of Manchester and liverpool, On the way home they dropped the bombs closer to home, luckily it was a dud, my mum told me later. it landed in the street at the side door of the pub
I hate living in wigan but I love this video well done but it would of been better if you had year the photos where taken
wigan rules wether old buildings are crushed or new ones are built, wigan owns! hey guys theres a water festival at scottmans flash on 7th august, everythings free!! free bbq, sailing, wind surfing, kayaking and other water sports. every1 welcome :)
@ 3:30 why is that picture taken from the train line 😂
haha sik ive jus bin at bus station x
do another one cos its changed again
nice video update now required thou
from wigan me
so do I and I don't like it either,
I will move far, far away, soon.....
nice photos, Britain is such a bland place, it's just as well it has some nice countryside
Im 22 yrz old and think Wigan is the best town in the world therez no place better, but like other people have said its going downhill, i mean look at the last 3 pictures of the building at the bottom of king street, first on looks new, second one looks clean and tidy, but then on the third u get the boarded up windows and messed up posters on the walls but worst of all is the CCTV cameras that are everywhere
@Meansnare .... BOLLOCKS is Wigan the best town ever my arse.
Good video but lot has changed again. I'm originally from Wigan, but lived Devon Exter for ten years during late 90s and millennium. Then Blackpool for further five years. The Pier is a lost asset because that used to attract a lot of outsiders. "Way We Were" museum. The presentation in the town centre isn't good... empty shops. There are other places worse! Market okay for food. I don't think the council are doing enough. They need to attract business and consumer's and make it the hub of the North.
it would be better with a dialogue and bin the music
Gibber
top video , but the wigan baths bit is annoying !!!! frigging imigrants !!!!!!!!!!! .
Rubbish.