Wigan Pier 70 years ago - long before it became a tourist attraction

Wigan Pier 70 years ago - long before it became a tourist attraction

RETRO SPECIAL: What Wigan looked like when Queen Elizabeth first came to the throne

At a time of reflection on Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign, we have been mining our picture archives for images of Wigan from the time she first took to the throne in the early 1950s. Here are some of the landmarks and people captured on film seven decades ago.

By Charles Graham

Published 19th Sep 2022, 15:45 BST

Some of the sights are familiar to this day, others less so.

The old Market Square

1. Market Square, Wigan Holiday Coaches 1950's

The old Market Square Photo: Submitted

Bamfurlong Methodist Church Sunday School table-tennis competition

2. RETRO - LEISURE - Bamfurlong Methodist Church Sunday School. We had table tennis competitions, three of my brothers, Kevin ,Walter and Herbert James are on the photo, also Tommy Groves (centre back). Tommy worked for the Wigan Observer, he presented the cups and trophies to the winners. The phot was taken sometime in the 1950's. Sent in by Ruth Bradley.

Bamfurlong Methodist Church Sunday School table-tennis competition Photo: SUBMITTED

Members of staff from the Coops factory in Dorning Street heading off to Blackpool

3. Coop employees off to Blackpool. Taken at Wigan station in the mid 1950's

Members of staff from the Coops factory in Dorning Street heading off to Blackpool Photo: Submitted

Window cleaner James Edwards from Atherton Road, Hindley, with his little cart

4. Meet James Edwards, a window cleaner from Atherton Road, snapped in the 1950's. His little cart assures folks that he's fully insured.

Window cleaner James Edwards from Atherton Road, Hindley, with his little cart Photo: Submitted