RETRO: the Wigan Pier-based Robert Opie Museum of Memories

It was the visitor attraction which was guaranteed to raise the nostalgic hairs on the back of your neck. For a few short years at the turn of the millennium, the Robert Opie Museum of Memories found its home at Trencherfield Mill, complementing the other Pier-based tourist draws. Consumer historian Opie began saving evidence of our branded world when he was 16 and 60 years later he’s not stopped!

The heart of the museum was a mock high street with each shop pulling you into a different decade of the 20th century, teeming with household products, books, magazines, toys, gadgets and other paraphernalia from those times.

9. From left to right, outside the newly opened Opie Museum, are from left to right, (front) Liz Bates, Wigan Pier manager; DorothyNaylor, chief executive of the North West tourist board; (middle) Rodney Hill, Director of Leisure; John Flamson, Chief Executive of Wigan Borough Partnership; Coun Wilf Brogan, Recreation and Amenities chairman; (back) Darren Mackey, marketing and communications manager for Wigan Borough Partnership; Tim Sharratt, Haigh Estates manager; Keith Bergman, Wigan Cpuncil tourism and marketing officer

. Photo: submitted

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10. Members of the Wigan Pier Theatre Company in costume with doors to several of the "decades shops" behind them

. Photo: NICK FAIRHURST

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11. Carpet design team Adam Rose and Emma Porter see their award-winning design on the carpet at the entrance to the Opie Museum

. Photo: JOHN LEATHERBARROW

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12. The man himself: Robert Opie looks at one of the national papers printed on VE Day at the Opie Museum of Memories

. Photo: N/A

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