Today’s post is about Wigan’s arcades and alleyways. Ever since I was a child I knew Wigan’s arcades. These arcades tended to be covered passageways between streets with small shops along both sides of the passage. The Makinson arcade is off Standishgate in the MarketPlace area. Other than memories of the shops in the Arcade, I remember that there was always a uniformed policeman in a white topcoat, helmet and gloves who stood, directing traffic by hand signals, in a box in the middle of the junction of Market Street, Standishgate and Wallgate. This was such a fixture that, for years afterwards, if a stranger were to ask directions, the answer always began, “Well, tha knows t’ bobby in t’ middle…….,”.
Today’s featured photo is a different image of the Makinson Arcade.
Above, you see a photograph of a second arcade off Standishgate that runs through to Marsden Street, if I remember correctly. There are claims that this is Wigan’s oldest arcade – though some scoff at this, retorting that it was neither the first nor a Wigan firm.
The image above of the other end of the Arcade proudly bears the claim as to its heritage.
The two images above show the interior of the Royal Arcade, the upper one taken as I entered and the lower as I was heading for the exit, looking back.
The Galleries is a much later addition on Mesnes Street and has had some difficulties in recent years.
I started off today’s post by promising arcades and alleyways, but before we pass on to the latter, let me show you an image of the Open Market area, deserted on that Sunday morning.
Now, on to alleyways.
Above is my first alleyway, Jaxon’s Court off Hallgate, inviting you to wander along it to explore what may lie beyond the turning further down.
Next, since you ask, the shot above is of the far end of Jaxon’s Court.
I’ll show you just this one other alleyway – the one above – off Wallgate near Wigan North Western Railway station – because it is typical of the others.
Tomorrow, I’ll conclude my walk around Wigan with a look at its fine Parish Church and the town’s Railway Stations
Featured Photo
As advertised earlier, today’s Featured Photo is my second image of The Makinson Arcade.
EXIF Data were: I used my Fujifilm X-T4, 26 MP, cropped-sensor, mirrorless camera paired with a Fujinon XF 10-24 mm f/4 lens. Shutter speed was 1/400 secs @ f/4 and 24 mm. ISO was 160.
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