WALKERS :- John R, John W, Mike, Paddy, Frank,
Anthony, James D, Danny, Harry, Vic,
Martin, Dave. (The Dirty Dozen ?)
Purely by "Happenchance" Anthony's planned walk took us to the famous Wigan pier during the same week that the 80th anniversary of George Orwell's famous book "The Road to Wigan Pier" occurred.
Our start was rather less than auspicious. Soon after leaving the M61 motorway we took a wrong turn and spent the next half hour or more trying to get to our agreed starting point. At least that is what two of the three car convoy did. Frank drove his contingent straight to the spot. At one point Harry saw a sign saying PRESTON 17 m. Looking at his dashboard he announced that we had done 30miles. Oh dear !
BUT... we at last parked and set off (minus the Frankish Four who had started 20 minutes earlier)
The road was busy and as we arrived at the canal we clambered over the barrier rather than wait for a gap in the traffic.
We followed this canal until we came to a watery T-Junction. This was "Top Lock" the upper end of a tremendous flight (or stairway) of locks dropping down to Wigan town Centre.
Here a toilet block offered relief but only for the possessors of the "Magic" key. Like the wizard chap he is Anthony produced his key and the door was opened.
All suitably "relieved" we took a right turn and set off down hill.
The "TOP LOCK"
Plastic grass - ON A BOAT !!!
By the use of modern telecommunications (mobile phones) we were aware of the situations of our separated colleagues but as they were some distance in front it was hardly feasible to try to catch them up before we reached Wigan Pier. So, we relaxed and plodded on at our normal pace. S l o o o w ! This was a large canal designed for boats broader than the usual narrow boats and each loch was partnered by a large "Holding" basin where the coal boats (and others) waited their turn to pass up or down.
One such basin had been emptied, presumably for repairs and the mud contained the ubiquitous if not obligatory old tyre.
About halfway down the "staircase" we crossed over the canal and climbed a short but steep rise to the top of a safely overgrown Slagheap which offered wonderful views all round
John R nears the "Summit" of the slagheap.
Once on top of the Man made "mountain" the whole of Wigan could be seen below us.
With a visit to Wigan planned, flat caps were de rigeur.
We followed the top of the slagheap along before descending and returning to the canal. COFFEE TIME ! The area of the lock offered us suitable seating so we disported ourselves around it with our flasks.
Coffee break over we set of again still descending towards Wigan centre and the "Pier" At the next lock we caught up with Danny and Mike who had left us at a healthy pace in the forlorn hope of quickly meeting up with the "separatists"
By now we were on the outskirts of the town and helpful signpost kept us on track.
Here a signpost points us towards our goal "Wigan Pier". The John Duo failed to notice that the message telling us that the pier was seven minutes away was accompanied by a little bicycle logo. After about twenty minutes of foot-slogging we were feeling decidedly grumpy about this presumed fraud. Another sign told us we were one minute away from the pier. Now a little puzzled we asked a local tenant, were we heading the right way for the pier. "Yes" he said "but there's nowt worth seein' " O eck !
Not far now. and here we were at "Wigan Pier" the now sadly abandoned interactive museum. A rather solemn character was there to greet us. He was extremely taciturn but being made of bronze this was hardly surprising.
And then...... "Dr Livingston I presume" No No No !
but a momentous meeting none-the-less. We at last joined forces with the rest of the Meanderthals. Led by the "DYNAMIC" james. Spelling,it would seem, is not a Wigan Strength
They had followed the same route as we had taken but had been far better organised or so the told us.
They had already lunched but as midday was long gone the rest of us were hungry. They were happy to wait a little longer for us to munch and lunch.
Lunch over we retraced our steps a short distance to see the actual pier.
This was never going to be a thrill a minute visit as the pier has the power to disappoint thousands. But the accompanying statue and information board was interesting enough. The pier was a tipping point for coal trucks and the "Tippers" were women.
Eventually we left the civilised tarmac and took to a path which would take us along the woodland banks of the River Douglas.
Someway into the woodland a flight of steep steps led us away from the river and up towards a housing estate.
We began to follow the road as it curved around the estate until a big friendly gentlemen (No. Not the B F G.) stopped us to tell we were going the wrong way.
He pointed back the way we had come and advised us to follow the path down to the "Yella Brew-K" (yellow brook). John W very rudely pointed out that being from Preston (posh people) we didn't understand Wigganish and didn't know what Brew-ks were. Fortunately (He was a BIG fella) he had a sense of humour and explained that he was referring to the "Yellow Stream" We left on good terms and descended to the BREW-K. it was Yella !
We now appeared to be in a "Managed" area and surmised that we must be in the proximity of Haigh Hall. Here we had the opportunity to continue the tradition of "Bridge" photos.
As the reader will be aware our elderly gentlemen do like to punctuate the day with at least three "Official" breaks so we found a suitable spot and stopped to finish our flasks.
John having been referred for counselling the group continued along the path through the wood. After last weeks mini-cascade disappointment we were compensated by coming across this delightful cataract.
It wasn't long before we arrived at the road we had taken to come out of Wigan centre (when we were lost) This would lead us to the "Crown" pub where we had parked our cars. A steady uphill plod took us to the cars and so to home after. a walk which was exciting, interesting and varied. Well done Anthony.
p.s. During our walk we came across a reference to the "Trencher". and wondered what the word referred to.
As we had come across slagheaps a possibly mining connection crept into the mind strengthened by vague memories from JW's folk singing past. An extract from a folk song might point to an answer to the question "What's a Trencher"
There are different explanations. One from the old saying a "Good Trencherman" meaning a man with a good appetite.
A trencher was a wooden plate upon which food was piled but was taken from the french "Tranche" a "Slice" The original Trencher was a slice of bread upon which food was piled and the slice of bread was also eaten at the end.
Our trencher, however, probably had different roots.In this coal mining area. It might refer to a seam of coal as evidenced by a verse from a song sung by Ian Campbell on his album "Coaldust Ballads",
but a momentous meeting none-the-less. We at last joined forces with the rest of the Meanderthals. Led by the "DYNAMIC" james. Spelling,it would seem, is not a Wigan Strength
They had followed the same route as we had taken but had been far better organised or so the told us.
They had already lunched but as midday was long gone the rest of us were hungry. They were happy to wait a little longer for us to munch and lunch.
Lunch over we retraced our steps a short distance to see the actual pier.
This was never going to be a thrill a minute visit as the pier has the power to disappoint thousands. But the accompanying statue and information board was interesting enough. The pier was a tipping point for coal trucks and the "Tippers" were women.
Anthony also explained at this point that Wigan's famous attachment to pies stems from their having to "Eat humble pie. " and return to work after the general strike. They were NOT humbled. they were STARVING !!!
The pier can just be seen on the left of the picture. Only part of it but don't fret there isn't much more.
Onwards and upwards into the town itself.
If you want a suntan
come to Wigan town
Jump into the river Douglas
Come up mucky brown.
To walk on water you need faith
By golly Ea Ba Gum
I've seen it done in Wigan
Just supported by the scum
These scurrilous verses from a folk song penned by Ewen McColl probably painted a picture of Wigan as it was at the time when George Orwell wrote his excoriating description of Wigan in "T.R.T.W.P."
It is, we opined, quite definitely totally untrue and the walk down the town's handsome and apparently prosperous High Street was a joy.
Another of Orwells novels is celebrated here in the town's High Street. "The Moon Under Water"
Our inward journey had followed the canals but now we were following and crossing broad and busy highways as we wended our way homeward.
Eventually we left the civilised tarmac and took to a path which would take us along the woodland banks of the River Douglas.
Someway into the woodland a flight of steep steps led us away from the river and up towards a housing estate.
We began to follow the road as it curved around the estate until a big friendly gentlemen (No. Not the B F G.) stopped us to tell we were going the wrong way.
He pointed back the way we had come and advised us to follow the path down to the "Yella Brew-K" (yellow brook). John W very rudely pointed out that being from Preston (posh people) we didn't understand Wigganish and didn't know what Brew-ks were. Fortunately (He was a BIG fella) he had a sense of humour and explained that he was referring to the "Yellow Stream" We left on good terms and descended to the BREW-K. it was Yella !
We now appeared to be in a "Managed" area and surmised that we must be in the proximity of Haigh Hall. Here we had the opportunity to continue the tradition of "Bridge" photos.
As the reader will be aware our elderly gentlemen do like to punctuate the day with at least three "Official" breaks so we found a suitable spot and stopped to finish our flasks.
At this point a rather bizarre episode ensued. John W was innocently partaking of a refreshing fruit drink when Mike H leapt to his feet declaring that John was consuming a drink which virtually amounted to the liquid equivalent of Crack Cocaine. This noxious fluid he maintained could turn mild mannered grandchildren into beserk serial killers.
Here we see John openly consuming this class "A" drink. A "Fruit Shoot" -- laden with mind-blowing sugar. (2% sugar - I ask yu !)
John having been referred for counselling the group continued along the path through the wood. After last weeks mini-cascade disappointment we were compensated by coming across this delightful cataract.
It wasn't long before we arrived at the road we had taken to come out of Wigan centre (when we were lost) This would lead us to the "Crown" pub where we had parked our cars. A steady uphill plod took us to the cars and so to home after. a walk which was exciting, interesting and varied. Well done Anthony.
p.s. During our walk we came across a reference to the "Trencher". and wondered what the word referred to.
As we had come across slagheaps a possibly mining connection crept into the mind strengthened by vague memories from JW's folk singing past. An extract from a folk song might point to an answer to the question "What's a Trencher"
There are different explanations. One from the old saying a "Good Trencherman" meaning a man with a good appetite.
A trencher was a wooden plate upon which food was piled but was taken from the french "Tranche" a "Slice" The original Trencher was a slice of bread upon which food was piled and the slice of bread was also eaten at the end.
Our trencher, however, probably had different roots.In this coal mining area. It might refer to a seam of coal as evidenced by a verse from a song sung by Ian Campbell on his album "Coaldust Ballads",
Oh the Plodder seam is a wicked seam
iI's a part of the Trencher bone
It's hot and there's three feet of shale
Between the coal and the rocky stone
You can smell the smoke from the fires of hell
deep under Ashton (Wigan ?) town
Oh the Plodder seam is a wicked seam
It's a mile and a quarter down.
Glad I wasn't a miner.
FURTHER PHOTOS.
John R reading all about the "Bronze Age" man (left)
Our urban walks throw up some interesting constructions !!
Danny "Snapping" ? Nonsense he is an extremely calm, sensible and equable chap.
The Bronze man's view of the now closed "Wigan Pier" museum area
What's Jim doing down there ?
Harry's "Super Absorbent" Yella Gloves
"You 'ave bin warned ! "
The grass bank seemed to be part of a flood control system on the River Douglas
Martin's legs occasionally feel tired so he has brought a spare pair along
The areas highly intelligent wildlife. Here we see the work of water voles with degrees in structural engineering.
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