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I attended St John's for 7 years leaving in 1974 to start at St John Fisher. i too remember Sister Christine although she was replaced by Mr Rynn. I remember Mr Wood's arrival and he started a school rugby team. We played our games on Wigan Rugby's training field and often walk there through Central Park. Our strip was purple with a gold hoop. I remember there wasn't that many boys in the class - think the register was; Keith Cherrington, Tim Jones, Nick Roberts, John Roberts, John Gannon, Gary Lamb, Paul Sharples, Mark Hughes, Tim Sherry, Dave Middlehurst, Stephen Bowden and Polly (don't remember his name). To the side of the play ground was the over grown land that we called the jungle. The old Co-Op store had a cafe in it, scones and milk. |
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C. Park, Kirkham, England 30th Aug 2010 |
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I remember Brick kiln Lane, as a young child at St john's in the mid 60's to early 70's.Sunday school.Dr. Campbell. The smell of the toffee, the paper shop, the priest hiding hole in the shop next door.Dinner hall across the road with Fungus growing on the walls.I remember Sister Christine I remember her being very kind.Miss Murphy was cruel with her pen,Mrs Benson was an angry woman, and Mrs Murphy in our last year was awful, you couldn't cough without getting a detention.I remember my friends at the time, Janet southern,Jane Lowe,Gwynth Rooney,Andrea Witherington, Marcella Sherry,Ruth Knowles, Sandra Wadeson,David Myers,John Cooper,Richard Kindrad,so many faces I remember.The haunted House at the bottom of the yard, so creepy. The smell of beer when we walked home, up upper dicconson street. Walking days and crowning days. Singing in church.All my children went to the merged St Mary & St Johns, and I hope my grandchildren do, (4 already).What memories this is bringing back. |
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Gwen Callaghan, Wigan, england 7th Jul 2010 |
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I went to St Johns in 1974 to 1978. I remember brick kiln lane and I definately remember Westheads. Used to love visiting that shop and I remember all the sweet jars stacked behind. The shop had a dark wooden shop surround and looked very old fashioned but that memory as stuck with me since I was very young. I used to love buying from the penny tray. |
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Caroline Finch, Wigan, England 12th Sep 2009 |
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A few names that spring to mind from the the distant memories of St John's primary from 1947 to 1952:
Teachers includued big & little Miss Davies,Miss Murphy, Miss Parker and another lady - can't remember - she taught the second year class after Miss Parker if I remember rightly. She was quite young, quietly spoken and gentle mannered. Miss Murphy's brother taught me also at Thornleigh College, Bolton.
My pals included Maurice Myers, Tommy Eames, Norman Roberts, Joe Grady, Susan Livesey, Philip Higham (who was tragically killed by a car driven by an American serviceman at the main gates to Mesnes Park) and others that don't come to mind immediately.
I can remember great, long slides in the ice in the playground in winter, outside toilets, kneeling in the classroom corner when two or three of us poured stones and tin cans into a neighbour's washing, drying on a line (never forget that!), the small bottle of milk given to each child to drink every morning, the Wesleyan school "over the wall" next door, playing murps (marbles) and winning "big blobbers", playing conkers and being rapped on the knuckles when the hard conker didn't break and flew back on your hand. Happy days - but it didn't always seem like that at the time.
Dave |
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Dave Pilling, Sornac, France 29th Jun 2009 |
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I have more information about big and little miss Davies as they were both my great aunts!
I also have some group photos of St John's pupils from around the 1930's if anyone is interested.
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julian knowles, Abingdon, Oxon 13th Mar 2009 |
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I REMEMBER MR. BARON AT ST.JOHNS , HE USED TO
TAKE US TO PLAY FOOTBALL AT WHELLEY.
IT USED TO TAKE HIM THAT LONG TO GET THERE,
IT WAS TIME TO COME BACK. |
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MIKE SUMNER, STANDISH, ENGLAND 1st Jan 2009 |
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How could I forget Brick Kiln Lane, St John's School...My dad. Tony Rynn was Deputy Headteacher, then Head after Sister Christine. Doctor Campbell, Father Bridges, were the religious figures. Behind the dining hall/ christmas play hall.. was the Bluecoat School where I used to go through the potholed car park opposite the school gate..each night to meet my mum who taught there for a while before she taught at the convent.. Doreen Rynn died (cancer)when she was 68 almost 10 years ago now.
Sweet smells from Westheads, oily smells and often fires...from the garage on the opposite side of the alleyway! And the corner shop at the bottom of the cobbled alley..where many a penny was spent on cherry lips, sweet ciggarettes or better still chocolate ciggarettes.
I never remember how I broke my arm...one playtime...anyone know?
Sue.
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Susan Rynn, wigan, england UK 10th Oct 2008 |
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I went to St John's and remember the names of some of the previous posters from the late 60's and early 70's. Catherine Fulton(ann's sister) emailed me a while ago and they emigrated to South Africa,which is where she still lives as far as I know.
I still see Mr Rynn out and about in the area and am still in contact with lots of old faces as many of us have children who attend the amalgamted St Mary and St john school. |
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Gweneth Rooney, Wigan, England |
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I attended St Mary's school in the infants (1945) and then the juniors until 1954. My family lived in boyswell lane where I was born and then Millgate next door to Hannons second hand shop. I remember the river douglas flooding. I believe Mr Dickinson was headmaster and Mr Charnock was the rugby coach.I have many happy memories of those times. My family now live in Canada.
Brian Foy Canada |
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Brian Foy, Waterloo, Ontario Canada |
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is that the joe fairhurst who could sing a bit. |
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dave orrell, billinge, uk |
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I remember Brick Kiln Lane, I attended St. John's between 1938 and 1946. The infant classes were mixed but from then on the sexes were taught separately, and as far as I can remember, never mixed. The infant teachers were Mrs Parker and Little Miss Davies. She was the younger sister of Big Miss Davies taught the older girls. Mrs Murphy taught junior boys, she was very handy with the cane that's if she didn't have you kneeling at the front juust because you coughed or moved when she had asked for silence. Miss Prior also taught junior boys but left and was followed by Miss Boardman. She was a lady. She put a class play at Christmass and I was Mr Mole in her version of Toad of Toad Hall. Sammy Clarke came next. He travelled from Southport by train daily. He liked the cane and had an selection of them in his desk. He often let the recipient choose the cane with which he was to be beaten. I left before I got into Mr Baron's class but our paths did cross because access to Sammy Clarke's class was through Mr Baron's class. He didn't tolerate lastecommers so I often got the cane from Mr Baron before I reached my own class. Does any one remember Mr Miney who came to teach singing. And what about the games lessons and swimming lessons. Once a week, in summer we walked to Whelly St. Stephens playing field to play football and in winter we walked to the old baths in Millgate for swimming but these treats were cancelled if it looked like rain. |
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Ron Briody, Perth, Western Australia |
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Whoops sorry! Anne Fulton didn't live in Danesway (which is of course in Wigan...). It was Devon Drive, Standish, near The Bleachworks. I have since found Anne and her details listed on Friends Reunited for St. Peter's, Orrell, leaving in 1977. |
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Helen (O'Neill), west midlands, england |
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In answer to David Mercer's question about Anne Fulton... Anne Fulton, Karen Sickels and myself went to St Peter's High School in Orrell following our time at St. Johns. As far as I know, she didn't go onto any sixth form education, at least not immediately following "St Peys". Anne lived in Danesway in Standish at the time. I don't know where she is now. I think the family were originally from Scotland and I'm sure that it was once mentioned to me that she had moved back there, or maybe I'm imagining that... |
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Helen (O'Neill), West Midlands, England |
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I attended St Johns in the fifties and was a regular customer of Miss Murphy for the stick not for disobedience but for getting my sums wrong. I remember she kept it in the top drawer of her desk it was a blue chair spindle which she called Excaliber and it hurted |
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Joe, Wigan, England |
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St Johns School, 65-72. We only had 12 lads at the end - not enough for a Rugby team - cos a lot of them left for John Rigby PREP school (you paid!). Tom Standish had a furniture shop next to Thomas's. The 'dining hall' further down the lane had fungus growing INSIDE. But they were good days. Mr Rynn was a fine chap. Mrs Benson not cut out for the job. Whatever happened to Anne Fulton who was in my class? The school building is still there, as it was. Used for offices or something now though. |
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david mercer, wigan, lancs |
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I went to St John's between 74 & 81 before the school merged with St Mary's. Remember Mrs Hall & Mrs Myers, particularly the former who was very handy with the old wooden ruler for the most minor of offences. Remember breaking my arm in the playground 5 minutes before we had to walk accross to the church and make our first confession. My cries of pain fell on deaf ears with the teachers who didn't beleive a word of it and the first confession went ahead right on schedule. |
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Chris O'Halloran, Wigan, Lancs |
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The garage in Brick Kiln Lane belong to Joe Swift. Coxheads garage was off Standishgate down by the side of The Griffin |
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Joe, Wigan, Lancs |
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Reply to Joe Fairhurst, Melbourne Australia.
Hi Joe, if you're the Joe I think you are, maybe you'd like to get in touch for a chat. I'd love to know how you, Marie and Stephen have fared in oz.
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Jim Fairhurst, Fleetwood, England |
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I went to the convent on stabdishgate from 1967 until 1972, we used to go to the Whitesmiths fro a tray of chips for dinner and walk home up brickKiln lane, my mum went to St john's school and talked about a Miss davies and how she had her knuckles rapped if she spoke in class |
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anne clarke, Wigan, Lancs |
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hi brick kilne lane was the home of my grand parents if you need any info i'll do my best to answer |
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malc maguire, wigan, lancs |
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I'm another former pupil of St. John's who has fond memories of Brick Kiln Lane. I was there in the early 70s, loved Mrs. Myers, Mrs. Hall and Miss Blackwell, but thought Mrs. Benson was mad. As you went from Thomas's toffee shop toward St. John's school there was on the right some sort of car repair place that always had blazing fires and loud mchinery noises. Anyone remember? The dining hall on the left was connected to the Parish Hall and had orange and blue tables organized in long rows. They served Manchester tart and liver and onions, but what else? As you turned right to go toward Dicconson Terrace you went by a derelict house that we loved to explore as we smelled the beer from the barrels being delivered to the back end of the British Legion. Great memories. Was there ever a kiln? |
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Nick Spencer, Nick Spencer, USA |
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Wow! So many memories come flooding back. Four of us lads from St John's youth club would pretend to be scouts, acquire the key from the presbytery and spend at least one evening a week in St John's scout hut in Brick Kiln Lane playing cards, smoking Woodbines and drinking bottles of beer. I often wonder if the dear old parish priest suspected. Oh, we never saw a ghost in the scout hut ... just a few pink elephants. |
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Joe Fairhurst, Melbourne, Australia |
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I remember Brick Kiln Lane very well because I attended St. John's RC in the early 1970s. Mr Ryn (I think) was the headmaster and Miss Murphy and Sister Christine were still there. I was in Miss Murphy's class where my knuckles were rapped with a ruler quite regularly for small offences - such behaviour would not be tolerated nowadays, more's the pity - then I moved into Mrs. Benson's class before going onto St. John Fisher. I remember running down Brick Kiln Lane for lunch - which if I remember correctly was served in a building separate from the school itself. It seemed as though we turned left outside the school gates and then the lunch building was a little way down on the right. This really has been a trip down memory lane. I love this website! |
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Kathy Beirne, Tustin, California |
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St Mary's school with Miss Chisnall head of infants and Mr Charnock head of Juniors - taken to school by "big boys" in our street namely Jackie Edwards father of Shaun! and David Jacobs. Later to the Convent for an education of a lifetime courtesy of sisters Dolores ,Isabel and Philamena not to mention the Ms' Dwyer, Dacre Brown and Ernie Savage. Was the penny loaf shop not run by Mrs Monks? |
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Anne Slevin (Clapham), Newburgh, Wigan |
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Up Brick Kiln Lane at the back of St Johns Hall was the Scout Hut of St Johns R C Scouts 5th Wigan Troop, I was a scout with them from approx 1954/1957. This was the only Catholic Scout troop in the Wigan area at that time. Many fond memories and the camps we had at Bispham Hall. |
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Robert A Hopkins, Billinge, England |
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The newsagents at the bottom of Brick Kiln Lane just to the right in Standishgate was run by Mr.and Mrs.Alker. Next door there was a sweet shop. I think it was called Thomas's. |
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kate conroy, madrid, spain |
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Reading all the memories of St Johns really takes me back in time. I went to St Johns from 1956ish leaving in 1962. I remember the outside loo's, at the bottom of the schoolyard, which were freezing in winter. The headmistress at the time was Sister Christine. Miss Murphy was still there, and taught me speling. Does anyone remember the ghost of St Johns Hall?
The toffee factory used to sell one penny bags of broken toffee, and the little bakery sold penny loaves. Happy days..
Does anyone remember who lived in the house adjacent to the school? It was accessed throught a gate between the bottom of the schoolyard, and the garage. |
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Jim Fairhurst, Fleetwood, England |
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I remember St. John's school and two more teachers, Big Miss Davies and Little Miss Davies. I remember the penny bags of broken candy and the penny loaves. Small bottles of milk, warming by the open fires in each classroom. Outside toilet facilities with no handwashing facilities, as handwashing after using the toilet was considered totally unnecessary. Behaviour guidance was by means of a sturdy cane. We lined up for nitty norah and for lunches in St. John's hall. All the girls were madly in love with Father Kennedy. |
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Sandra Davies, Calgary, Canada |
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Brick Kiln Lane features in a BBC film: "Going For Gold" written by Wigan writer Brian Finch. Most of the film was made in and around Wigan in the mid/late 80s. Brick Kiln Lane is used as a setting for a scene in the film - very shortly before it was demolished. |
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Chris Norris, Wigan, UK |
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I to went to st. johns school in the early 60's .I also remeber westheads toffee factory because me mum used to work in their toffee shop and my brothers and i used to stop by the factory and get free toffee when we got out of school. |
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Rosanne L Collins, Kendallville Indiana, USA |
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A pupil at Wigan Girls' High School from 1958 to 1964, I sometimes popped across, with friends, to the sweet factory in Brick Kiln Lane for a bag of mis-shapen sweepings from the trays, after we'd watched the toffee being made. We never knew what flavours we'd have in our bags, which added to the fun. |
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Carol Coates née Brown, Moscari, Mallorca, Baleares |
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From age 4 I used to go to school at St. Mary's in Standishgate, living in Pemberton, my two sisters and I would get off the bus in the Market Place and walk it up to school past Brick Kiln Lane. Sometimes calling at McCandlsh's bakery shop in Standishgate for Scotch pancakes or penny loaves.
On my web site Wigan Photo Album (under Stuff) I have included a picture of the Whitesmiths pub showing Brick Kiln Lane by the side of it, I think there used to be a newsagent's on it's corner. |
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Jim Farrell, Wigan, England |
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Sammys name was Clarke. The other lady teacher was a Miss Prior who taught juniors.The infants Teacher was a Mrs? Parkinson. By the way half of this lane is still there running from Dicconson Terr to the old school. |
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Charles.O'Leary, Wigan, England |
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'Sammy' was Mr Clark. The Garage mentioned in the first reply was Stan Coxheads. The 'tunnel' also mentioned was the rear entrance to St John's Hall where all the school plays were performed, the front and main entrance being in Dicconson Street with the statue of St John being above the door. When I was about five years old I performed in a Nativity Play by pushing my lamb on wheels onto the stage and bruising one of the nun's ankles. |
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C.O'Leary, Wiggin, England |
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I remember this lane very well as I used to attend St John's School from infants to leaving in 1946. Headmaster was an old tyrant, Mr Baron, his second I only remember as 'Sammy' who used to send me out for his pipe tobacco. Miss Murphy taught there and another lady whose name I can't remember. We loved watching the toffee being made at the sweet factory but we never got any given us! Happy days! 'cos we wus young! |
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C.O'Leary, Wigan, England |
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Saint John School was also up there and also a back entrance through some like tunnel buildings into the back of St Johns Hall where the amateur dramatics run by Father OConnell were. There also used to be a garage up there, who's I do not know. |
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E. M. Finch, Baughton, Worcestershire |
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Brick Kiln Lane. (No longer there)