97-99 Bradshawgate – a building of many uses!

97-99 Bradshawgate – a building of many uses!

Ordnance Survey map (surveyed 1845-1847, published 1849) showing open fields where 97-99 Bradshawgate are now located (red circle shows approximate location). Source: National Library of Scotland.

97-99 Bradshawgate is one of the projects which is being funded through the Leigh Town Centre Building Grant Scheme. The buildings have seen multiple uses including as a cooperative, electrical appliance shop, and much more!

Early History

Through analysing historic mapping, we know that 97-99 Bradshawgate was built between 1849 and 1890. In 1849, this eastern end of Bradshawgate was open fields with many of the side streets (such as Charles Street) not having been laid out yet. 

The mortgage deeds reveal that the buildings and land were originally owned by Lord Lilford (as was a lot of land in Leigh) and that the first lease was agreed on 31st December 1850. The deeds describe 97-99 Bradshawgate as ‘two shops and dwghses’ (dwellinghouses), meaning they were house shops.

Historic images show that the original façade was exposed red brick with a decorative dentil course, flat brick window heads and Georgian style timber sash windows. Next door to 99 Bradshawgate was a public house known as the ‘Bradshawgate Inn’. 

A Variety of Building Uses

An article in the Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser on 26th June 1869 shows us that the Co-operative Drapery Establishment occupied 99 Bradshawgate. Lots of sales were advertised with the punch line of ‘the whole must be cleared out in a few days’. Interestingly, by 24th July 1869, they appear to change their name to the Leigh Co-operative Society and the Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser notes that they had ‘just received a nice assortment of ladies’ chemisettes and gloves, adapted for the present season’. We know that they were still at 99 Bradshawgate in March 1873, but we have not found when exactly they moved out.

The first reference I have been able to find of 97 Bradshawgate is from the 11th May 1883 publication of the Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser. It states that ‘The Golden Boot’ occupied 97 Bradshawgate. I wonder if this was a public house or a shop actually selling boots?

In December 1891, the ‘house and shop’ at 97 Bradshawgate was advertised as ‘to let’. The Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser described it as an ‘excellent house, well cellared, with bakehouse, storeroom and stable, suitable for any business’.

The 1895 Kelly’s Directory reported that Alfred Watson occupied 97 Bradshawgate as a confectioners, and James Morton occupied 99 Bradshawgate as a drapers. However, by 1905 the drapers at number 99 had closed and it became a stationer and newsagent. By 1908, a miss Ethel Brooks occupied 97 Bradshawgate and informed ‘the public of Leigh and District that she had opened at the above premises with a large stock of high-class millinery’ (in the Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser). Interestingly, the 1924 Kelly’s Directory reports that a milliner and a stationer still occupied 97 and 99 Bradshawgate, which suggests the tenants could have been the same as those in 1905 and 1908.

99 Bradshawgate was advertised as ‘for sale’ in 1941 in the Manchester Evening News. It was described as a ‘freehold, double-fronted shop, with living accommodation’. Further research could reveal who bought the property, but we do know that by 1950 a glass and china shop occupied 99 Bradshawgate.

101 Bradshawgate

Interestingly, little can be found about the neighbouring property, 101 Bradshawgate, which was the former Bradshawgate Inn. According to the Cotton Factory Times, Joshua Emmott was the landlord in 1901, who had previously been a spinning master.

A historic photograph, found in the Wigan and Leigh Archives shows a man named Joseph Brisco standing outside the Bradshawgate Inn. We have not been able to trace back his role in the building but wonder whether he was a former landlord or just a local pub goer?

Recent History

In terms of more recent history, Prices Ltd, who sold vacuum cleaners, occupied 97 Bradshawgate. They had several advertisements in the Newton and Earlestown Guardian for ‘automatic washers’ and ‘knobs on stereo record players’. Edwin P. Lees was described as ‘the dealer you can trust’. My particular favourite advert is ‘you’re welcome to come and twiddle to your heart’s content’ – doesn’t this sound like a fun shop? 

In 1992, Starline occupied 97-99 Bradshawgate. Interestingly, this is the first time (in my research) that a company is described as occupying both of the shop units. Halsall Lloyd Partnership believe that it had operated as one large building at some point, suggesting this could have been the case. However, by 1997, Quest Men’s and Ladies Wear occupied 97 Bradshawgate with no mention of number 99, suggesting that they were likely always two separate units. 

Unfortunately, unsympathetic alterations have occurred in recent decades including the brickwork being rendered over and painted black, boarding over the second floor windows, and the installation of large uPVC shopfronts and inappropriate signage.

Leigh Building Grant Scheme

The building owners applied to the Leigh Building Grant Scheme and appointed Halsall Lloyd Partnership (HLP) as architects and Hayes Joinery Ltd as contractors.

Upon commencement of the works, the condition of the brick work behind the render was unclear. However, after removing the render Hayes Joinery (a Leigh based firm) were able to repair any damaged bricks and repoint using a lime mortar.

Traditional timber sash windows have also been installed and the stone cills cleaned and repaired. The exposed brick façade, dentil course (which is the grey detailing at the top of the shopfront) and timber sash windows have enhanced the character of the building.  One unusual element is the fact that the upper floor windows are four panes wide whilst the bottom windows are three – we would usually expect them to be all the same!  This is a historic feature that we have reinstated based on historic photos.

The works also included new timber shopfronts with traditional features including pilasters, stallrisers and top lights. We also funded internal perforated security shutters which are in-line with Wigan Council’s planning policy and traditional hand-painted signage.  

Ultimately, these works have transformed the appearance of the building from an eye sore to a focal point! Next time you’re walking down Bradshawgate, have a look.

We would love to hear any more stories, memories and interesting information about 97-99 Bradshawgate and other properties in Leigh. Please get in touch with your stories (external link).

Bibliography

• Ancestry (external link)
  • 1895 Kelly’s Directory
  • 1924 Kelly’s Directory
• Archives: Wigan and Leigh
  • Reference PC2010.2313
  • Reference PC2015.13179
• Halsall Lloyd Partnership.Design and Access Statement 97-99Bradshawgate, Leigh
• National Library of Scotland (external link). Map images
• Orl Heritage Trust (external link). Leigh RLFC brochure, 1992 
• The British Newspaper Archive (external link)
  • Cotton Factory Times
  • The Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser – Saturday 26th June 1869
  • The Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser – Saturday 24th July 1869
  • Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser – Saturday 19th August 1871
  • Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser – Friday 11th May 1883
  • Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser – Friday 25th December 1891
  • Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser – Friday 26 June 1908
  • Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser – Friday 19 March 1909
  • Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser – Friday 06 January 1950
  • Manchester Evening News – Wednesday 01 January 1941
  • Newton and Earlestown Guardian – Wednesday 20 July 1977
  • Wigan Observer and District Advertiser – Wednesday 12 November 1997
• Wigan Council
  • Leigh Town Centre Conservation Area Appraisal
  • Leigh Town Centre Trail