Originally Posted by
Wigginer
Hello from sunny Wigan.
This is my first posting and being from Wigan I want something for nowt.
I'm researching a murder that was committed in 1863 at a coal mine called Bawkhouse colliery, Red Rock, Haigh which is a small Hamlet to the North of Wigan.
Long story short, a group of poachers went to the mine to kill the nightshift boilerman, one of them hit him with a crowbar and then threw him into the furnace.
One of the gang was hanged in public at Kirkdale Jail in 1866.
I've looked on the maps and as far as I can see the former Kirkdale Jail was to the South of the railway station. It now looks like a park or something similar.
The roads surrounding it are; North Dingle,Rumney Rd west and Garnett Ave.
Am I looking in the right area?
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Thanks in advance.
Hello Wigginer in sunny Wigan - from sunny France (21?C today)
I'm sure you're going to get more authoritive info concerning your enquiry
from others on this site but I'm very interested in this area since I once lived
in Rumney Road which was opposite the Kirkdale Homes. Before the Homes,
( a euphemism for Workhouse) where I was actually employed for a while, it was what they called an Industrial School, if I remember rightly, and before
the School it was Kirkdale Gaol. How much,if any, of the Gaol was incorporated in the School and later in the Homes I don't know. Suffice it to say that none of the buildings now exist. They have been replaced by housing. If I can help you further in any way by all means let me know.
Regards Stan H.
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