Bimble: Wigan #1

[@anth5122]

I’m from Wigan me, your knowledge is spot on 👍

[@peterkilvert2712]

Fascinating story again. Many thanks Pete (of Urmston).

[@michaelheaton2604]

A young boy called Donny Fletcher fell down the pumping pit shaft after it closed, they sent a fella down on a rope to recover his body, but the boy was still alive his fall had been broken by a wooden beam down the shaft and a metal spike was embedded through his head, the boy survived and lived till old age. Stotts pit which was opposite Westhoughton railway station used to have the water pumped out by the pumping pit. They were warned after the pumping pit was closed in 1935 that their was a very high risk of flooding but chose to ignore it. In 1936 on a Sunday morning water burst through the coal seams and filled the shafts to the top and the pit was closed. If it had happened the day before 500 men would have been working on the coal face so they had a very lucky escape. A few years ago their was a small opening about the size of a house brick at the top of the pumping pit shaft and we used to throw lighted newspapers down the hole to illuminate the shaft, you could still see the beams where the young boy had his fall broken, the shaft was very deep and you could hear running water, we used to throw stones down and it was quite a while before you heard them hit the water.

[@BimblismUK]

Top info. Thank :)

[@infinityeight8705]

I remember that story! And I remember lighting paper and watching it float down, lighting up the shaft!

[@michaelheaton2604]

FLETCHER DONALD WILLIAM DONNY Published on 13/02/2010 FLETCHER Peacefully on Saturday 30th January 2010 in Wigan Infirmary and of Aspull DONALD (Donny) aged 80 years, The Dearly beloved Son of Margaret and WILLIAM (dec) loving brother of Jack, Margaret and Brenda, Brother-in-law of Alice and Terry a dear Uncle, Great Uncle, Great Great Uncle and friend to many.

[@leevause6050]

Michael Heaton, you should do KZbin videos 👍

[@jadepasse1803]

Great! I especially love the views of the canals. I would also love seeing inside some of these churches if you can ever do that! Keep bimbling!

[@Drone.vision]

Brilliant mate, great info , liked and subscribed to you 👍

[@BazSouthern]

I'm from Leigh and still write Lancashire on my address. Love the music 👍

[@davebridge5775]

I was in B&M in St Helens today and Kick off your shoes was playing over the shop speakers!!!! I hope you get a bit of cash for that? Or maybe a free set of steak knives or a duvet cover? 😂

[@Tom-te2mu]

Welcome back to the bike Kieran, another video full of local history and sites. Keep on Bimbling 😊👍🚲

[@leevause6050]

Unexpected view of the Trotterdome made me feel a little bit homesick/melancholy. Top video as usual 👍

[@pooley93]

I was on the blind step back in the 90s as a young kid as oasis filmed here

[@keithbillington8747]

Good research, new info always good, content always proper Sound as Said in Liverpool😀

[@johnpowell5311]

Top Bimble again Keiran. Some hike that with those locks..

[@catherinejones2963]

Merci Keiran, vidéo très sympa, j adore Wigan, tant de souvenirs pour moi. Je suis Française et je suis venue plusieurs fois à Wigan. Merci pour cette jolie balade et la musique est aussi top !!!❤

[@catherinejones2963]

Very good job Keiran, I love Wigan, good memories... I'm french and I often Come to this town.

[@sezwho8561]

Good one witty and informative. Check out the church's in the sefton Park area of Liverpool. Happy St George's day

[@44950]

Nice one Kieran, very enjoyable. Liked the quiet bit of normal cycling speed. 🙂

[@thefloatingapothecaryroman16]

Great video. I recall seeing you videoing on the Leigh branch last year.

[@widdershins4778]

Glad you said middle aged groupie and not old aged groupies. Guilty i am one of those spotted you once on one of my good days whilst out and about. Thank mrs Bimble for us for letting you out to play. Wasn't expecting one this week but so pleased to see you out and about. Lovedthe history lesson for wigan as thats where the mrs hails from. 🚲🍮🍼

[@BimblismUK]

:)

[@patsmith7710]

using water to pump water, that is really cool,

[@kevingraham3161]

Been watching your video's for a couple of weeks now and really enjoying them. Interesting you talked about a canary being sent down the pits to test for Methane, something i never knew about. The Police made a song called 'Canary in a coal mine' so now i know were that came from. Your a good singer Kieran, you should make an album :)

[@singaporemick]

Good informative video Keiran, Im a Wiganer and ride the Wigan flight every week, on my ride today I noticed that they have just started upgrading the tow-path from Martland mill to Parbold so when it finished it should make it easier on my bum.

[@jimmyviaductophilelawley5587]

My first bike, a Tiger Motocross was bought at that bike shop in Latchford Village in 1981. Gone now.

[@BimblismUK]

I can still smell that shop. :)

[@johnmichaelbarrett494]

Nice work,

[@davidshallcross8392]

enjoyed it 👍

[@kayjay69]

Hi Bimbler, the name of the flash is Scotmans flash, not Scotsmans flash, but most folk from Wigan get the name wrong so fair play. Nice vid btw and happy bimbling. All the best and happy exploring.

[@davidlawless5312]

I'm from Warrington and still write Lancashire . In fact, insist on Inland revenue documents Lancashire. And they comply .

[@leepringle21]

😂😂😂 So I'm a middle aged groupie now, am I? 😂😂 Proper tickled me that. And the big coat came off!! Summer's finally here, yay!!! Thanks for another boss vid, Kieran. 👍

[@BimblismUK]

Be t-shirt season soon. :)

[@WILKYofWIGAN]

Fantastic video! Subscribed I'm a new Bimbler 😊

[@AndrewHHems1969]

Good stuff mate. If you like your canals, Robbie Cummings Canal Boat Diaries new series, BBC4 1st May

[@Enlightened-WOLF]

i spent 10 years working on the wigan flight for crt my record for getting a barge up through the locks was 2h 10 min

[@BimblismUK]

Its nearly that on a bike. Ha

[@stevedoran109]

I was born in Wigan Lancashire not greater manchester

[@davidshallcross8392]

Scotman's not Scotsmans let's bimble