Walter Patterson, an Oyster Dealer in Wigan (1847-1933)

Walter Patterson, oyster dealer in Wigan, 1847-1933

By Wigan Local History and Heritage Society for the King Street Heritage Action Zone

Walter Patterson was born in Liverpool in 1847, his father Robert was a bootmaker. The 1851 census shows the family living at Elbow Lane in Wigan, Walter’s name at this time was recorded as McGregor, his mother Jane’s unmarried name. His parents married at All Saints Parish Church sometime after his birth in 1847. By 1861 the family were living in North Moels and are all recorded with the surname Patterson.

Walter married Elizabeth Rostern at All Saints Parish Church in Wigan in July 1866. By the 1871 census they had moved to 102A Chapel Lane and Walter was described as fish dealer. His daughter Ann married in April 1887 at St Thomas Church, Wigan and Walter’s occupation was oyster dealer. Oysters were frequently on the menu at the turn of the century and several Oyster Saloons and Bars are named in Trade Directories for Wigan and district.

Walter and the Silver Grid Oyster Bar, King Street

In 1893 the Silver Grid restaurant and Oyster Bar on the corner of King Street and Faggy Lane also known as railway passage was managed by Ann Jones. Her lease was terminated around 1892 and Annie Callaghan took over the management of both restaurant and oyster bar. She later married William Shepherd. Several newspaper reports tell of Annie Shepherd (nee Callaghan) and some tragic events which followed the marriage. It is not clear when she actually left the Silver Grid.

Adverts show that Walter Patterson took over the Silver Grid Oyster bar possibly as the manager in 1895. The advertisement below appeared in the Wigan Observer and District Advertiser in December 1895. Showing that Walter Patterson was involved with The Silver Grid on King Street and the Empire Oyster Saloon on Cooper’s Row, Market Place and the Market Hall.

The family moved to Cooper’s Row sometime before 1891 and remained there until at least 1913 when Elizabeth died. They had been married 43 years and had 9 children of which only three were still alive. Needing larger premises he moved the business to Arcade Street, Off King Street and renamed it “The Premier Oyster Saloon”. It was in an adjoining building that he opened his Old Curiosity shop.

In 1902 Wigan Observer and District Advertiser recorded his business as a “Oyster Dealer of 25 years based at Arcade Street, Wigan opposite the technical college” (currently the Town Hall on Library Street).

After Elizabeth’s death in 1913 Walter continued with the oyster and fish business and was recorded in the 1921 census living at Fairhurst Yard, Millgate, Wigan age 75. His son John Walter was recorded as a visitor whose occupation was a fish dealer. Walter died in 1935 age approximately 88 years in Birch Hill Hospital. His address given at the time was 96 Ramsdale Road, Wardle, Rochdale and he is buried with his wife at Wigan Lower Ince cemetery.

Oysters In Wigan

Coopers Row has a narrow entrance, typical of medieval streets designed for foot and hand cart transport. The open area to the left was occupied by the Hole in the wall pub, later a new music hall called the Alexandra Hall of 1874 which was later remodelled as the Empire in 1892. Transforming from a music hall to cinema in 1908 until about 1961. The building that projects into Cooper’s Row on the right-hand side is now known as the John Bull Chophouse, a well-known public house and is one of the oldest in the town originating from three 17th Century cottages. Some bricks from the 17th century can still be seen inside the building.

At one time it was possible to enjoy an oyster supper in this locality. Today picnickers and the John Bull customers use the pleasant open space created in the early 1970’s by clearance of the Empire Music Hall and a dense maze of buildings on the higher ground at The Wiend.

Photo: The Cover of The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens

The Old Curiosity Shop was owned by Walter, Patterson, oyster dealer, of Marketplace, Coopers Row & Arcade Street. It is thought to have been joined to the Oyster saloon or rooms in Arcade Street. Several archeological finds hit the headlines over the years as recorded in the local newspapers, The Wigan Observer and District Advertiser and Wigan Examiner.

Roman finds in Wigan. By Wigan Observer correspondent, August 5 1903.

“I recently viewed a Roman furnace in Stockton Heath on the Wilderspool road at Warrington. It was very interesting; the excavators said the
coal used in the furnace was from Wigan. On my return I was intrigued to find many Roman artefacts had been found in the town whilst excavating for the buildings of Library Street. Some pottery finds were found on the site of the new Technical College, between 4 and 10 feet under the soil. The finds were declared Roman by the curator of Warrington Museum, they were mostly red Samian ware.“

Roman Samian Ware shards

“Anyone desirous to see such artefacts and specimens of Roman occupation could do no better than to visit Mr Walter Patterson an Oyster dealer at Wigan fish market but also owner and proprietor of the old curiosity shop on Arcade St Wigan, Mr Walter Patterson proceeded to show me many finds and explained them with delight. I learned the difference between Black-ware and Samian-ware during my visit. There were many types of Roman pottery found dated to at least second century, the time of the Roman occupation. Many almost intact bowls”

The Old Curiosity Shop on Arcade Street

Very little information is available about the Old Curiosity Shop, several newspaper articles show the variety of goods sold there. One particular find which made headline in the newspaper in Belfast was the sale of “a Romantic Picture”.

Another interesting tale from the Wigan Examiner March 23^rd, 1907. A romantic picture found in a Wigan Old Curiosity Shop.

Sir Godfrey Kneller and Wigan Examiner Newspaper Article

The signed self portrait above dates from 1685 of Sir Godfrey Kneller, painter born Germany 1646 and died in London 1723 was found in Wigan. As reported in The Wigan Examiner 28 March 1907.

The two clippings below show how far the news had spread of the sale of a valuable picture bought at the Old Curiosity shop. One from the Farnworth Chronicle on 7 March 1907 reported on a portrait previously bought for 5 shillings and valued at much more and one in Belfast Weekly News on 28 March 1907.

Portrait of Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt. (1646-1723) oil on canvas portrait dated 1685 as seen in the National Portrait Gallery.

“A picture by the celebrated 18th century portrait fencer Sir Godfrey Kneller was found in Wigan. The other day a gentleman walked into a curiosity shop in Arcade Street, next to which, the Oyster saloon bar was attached he found a canvas without frame, the portrait appealed to him and he was shocked to find it was a signed self-portrait of Sir Godfrey Kneller. Mr Patterson sold the canvas to the gent for five shillings. The Gentleman paid and hurried away with glee. Mr Patterson did not know many of Sir Godfrey Kneller paintings hung in Hampton Court and various famous art galleries. The old painting was very valuable. Kneller was a major painter of his generation. The painting had nearly sold once before, one customer bought the frame but got Mr Patterson, to remove the canvas not knowing the history of the painting. Mr Patterson acquired the painting and a dozen other canvasses for the princely sum of 12 shillings at an auction. One presumes that when Mr Patterson found the true value of the painting, he would have been mightily upset.”

The article transcribed above was taken from the Wigan Examiner 23 March, 1907.

Later the same year the Wigan Examiner 12 September 12, 1907.

Messrs Green and Trickett advertised that Mr Walter Patterson of the Curiosity shop which adjoins the Oyster Saloon an Arcade Street in Wigan, is to sell the valuable collection of antiquities, stock of the old curiosity shop due to the end of the lease. See picture below.

The advert states that the collection contains many pieces of elegant furniture. Bone China from various periods, both Chinese, Japanese and many examples of English China including Royal Dalton and Wedgwood. There are examples of Medieval and Roman pottery found at the Library Street excavations and many other archaeological finds including valuable coins many from the Roman occupation.

Also, on sale are artefacts from the Cromwellian era, from the battle of Wigan Lane, cavalry soldiers spurs, brass buttons from tunics, a scabbard for a sabre, also many ornamental clay pipes discovered in Millgate when clay workers had a thriving industry.