Chamberlain's music shop was in the arcade between Library Street and King Street and there was an old lady downstairs where they sold their records and sheet music. No computers in those days, but if you wanted something out of the ordinary she would haul this huge ledger and within a second or two she'd have the answer for you.
Chamberlain's, I believe, did open another shop opposite the convent as well though. Not sure when the main shop closed but it was still open up to around 1996 or 1997 - summat like that 'cos I bought some of my equipment and microphones from there and Gordon bought two of his keyboards from there at different times. Very helpful they were. mollie m
The original Chamberlains was in Standishgate opposite the Convent.
I used to go there for music and also seem to remember going there for music exams. {not certain of that as it is a loooooong time ago!}
The one in the arcade was Dawsons after they left the shop in Darlington St. {almost at the junction of Chapel lane/Hope St}
I worked at the Darlington St one from being 15 to 16 {1954 to 1955} when Billy Baxter was the manager. fishlizzie
I am the grandaughter of the old lady who owned Chamberlains. It was certainly on Standishgate, latterly at No.96 and although I didn't live in Wigan I know that it was next to a pub. Until the early 1970s it had been further up Standishgate, nearer Debenhams I think, but I never visited it there. The shop was owned by My Grandmother, Mrs Frances Connolly and she pretty much ran the sheet music dept. upstairs. My aunt. Joan Edgar ran the instumental dept. downstairs. My grandmother worked in the shop until she was 89 putting in a full day. She was simply amazing. Being a musician myself I am still picking music off the shelf that I inherited from her and I have all the sample books from music publishers which although they are miles out of date. I can't think of throwing away. It was such a shame that it is still not in business today. katiejackson
katiejackson. Hope you read this. I knew and regarded your Grandfather and grandmother, Mr and Mrs.Connolly as good friends,and also your Aunt Joan, and remember them when they lived in Springfield St., off Wigan Lane, and also your Aunt Joan, who I think had a house built in the Woodlands, opposite the infirmary. I came to know them in the mid 50's, when i 1st started work at a wholesale record warehouse in Manchester, at the age of 15, and I would carry 4boxes of records onto the train, and deliver them to the shop on my way home!It was then at no 42 (approx)Standishgate, near the junction of Mesnes St. My dad, Bill Kearns, then had the music shop (No116),opposite St. Mary's. They then moved to the shop opposite the convent,which had been the Miss Riggs Glassware/pottery shop next to the Griffin. I became their regular tv/radio and electrical technician for many years, even after they finally closed the shop. tony kearns
I bought all my sheet music from Chamberlains and remember Mrs Connolly who I got to know very well. She was amazing. There were dozens of box files and no matter how obsure the music you were after, if it was in stock she could put her hand on it straight away. If it wasn't, she knew without looking and would have it for you the following week! kittgreener