Hello Ferg, thanks for your message.
Don't worry, I'm not a bit offended by your comments about the house.
Since I put up my message, I have been able to find out quite a lot about Thomas, who was in fact my Gt Gt Uncle, he was my Gt Grandad's youngest brother.
The family he was lodging with at 188 Wigan Road in 1901 may well have been relatives of his, I've no way of knowing.
Apparently he then married in 1902 and lived at I Dig Nook Ashton, until his wife died in 1918.
He himself died in 1920 and his address at death was with the same family again, 188 Wigan Road again, - which leads me to think that they must have been either relatives or very close friends.
I would be very interested to hear any history concerning
your old home from the past,any information you may have of the old life of the house would be of interest to me so please let me know if you turn anything up.
Thanks again for your interest.
Barbara.