Wigan Local History & Heritage Society
Wigan’s rich history and heritage ... waiting to be uncovered!
funded and administered by Wigan Building Preservation Trust
for the Society.
About Us
Wigan Local History & Heritage Society is a group dedicated to exploring our local history and heritage. We research, record, and promote our local communities and host events, talks, and publications to showcase and bring together our local history, culture, and tradition. Join us on this journey to discover our past and shape our future!
Wigan & Leigh Archives
Resources available and News at the Archives
What’s On Guide for September to December 2023. With amazing events and activities for all ages taking place at the Museum of Wigan Life, the Turnpike Gallery, Archives: Wigan & Leigh and across the borough’s Libraries, there’s plenty to get involved with.
Read More
The Wigan Archives Service has well over 500,000 documents, photographs, maps and historic books in our collections. See more ...,
Read More
What's New
Articles
A collection of historical articles, and reminiscences of Wigan
An account of the lives of the Brindle family and their connection to St. Mary's RC church In Standishgate, Wigan.
Read More
A short story from the 'Tales of the Workhouse' series. The Bizarre Story of the Workhouse Funeral. By Graham Taylor.
Read More
The history of Giants Hall Farmhouse in Standish and its occupants from 1675 to present. By Graham Taylor
Read More
The life and times of tea merchant, Richard Makinson, the quiet and reserved man who built numerous buildings in Wigan town centre. By Graham Taylor & Peter Fleetwood.
Read More
A visit by Derek Winstanley to the church where he worshipped as a boy and recalling its association with the local mining community.
Read More
The Great War history of 1/5th Battalion Manchester Regiment (Wigan Territorial Force) 1914-1919 by Graham Taylor
Read More
A "friends group" created to protect and renovate the chimney, one of only four structures left in this country.
Read More
Research into the Wigan Wallgate Station War Memorial that once was on display in the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway loco sheds in Prescott Street, Wigan. By Graham Taylor
Read More
An article by Dr. Stephen Craig-Smith.
Read More
A history of the family and the business from Paul Macfarlane and Andy Lomax.
Read More
Resources
Material that could assist in the research and appreciation of the history and heritage of Wigan.
Find graves at Wigan, Gidlow, Hindley, Ince and Westwood Cemeteries, with kind permission of wiganworld
Read More
An exceptional collection of photos, history and memories of Wigan
Read More
Wigan Building Preservation Trust (WBPT) - All the Listed Buildings within Wigan Council area, including non-listed buildings that are of historical and architectural interest.
Read More
A collection of articles and resources relating to the history of the Hall, the people and the wider estate of Haigh
Read More
Films, videos and presentations on Wigan from early times to the present day, a long list. Enjoy! Any favourites?
Read More
Although Derek has lived in Illinois, USA, for 40 years, he returns to Wigan nearly every year and has written extensively on local history.
Read More
Some cameo pieces by one of our members - Images courtesy of Wigan Archives
Read More
Recollections and memories of growing up in Wigan in the 1950s & 1960s.
Read More
Graham Taylor specialises in military history, telling the stories of local regiments, the soldiers that served in them, and of their families and communities from the early 19th century to modern day. Also topics of local interest including heritage buildings, establishments and individuals.
Read More
Stories and presentations from Jim who is a retired civil servant with an interest in local and family history, as well as archaeology.
Read More
We are committed to researching local history and recording local people’s memories for the future. Also, with the local community, taking part in local heritage events, thus furthering education and access to local history.
Read More"The King Street Story"
"The Street That Was" - King Street Heritage Action Zone
Wigan Local History & Heritage Society are very proud to be invited to contribute to the King Street Heritage Zone project.
Read More
The Heritage Action Zone covers the area around King Street. It is packed with important historical buildings, there are already 10 listed buildings in the zone and at least another 20 that are historically important.
Read More
The Society believes it is important to identify the "Lost Buildings" of the Street to evoke the memories and the contribution of these buildings to the rich history and heritage of Wigan.
Read More
Pen portraits of people who built, lived, worked and worshipped in King Street since it was established in the 1780's.
Read More
The project includes the renovation of this historic building
Read More
Letters written by residents of Wigan recalling their memories of King Street as part of the Streets Apart Project
Read More
A snapshot of the Street developed from the 1849 Ordnance Survey map.
Read More
Photo and drone presentation of King Street buildings welcoming the forthcoming improvements by Simon Radcliffe and Ian Tranter
Read More
Projects
The Society is committed to raising awareness of projects that maintain and enhance the fabric and infrastructure of Wigan's history and heritage.
Plantation Gates - Ongoing
Project to restore the Gateway and Lodges. Grade 2* Listed Building "At-Risk"
Learn More
Common Seal Stonework - Ongoing
The project aim is to repair and relocate the stonework, recovered, from the old Town Hall, King St, to a prominent position within the Town Centre.
Learn More
Heritage Buildings of Wigan - Ongoing
Volunteers required to photograph and research local buildings
Learn More
The Gidlow Sisters Portraits - Closed
Discovering and locating oil paintings of Margaret Eleanor and Amelia Gidlow originally displayed in the Board Room of Wigan Infirmary. There is also a stained galss window dedicated to the sisters.
Learn MoreUseful Links
If you would like us to add your link please click this to contact us
Local
A website devoted to the ancient parish of Billinge with many photographs to look at.
Visit Billinge History Society »
Guidance on proposing buildings and structures for the Wigan Council Local List
Visit Buildings of Local Interest »
A charity who look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of waterways
Visit Canals & Rivers Trust - North West
Crooke Village
Crooke is a small village situated a couple of miles to the west of Wigan town centre and has a fascinating history.
Visit Crooke Village »
earlyWIGANrugby
A website focusing on rugby in the town 1862-1915
Visit earlyWIGANrugby
Friends of Haigh Hall Heritage and Open Access For All
A group campaigning to protect historic rights of public access within the grounds of Haigh Woodland Park.
Visit Friends of Haigh Hall and Open Access For All
Friends of Haigh Woodland Park
The objectives of the group are to develop and maintain facilities in the Country Park that the residents of Wigan will enjoy using.
Visit Friends of Haigh Woodland Park »
The Friends of Leyland Park are a community group, dedicated to improving the standard of Leyland Park in Hindley, Lancashire and more importantly, by way of hosting events, bringing the entire community together.
Visit Friends of Leyland Park »
Discover the people and places of Wigan Borough both past and present. Library Street, Wigan, WN1 1NU
Visit Museum of Wigan Life »
The borough of Wigan contains 12 Scheduled Ancient Monuments, ranging from medieval cross bases to colliery machinery. Scheduled Ancient Monuments are sites of national historical or archaeological importance which are given legal protection by being placed on a list or schedule.
Visit Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Wigan & Leigh »
Lots of interesting information and photos of Ashton-in-Makerfield and surrounding areas.
Visit The Makerfield Rambler »
Over the years the society have carried out a number of field projects within the Wigan district. Reports of these projects are available on-line through the projects area of the website
Visit Wigan Archaeological Society »
The Wigan Archives Service cares for the historical records of the Wigan Metropolitan Borough making them available to the public. Access to collections of records for its people, places, businesses, churches, societies and all manner of other organisations, preserving the history of the entire borough.
Visit Wigan Archives and Local Studies »
A society that takes an interest in the environment and heritage of Wigan. They have monthly meetings on the second Monday of the month at St. Goerge's Church, Water St, Wigan at 7.30pm.
Visit Wigan Civic Trust »
Research into family & local history
Visit Wigan Family & Local History »
The Wigan Borough Environment & Heritage Network is the forum for anyone concerned with Environment, Heritage, History and Archaeology matters, throughout the entire Wigan Borough, to meet on a regular basis and exchange news, views and aspirations.
Visit Wigan Heritage Network »
The Parish Church of All Saints Wigan is by far the oldest church in Wigan but when it was founded and when the Christian religion was first established in Wigan is unknown.
Visit Wigan Parish Church »
A short history of Wigan and a couple walks with notes.
Visit Wigan Town Trails »
Wigan on the Internet
Visit Wigan World »
National
A new Online Military Archive
Online access to the collections of Regimental and Corps museums from across the UK.
Visit the Ogilby Muster
Architectural Heritage Fund
The Architectural Heritage Fund is a registered charity founded in 1976 to promote the conservation of historic buildings in the UK.
Visit The Architectural Heritage Fund »
Promoting and supporting the rescue and sustainable use of historic buildings.
Visit Association of Building Preservation Trusts »
Historic England exists to protect and promote England's spectacular historic environment and ensure that its past is researched and understood. Website includes lots of useful information including listed buildings at risk.
Visit Historic England »
Interactive map where can search for listed buildings by postcode or address.
Visit Historic England Map Search »
A group who are set to preserve the literary heritage of Lancashire. It has become clear, in recent times, that the spoken and written heritage has been neglected by many inhabitants of this county and only enthusiastically promoted by a few.
Visit The Lancashire Society »
The National Trust is a charity and is completely independent of Government. They rely for income on membership fees, donations and legacies, and revenue raised from their commercial operations.
Visit The National Trust »
Planning Sanity was set up to help local communities tackle adverse planning and development applications that threaten to blight their communities.
Visit Planning Sanity »
Save Britain's Heritage have been campaigning for historic buildings since its formation in 1975.
Visit Save Britain's Heritage »
War Memorials Trust works for the protection and conservation of war memorials in the UK.
Visit War Memorials Trust »