Articles

The use of maps as an aid to historical and family history research. The history of the Ordnance Survey and a look at Wigan on a 1951 OS map. By Graham Taylor.

The story of two friends from Wallgate who were to meet up again in WW1. One was to survive, the other died on active service but left behind a famous sporting dynasty. By Graham Taylor.

A detailed look at the reasons for the election riots in Wigan in May 1831, the backgrounds of the characters involved and the consequences for the perpetrators of the ensuing violence. By Graham Taylor.

The origins of the Wigan Volunteer Light Horse during the early part of the 19th century, and its evolution over the next 200 years to the Army’s modern day successor, still based in Wigan, the Queens Own Yeomanry. By Graham Taylor.

Locations of the three Grade II Listed stone cross bases in Standish. By Graham Taylor

An interesting article by Malcolm Ryding on the life of Thomas Wall and family, founder of the Wigan Observer in 1853.

Hundreds of years before Winstanley Hall was built the Winstanley family lived in a moated homestead. Explore the extensive evidence for this produced by Derek Winstanley, also evidence of another Winstanley moated homestead.

Reminiscences of Rylands Sidings at Whitley from sixty years ago, the association with a cotton magnate and their place in the war time history and industrial heritage of Wigan. By Graham Taylor.

An in depth look at the lives of the families known to have lived at Springfield Hall between 1813 and its demolition in 1937. It is one of the many halls in the Wigan area that have been lost and have now disappeared into history. By Graham Taylor.

After the disastrous fire in 2022 Andy Lomax investigated the little known history of the 17th century building

Ever wondered how Tipping Street and The Tipping's Arms got there names. Read the interesting article from locallife by Nicola Gray with research undertaken by the Society.

Sarah Hartley, the young Wigan girl who had spent her adolescent years at Wigan Union Workhouse and Edgworth Children’s Home left an enduring legacy in Canada that is celebrated to this day. By Graham Taylor.