David Woods - Living at the Plantation Gate Lodges (1945–1956)
“Memories of One of Wigan's Most Unusual Homes”
David Woods believed that his family was among the last to make their home in the Plantation Gate Lodges at Wigan's historic entrance to Haigh Hall Estate.
The family's story began in 1945. David and his father had been living in lodgings while his younger brother, Alan, was staying with foster carers. Noticing that the two gate lodges stood empty, David's father approached Lord Crawford's estate agent and was offered the property to rent. After a great deal of scrubbing, cleaning and decorating, the family moved into what would become a much-loved home for the next decade.
Life at the Lodges was unlike anywhere else in Wigan. On Sunday evenings, when cinemas remained closed, hundreds of young people walked along Wigan Lane towards Marylebone. Believing the Lodges to be unoccupied, courting couples frequently sought privacy in the sheltered doorways. David's father soon made it clear that the Lodges were very much occupied, putting an end to the unexpected visitors' activities.
For a young boy, the location was idyllic. Woodland surrounded the Lodges, Marylebone Park lay directly across the road, providing endless opportunities for football and cricket, while the wider countryside became a playground for exploration and adventure. David quickly made friends with local children, and together they found themselves involved in countless youthful escapades.
Camping with friends
One memorable dispute arose when around twenty local boys regularly played rugby on the grass near Milton Grove. Residents of the large houses overlooking the park complained about the noise, and the Parks Department found a permanent solution by creating a large flower bed directly in the middle of their makeshift pitch.
The Lodge gardens also provided an unexpected business opportunity. A magnificent horse chestnut tree produced an abundance of conkers each autumn. By carefully throwing a wooden stake into the branches, David could bring down showers of conkers, which he collected and sold in the school playground at four for a penny.
The unusual layout of the Lodges often fascinated visitors. Many imagined that a tunnel connected the two buildings beneath the entrance gates. The reality was far less romantic. Family members simply dashed across the driveway between the North and South Lodges whenever they needed to move from one room to another. Since the outside toilet stood beyond the North Lodge, those nighttime journeys often became particularly energetic.
People often teased David about living in just two small rooms without a bathroom. His reply never failed to end the conversation: "It may have been a bit awkward, but we had the biggest front gate and the biggest back garden in Wigan."
In 1949, the family entered a new chapter. David's father married Grace Reid, giving David a new mother, while his younger brother Alan returned home from foster care. Alan and David shared the South Lodge as their bedroom, while the North Lodge served as kitchen, dining room, sitting room and bedroom for their parents. Despite the cramped conditions, the family adapted remarkably well.
Another adventure
David remembered how his father connected an extension lead from the wireless in the North Lodge to the South Lodge so that the boys could listen to BBC radio dramas during the winter evenings. As the wind swayed the branches outside and shadows danced across the walls from the street lamps, the frightening stories became even more terrifying.
The family expanded again in 1953 with the birth of David's brother Philip. The already overcrowded North Lodge now took on yet another role as a nursery.
Eventually, it became clear that the accommodation was no longer large enough. By then, the estate had passed into the ownership of Wigan Corporation, which offered the family a council house in Worsley Mesnes. Although they accepted the offer out of necessity, it was with genuine sadness that they left the Lodges, having grown deeply attached to their extraordinary home.
When the family first arrived, David had been an eight-year-old junior school pupil. By the time they left, he was seventeen years old and had already spent two years in employment. The Lodges had witnessed his journey from childhood into adulthood.
David at the opening of the restored Plantation Gates – 3rd July 2026
Reflecting many years later, David expressed his admiration for the restoration of the Plantation Gate Lodges and the care taken to preserve them for future generations.
He warmly congratulated everyone involved in the project, describing it as "a superb job," before ending with a smile and a question that perfectly captured his affection for the place:
"When can I move back in?"
David Woods 2026