Derek Winstanley
Athough he has lived in Illinois, USA, for 40 years, he returns to Wigan nearly every year and has written extensively on local history. We are pleased to provide access to his materials on the local history of Wigan and Winstanley.
Raised in Highfield, Derek went to Wigan Grammar School and Hertford College, Oxford University, where he was awarded BA and MA in Geography and DPhil in Climatology. As a scientist, Derek has conducted research and published articles on climate variability and change, Desert Locusts, bird populations, acid rain, atmospheric chemistry and water resources. He has worked in the White House under three Presidents and visited about 90 countries.
The Evolution of Early Railways in Winstanley, Orrell & Pemberton. 1770-1870
Winstanley Moated Sites.
Wigan & the Slave Trade.
Medieval Moated Sites around Wigan.
Pony Dick - A Lost Community between Winstanley and Wigan.
Presentation by Derek to the Society
Centenary of the Wigan Coat of Arms
Gerrard Winstanley 17th Century Radical - The Diggers
Zoom presentation given to our Society on 9th November 2020
Early Railways - West of Wigan 1770-1870
Presentation given to our Society on 14th Sept 2020
Founded on Coal
A History of a Coal Mining community, the Parish of St. Matthew Highfield and Winstanley.- (87 pages)
Gerrard Winstanley
A brief history of Gerrard, the founder of the True Levellers movement, more commonly know as The Diggers
The Rise and Fall of Pony Dick
A paper discussing the naming and history relating to the Pony Dick.
Walking Horse
Brief paper detailing the building of a steam locomotive by Robert Daglish for John Clarke to move coal from his Winstanley, Pemberton and Orrell colleries.
Walking Horse - Presentation
The Walking Horse & Early Railways in Winstanley, Orrell and Pemberton in the 1770s -1870s
Welsh Winstanleys
An account of the branch of the Winstanley's in Wales
When the King lost his Crown
Some Wiganers that played interesting and prominent roles in the English Civil War
Wigan & Slavery
A brief paper on slavery and any association with Wigan
Wigan Families 1580 - 1500
Explanation and list of family names in this period.
Wigan Pier
Presentation on the history of transport around the Wigan area and the importance of Wigan Pier.
Founded on Coal
A History of a Coal Mining community
The Parish of St. Matthew, Highfield and Winstanley
by Ray & Derek Winstanley. Published in 1981.
The Origins & History of Wigan Pier
A very illuminating and interesting Zoom presentation by Derek Winstanley to members and guests of the Society on 8th March
VISITING HISTORY - HIGHFIELD ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH
A visit to the church where I worshipped as a boy, recalling its association with the local mining community.
WIGAN & THE SLAVE TRADE
A comprehensive appreciation of Wigan and the families involved in the Slave Trade.