What's New!
9th April 2024
Articles
School Holidays
History of William Morton & Sons - Grocers, Ince & Wigan
Wigan Wakes Week
Molly Penson - The Women with a mania for houses
The times and history of Barrack Square
The Lancashire Pit Brow Lasses, and their campaign to remove women from surface labour 1842-87
Lost parts of Standish Hall found in America
The Evolution of Early Railways in Winstanley, Orrell & Pemberton 1770-1870
Resources
Statement of an Amateur Pit Brow Worker
The Parish Church of All Saints - A short history & guide
1905 - Independent Methodist Churches in Wigan
The Wigan Miracles - Queen's Hall
The Bolton's - Metalworkers of Wigan
WW2 - Bombs dropped in the Wigan area
15th January 2024
Articles
Thomas Morris of King Street - by Graham Taylor
The Dean Family of Crawford Village, Upholland
Recollections of Lomra Green- by the late Hilda Clancy
Two Old Wigan Families - Eccles & Heron - by Graham Taylor
The Victorian Playboy, Johnnie Walmesley of the Hall of Ince - By Andy Lomax
The Higsons of Blackrod & Haigh - by Caroline Heaven
Resources
The Makerfield Rambler Page - George Heaton, Wigan Architect & Engineer 1840-1910.
A Geological Background - Wigan, Dept of Environment
Bispham Hall Survey 1990 - Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit
Unveiling Ceremony of Wigan War Memorial, 1925. courtesy of Anne Hurst
20th November 2023
Society Video Presentations
Who Built Wigan's Churches - by Pat & Will Sharp
Coccium to Coal Miners - Presentation by members of the Society, Jim Meehan, Ken Scally, Clare Kenyon and Jan Thomas.
Articles
The Brindle Family of St. Mary's, Standishgate by Graham Taylor.
An Honourable Opponent - Biography of Sir Thomas Ratcliffe-Ellis by Miles Ellis
Wigan & the Salve Trade by Derek Winstanley.
A Study of the Funeral Hatchments at St. Wilfrid's Church, Standish by Jim Meehan,
Recollections of Visits to Tucson House by Jean Farrimond
History of Ince Cemetery Chapels
The Rebuilding of Wigan Parish Church in Victorian times by Peter Layland
Medieval Moated Sites around Wigan by Derek Winstanley.
Resources
Wigan Police Scrapbook by Andy Lomax
History of Football Association in Wigan (1883-1900)
Wigan Amateur Operatic Society Programme, Dec 1924. donated by Susan Rynn.
Lancashire Past - A series of articles on the Wigan area by Adrian & Richard Bowden.
12th June 2023
Society Video Presentations
Alfred Waterhouse 1830-1905 - Architectural Superstar - a presentation by Sean Jinks.
Articles
Tales from The Workhouse - The Bizarre Story of Infant Funeral by Graham Taylor.
Giants Hall Farmhouse by Graham Taylor
The Life and Times of Richard Makinson and his Arcade
Did Wigan have a Norther Soul by Keith Gildart
Wigan - The origins of Gerrard Winstanley's Radicalism by Derek Winstanley
Sam Woods Presentation at the Museum of Life.
History of St. John the Divine, Pemberton, by Michael A. Mason
A Standish Baptism - Methodism in Standish by Jim Meehan
Georgian Splendour - The Story of 21-25 King St, Wigan by Jim Mehhan
The Story of 54-56 King St, Wigan by Jim Meehan
Recollections of visits to Tucson House in the 1930's by Jean Farrimond.
Resources
Wigan Diggers Festival - from Rita Fell
Wiganers and the Spanish Civil War - from Rita Fell
The History of the Church of St. Andrew, Springfield, by Roy Taylor
Unveiling of the Wigan Mining & Heritage Monument - from Rita Fell
1891 - Report on outbreak of typhus in Scholes & Ince - investigation
The Battle of Brunaburh in 937 AD - Was it fought in Wigan? by Jonathan Starkey.
Faith & Martyrdom - Edmund Arrowsmith by Michael Peyton
The Keith Douglas Collection - "Mr. Standish" by Jim Meehan.
Leigh Town Trail, two guided walks plus the history of Leigh.
12th February 2023
Society Video Presentations
Thomas Linacre - By Eric Curless - 14th November 2022.
Northerners - By Brian Groom - 9th January
Articles
Friends of Wall Hey
Visiting History - Highfield St. Matthew's Church by Derek Winstanley
History of Wigan Mining & Technical College by Stephen Craig Smith
Wigan Wallgate Station Memorial by Graham Taylor
The Macfarlane's of Henhurst Bridge Foundry by Pau Macfarlane and Andy Lomax
A book is immortal - A critique of Orwell by Tom Walsh
Humphrey J.G. Walmesley of Westwood House, Ince, Wigan by Andy Lomax
The use of maps as an aid to historical research and the history of the Ordnance Survey by Graham Taylor.
Two Wallgaters at War by Graham Taylor
Standish Medieval Stone Cross Bases by Graham Taylor
Wigan Election Riots of 1831 by Graham Taylor
Memories of Life in Wigan during the 1950's and 60's by BETA Education.
The Anne Hurst Collection by Jim Meehan
The Life of Sam Woods M.P. by Anthony Pilgrim
The Role of Wigan Cricket Club on Rugby in Wigan (1872-1877)
Resources
Historic Buildings of Wigan
Search the website
Thomas Woodcock V.C.
Alfred Robert Wilkinson V.C.
John Elisha Grimshaw V.C.
William Stephen Kennealy V.C.
The Clockmakers and Watchmakers of Wigan (1650-1850)
Standish of Standish - Geneaology
Sale of the Haigh Estate - Auction Catalogues
The Devil's Hill - The Battle of Spion Kop by Fred Holcroft
The History of Crooke Village
Byways from Wigan - 1947
The History of Wigan Girls High School (1887-1947)
Motor Runs Round Wigan (1937)
The Official Guide to the Town Industries in 1935
Wigan Corporation Regalia (1246-1965)
Memorial Inscriptions in Hindley Graveyards
The History of Thomas Linacre Technical School (1953-1963)
Zeppelin Raid on Wigan - 12th April 1918 ( with Map)
The Diary of Roger Lowe (1663-1668)
The Rise and Fall of St. Joseph's Seminary, Upholland.
19th October 2022
Society Video Presentations
Times of Change - A Look at the former Westwood Estate by Andy Lomax
The Life of King Street by Ken Scally
The Changing Face of Wigan by Dylan Harris
Irish Potato Famine
Articles
Winstanley Moated Homesteads by Derek Winstanley
Life of Thomas Wall and family - Founder of the Wigan Observer by Malcom Ryding.
Wigan Volunteer Light Horse - History by Graham Taylor
Two Wallgaters at War by Graham Taylor
The use of Maps as an aid to historical research and the history of the Ordnance Survey
Resources
Haigh Hall - History
Cook book produced for cotton workers during the Cotton Famine in 1863
Tom Walsh - Haigh Hall - A pearl in Wigan's proud history
Local History Research - Workshops
History of Wigan Fire Brigade
Lancashire Past - Website
Link to the following articles, Parbold Windmill, Upholland St. Thomas Church, Upholland Priory and Mabs Cross.
Finch Family History - Book published in the 1870's covering the Finch, Peck and Brown famiies.
Heritage Buildings of Wigan
Over 100 heritage buildings added to the website, covering Ashton, Golborne, Lowton, Wigan, Standish, Haigh and Orrell.
30th July 2022
Pony Dick - A Lost Community between Winstanley and Wigan.
Presentation by Derek Winstanley to the Society
Punching above its Weight
Wigan's part in the Brass Band Movement.
A presentation by Wigan local History and Heritage Society member, Pete Moss.
Rylands Sidings View
Springfield Hall View
Wigan Election Riots of 1831. View
Westwood Hall. View
The Tale of William Tipping. View
Walker Bros & Pagefield Ironworks. View
History of the Parish of St. John's, Standishgate. View
Local History Research
A series of three do-it yourself workshops View
The Clockmakers & Watchmakers of Wigan (1650-1850) View
Wigan Town Centre Trail. View
Standish of Standish - Genealogy - View
Bankes of Winstanley Hall - Genealogy. View
Wigan Buildings website - Search the website - View
Lots of new heritage buildings added.......
15th May 2022
Home Town - Reflections of a Wigan Exile
Video Presentation by John Richardson
Video Presentation by John Gostellow
Cinemas of Wigan
The Most Calamitous of Times -Wigan during the Civil War Period.
Video Presentation by Jim Meehan
Centenary of the Wigan Coat of Arms
by Derek Winstanley
From Wigan to Wirral by Tom Walsh
Tales from the Workhouse - The Story of Sarah Hartley
by Graham Taylor
1st February 2022
History of the Royal Ordnance Factory - Beech Hill
by Graham Taylor
Thomas Skelton - The Fool of Haigh
The Rushton Brothers and their Building
Conversations of Pit Brow Lasses
Audio "memory" recordings produced in the 1970's by Angela v. John
A Ramble Round the Wigan Paris Church
Jam-packed with information on the history of the Church
11th December 2021
Wigan Workhouse and the Poor Law Union
by Graham Taylor
Brief History & Casualty records of the 2nd 5th Battalion of Manchester Regiment.
by Graham Taylor
Sir Francis Sharp Powell - his Life & Times and the corrupt election of 1881. - A presentation to the Society by one of our members Dr. Richard Simpson, on 8th November 2021.
A Letter from the Past
Letter from James Parkinson to his sons, on reaching 70years of age.
by Graham Taylor
Wigan - Town & Country Rambles
by John T Hilton published 1914
7th November
Wigan - 1957 - View
Provides an insight into life in Wigan in 1957. The publication has been split into various sections for improved reading.
The Tragedy at Winstanley Hall Estate - View
Julia Bracewell Folkard - Artist of the "lost paintings" - View
The WW1 diary of Rifleman William Walls - View
Tom Walsh
A Christmas story .. "to melt your heart" - View
Circle of "New Year" Life - View
Wigan Pewter and their makers - View
Wigan Buildings website - Search the website - View
Lots of new heritage buildings added.......
25th September
Two Hundered Years of Methodism in Wigan - View
Hon. James Lindsay - allegations regarding his election as Burgess for Wigan at the 1846 parliamentary election - View
Illustrated History of Wigan 1878-1978 - View - (produced Wigan Library Services)
Viaducts
The Boar’s Head-Haigh Viaduct (The Dominoes) View
The Standish-Whelley Viaduct (20 Bridges) View
History of St. John's School & Joseph Hansom (Architect) - View
20th August
BETA - Visit to the National Memorial Arboretum - View the Article
The True Story of a Pit Shaft - View Article
21, Upper Dicconson & Lord Leverhulme - View Article
150 Years Celebration of St. Patrick's 1847-1997 - View Article
20th July
13th July
A lad from Scholes meets Queen Victoria by Tom Walsh
3rd July
Interesting article by Graham Taylor on the "lost" railway station at Boars Head,
29th June
History of Speckled Holly Cottage - Standish Wood Lane
by Graham Taylor
17th June
History of Timberlakes
"High Riders & Rolls Royces" - charting the history of the Timberlake family and the buildings the company occupied in the town centre.
Swinley & the Wigan Land & Building Company
An article documenting the development of the Swinley area in the 1870's
7th June
Wigan Casualties at Gallipoli - WW1
Excellent and dedicated research by Graham Taylor - The list of 5th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, Wigan casualties, at Gallipoli. (Incomplete and still a work in progress)
31st May
Margery Booth - "The Operatic Spy"
Very interesting research on the life and times of Margery Booth, the Wigan born opera singer and the circumstances leading to her role as a spy during WW11.
by Graham Taylor
Read the Story
Highfield Cricket Club - 75 Glorious Years 1924 -1999
King Street Heritage Action Zone
Lots of interesting information on this much needed initiative. Also includes social and architectural information on the buildings within the Zone.
16th May
Video - History of the Jireh Chapel by one of our members, Pam Thomas
Article - Memories of the Whit Monday Walks by Tom Walsh
80th Anniversary of the May Blitz on Liverpool 1941 by BETA "The Two Eileens"
1811 Census
Only 1 volume of 2, including Market Street, Wiend, Hallgate, Frog Lane, Wallgate, Millgate, Scholes, Warrington Lane, Castle Yard and Club Row
The "Lost" Buildings of King Street
Part of the King Street Heritage Zone project.
Read about the history of The Palace Cinema, The Shakespeare Hotel and more long gone buildings.
Previous Updates
We've added:-
The History of the Church of St Andrew, Springfield
History of the first three vicars, including Rev. William Wickham.
Coal Mining in Hindley by Chris Southworth
Very interesting, including old maps and colliery locations identified on google maps
From one of our member, Marc Selby, who has created a great website.
Early Wigan Rugby remembers the rich history and heritage of the Wigan Rugby Football Club and champions the men who built the club up. The websites aim is to put to bed some myths and explore the true origins and events of the Wigan club from 1862 through to the First Word War.
Our sister website continues to grow with images, history and memories of over 800 buildings of interest across the borough of Wigan.
There is a search facility that you can search for an Area, Building Grade, or an individual building, by using the drop-down lists.
If you would like to recommend a new building of interest or have relevant information on an existing building, please contact:-