Wigan

Wigan the town in Greater Manchester historically is a part of Lancashire and stands on the River Douglas.

During classical antiquity Wigan was the territory of the Brigantes, an ancient Celtic tribe that ruled much of northern England. During the 1st century the Brigantes were subjugated in the Roman conquest of Britain and the Roman settlement of Coccium was established where Wigan lies. After the Romans had left in the 5th century, the Saxon in the 7th century founded a village in Wigan that in the 13th century grew into a town.

Wigan Pier © flickr/the yes man

In 1779 the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was completed as far as Wigan and the town, like many others in the north of England, was transformed by the industrial revolution. Coal mining increased and the cotton weaving industry boomed.

Today the town is world famous for the Wigan Pier on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. It used to be a coal loading staithe, probably a wooden jetty, which is believed to be demolished in 1929. George Formby, Sr. possibly was the one who invented the name Wigan Pier and also brought it to popular attention. Wigan and its Pier became famous in 1937 when George Orwell wrote his book ‘Road to Wigan Pier’, which painted a pretty grim picture of poverty and unemployment and was not very popular in Wigan.

In the 1980s Wigan Pier was redeveloped and now is a popular location for visitors and locals. A must-see for visitors at Wigan Pier is the mighty Trencherfield Mill Steam Engine, which was built in 1907.  Trencherfield Mill was a cotton spinning mill standing on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Every Sunday visitors can see the steam engine providing 2,500 hp and being one of the largest working examples of its type.

Also very popular with the visitors of Wigan are the Kittywake Canal Cruises which depart from the mooring at Wigan Pier. So after a visit to the Trencherfield Mill Steam Engine you could go on a cruise and you will certainly find that a ride on a canal barge is a great experience for the whole family. See www.kittywake.co.uk for further details.

If you want to find out more about Wigan and its people you should visit the Museum of Wigan Life, which was opened in April 2010. Besides other things you can learn something about how the Romans lived in Wigan.

Also worth a visit in Wigan is the Drumcroon Gallery in the town centre. Different exhibitions are held throughout the year and the visitors can even engage in practical activities to experience art themselves.

Another sight you should visit is the Wigan Parish Church also located in the town centre. Even though it is unknown when it was founded, it is the oldest church in Wigan. It probably was built in the 11th or 12th century. Most of what you can see today though was erected between 1845 and 1850. Most of the stained glass also is from the 1800s but there are also a few pieces of Medieval glass.

But Wigan not only offers industrial sights and museums, it also is a pretty green city with many parks. On of the most popular is Mesnes Park.

Wigan Parish Church © flickr/Victoria Reay

For visitors who seek entertainment Wigan offers several large events throughout the year. There are a food and drink festival, the Woods Festival, which is a literary event and the famous Wigan Jazz Festival which takes place every July. The festivals and events are often attended by famous guests.

Wigan is a good starting point for trips to Manchester or Liverpool and has excellent links via road or rail to both cities.

For more information on Wigan you can visit the Tourist Information Centre at 62 Wallgate, just opposite Wigan Northern Western Train Station, or click here.