A town that missed its opportunity

Sunday, 19 July 2009 10:00

Is there anything interesting in Wigan?

There is - a little! However, that depends on what you are looking for. We decided to explore the town from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. We walked down the towpath towards Trencherfield Mill. The bit that is "open"  is only open on Sundays! It is being converted into flats but still houses one of the largest mill steam engines

Trencherfield Mill

The towpath here has been made out of large cobbles and is extremely difficult to walk on. One has to ask why - it must be difficult for older people and impossible for wheelchair users. One missed opportunity to encourage everyone to have access to this part of the "Wigan Pier Quarter".

The boatyard opposite and the warehouses there look very neglected.

We chatted to a resident of Wigan who was sitting on one of the benches outside on the canal towpath. He was 80 and had worked for Leyland Motors for 40 years, he had a fund of stories! He lamented the way Wigan has gone - canal sculptures stolen (the one in the top photo above had been taken away), trouble in the pubs and the closure of the "Wigan Quarter". He said he should be a tour guide and we certainly could have done with him as we walked into the town!

We had a closer look at Terminal Warehouse 1

Sadly the town seems to have turned its back on the canal, as much more could be made of the Wigan Pier area to attract visitors. They have tried once and 2009 is the 25th anniversary of this - the  creation of "The Way We Were" museum and The Orwell, now all closed. The Queen opened it in 1984 and we were told that she visited this year as part of the anniversary. What a sad sight for her to see.

The canal itself looks neglected and the moorings are not attractive

We walked up the busy main road into the town centre, calling in at the TIC on the way. The two stations are nearly opposite each other and the main streets here have obviously suffered from the opening of The Galleries. The Galleries combine new and old as they incorporate Marketgate and Mackinson Arcade.

Old and new

Continuing up the hill we came to Wigan Parish Church, All Saints

It was open - we had timed it perfectly as it is only open on Saturdays! It is a Victorian re-creation of a church that has stood here since the 12th century or even longer! The Victorian restoration is a copy of the medieval church. It has needed to have work done on it in the recent past too.

There is much to see and it contains some ornate architecture

Pulpit and organ pipes

The organ

The Crawford Chapel has a story behind it

and has memorials to the Brandshaigh's of Haigh Hall

The ancestors of the Crawfords, Sir William Brandshaigh was reported dead in the Crusades and his wife Lady Mary married again. Her new husband was a Welsh Knight who moved in with her at Haigh Hall.

Sir William returned and gathered a local army to attack the Welsh Knight and his army, killing him and winning his wife back. Unfortunately they both had to face punishment - she for bigamy and he for murder. Sir William was banished for a year and a day and poor Lady Mary had to walk barefoot each day for about 7 miles for a year and a day. Despite all this theer marriage survived and they lived "happily ever after"!

Outside is the oldest wall in Wigan

The plaque has the builders' initials on it

There are some old houses, now shops, in the Standishgate (Wigan had lots of "gates" - Standish, Bishop, Wall, Hall, Stair and Mill) but we did not get there as we went to Morrisons which is on the edge of The Galleries and then walked back via the canal towpath again.

Even the area around the locks could be made more off. There are flats on the towpath side and offices on the offside. There are a few token benches and a couple of storyboards.

Dry dock storyboard

As we walked back the sun came out so we were able to take a photo to prove it!

Henhurst Bridge and lock 86

So although we were not over impressed with Wigan we did find plenty to see! More photos of Wigan here!