Wigan

 

(wĭg'ən) , city (1991 pop. 88,725) and metropolitan district, N England, located in the Manchester metropolitan area on the Douglas River. Wigan has a wide variety of industries, including electrical engineering, food processing, mail order, and the manufacture of paper, glass, fiber products, and textiles.

In the Middle Ages, Wigan was an important market town. It was long noted for the manufacture of pottery and pewter and for bell founding. There were ironworks in the 19th cent. Wigan is thought to have been the site of the Roman station Coccium. Its Church of All Saints has a Norman tower.

Wigan
Wigan shown within Greater Manchester
Population	81,203 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference	SD583055
- London	176 miles (284 km) SE
Metropolitan borough	Wigan
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WIGAN
Postcode district	WN1
Dialling code	01942
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Wigan
European Parliament	North West England
List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester

Coordinates: 53°′″N 2°′″W / 53.5448, -2.6318

Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England^[1]. With a total population of 81,203,^[2] Wigan is the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.

Historically part of Lancashire, Wigan is a former industrial centre for textile manufacture, having experienced rapid growth during the Industrial Revolution.

Wigan is roughly equidistant from the cities of Manchester, Preston and Liverpool, and is neighboured by the towns of Leigh, St Helens, Bolton, Chorley and Warrington.

History

Toponymy

There are two theories for the meaning of Wigan (pronounced "wĭg'ən") as a place-name. One theory is that the name is a Celtic one named after a person called Wigan;^[3] this would be a personal name place-name, e.g. Stevenston in Ayrshire. This may have been linked with Tref (meaning homestead) to give an original name of TrefWigan.^[3] It should be noted that gwig in Welsh signifies 'forest.' Either way, if the name is of Celtic origin, the Proto-Celtic form must have been *Wikanio-. This looks very much like an augmented form of the Proto-Celtic word *wika- meaning 'fight.' So the toponym *Wikanio- may have denoted 'battlefield.' Whatever the case, this Proto-Celtic form would have developed into *Vicaniom in Romano-British Brittonic. There is, however, no place in Wales with the name Wigan, the closest being Lledwigan which isn't recorded until the 14th century.^[4] However, other sources suggest the etymology is from Old English wig / wiga 'warrior' (not meaning the same as modern English wig) or wicga 'insect', which is not supported by most written records^{[citation needed]}. The name was recorded as Wicgen in 1286.^{[citation needed]} In total half a dozen explanations have been recorded by a former Wigan chief librarian.^[5] It is also possible that the name is cognate with Welsh wig hen, meaning "old fort", referring to the Roman vicus of Coccium.

Early history

The first people believed to have settled in the Wigan area were the Brigantes^[3] living in Chochion. The Antonine Itinerary mentions a settlement, in the general vicinity, by the Romans^[6] which was renamed around 79 AD following one of many wars with the Celts to Coccium. Whilst there is evidence of Roman activity, namely coins being found during construction work^[6] and the most recent finding, a hypocaust system discovered during the construction of the foundations for a new shopping centre in the town centre,^[7] there is no conclusive evidence of Wigan lying on the same site.^[6]

Wigan is not mentioned in the Domesday Book, probably as it was included in Neweton (now Newton-le-Willows).^[8] The traditional date given for the incorporation of Wigan as a borough is 1246 following the issue of a Charter by King Henry III.^[8] The earliest incorporation of the town is actually mentioned in the report of the Norroy King of Arms in 1613, that "The Towne and Bourrough of Wiggin was antiently incorporated by the most noble Kinge, Kinge Hen, the first, in the first year of his raygne,".^[9]

English Civil War

The Battle of Wigan Lane^[10] was fought on August 25, 1651 during the Third English Civil War, between Royalists under the command of the Earl of Derby and elements of the New Model Army under the command of Colonel Robert Lilburne. The Royalists were defeated, losing nearly half their officers and men. The Earl of Derby, as Lord of Mann, had enlisted ten men from each parish in the Isle of Man; 170 in total. David Craine^[11] states, "those who did not fall in the fighting [were] hunted to their death through the countryside."

A monument, on Wigan Lane, stands in memory of Sir Thomas Tyldesley who was killed at the Battle of Wigan Lane.^[12]

Industrial Revolution

Wigan, primarily a mill town, was once an important centre of textile manufacture. The Leeds-Liverpool Canal was diverted from its original planned course, at the request of the mill owners, to transport coal from the Lancashire coalfield pits into Wigan for the mills and was used extensively to transport local produce. In 1818 William Woods introduced the first power looms to the Wigan cotton mills. These mills swiftly became infamous for their dangerous and unbearable conditions, low pay and use of child labour. After the war there was a boom followed by a slump from which Wigan's textile industry did not recover. The last working cotton mill, the May Mill, closed in 1980. The novel Rose by Martin Cruz Smith is centred around the Victorian era coal mining community in Scholes, a predominately poor Irish Quarter and is contrasted by conditions of the ruling local lord of the manor, based somewhat on The Earl of Balcarress of Haigh near Wigan.

In 1937, Wigan was prominently featured in George Orwell's The Road to Wigan Pier, which dealt, in large part, with the living conditions of England's working poor. Some have embraced the Orwellian link, as it has provided the area with a modest tourist base over the years.^[13] Others regard this connection as disappointing, considering it an insinuation that Wigan is no better now than it was at the time of Orwell's writing.^[14]

Governance

Wigan was historically part of the hundred of Newton, later becoming part of the West Derby Hundred. The ancient parish of Wigan All Saints contained a number of townships which formed separate civil parishes from 1866.

Wigan was one of the few industrial towns of the 19th century to have already received a charter as a borough. It was reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, and was one of the boroughs to be granted the status of county borough by the Local Government Act 1888, giving it independence from Lancashire County Council. The former area of Pemberton Urban District was annexed to the County Borough of Wigan in 1904. In 1974 the County Borough of Wigan was abolished and its former area transferred to form part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.^[15]

Wigan is in the Wigan Parliamentary constituency. It is part of the Anglican Diocese of Liverpool and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool.

Geography

The historic town of Wigan forms a tightly-integrated conurbation along with the areas of Orrell and Ince-in-Makerfield, this is connected by ribbon development to Standish and Abram. These areas, together with the West Lancashire town of Skelmersdale, are defined by the Office for National Statistics as the Wigan Urban Area, with a total population of 166,840.^[16]

Economy

Business connections to the town include:

• Heinz the home of the baked bean, formerly 57 varieties, amongst the largest food manufacturers in Europe.
• JJB Sports, nationwide sports clothing retailer
• Wm Santus and Co, producer of the mints known as Uncle Joe's Mint Balls.
• Thomas Beecham, sold his pills in Wigan for a short time^{[citation needed]}, before moving to St Helens where he founded, what was to become, the world's largest pharmaceutical producer, Beechams
• The Lindsay art connoisseurs are connected with the town^{[citation needed]}
• The Tote
• Girobank

Landmarks

• Wigan Pier Experience on the banks of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal which includes the Trencherfield Mill Engine a working mill steam engine.
• Haigh Hall (Country Park)
• Wigan Parish Church.
  

  

  Wigan Parish Church
• Wigan War Memorial.
• Mab's Cross.
• St Wilfrid's Church, Standish
• Trencherfield Mill & Steam Engine.
• Wigan & Leigh College Pit Winding Wheel.
• Scotsman's Flash.
• Wigan Town Hall.
• Wigan Market Hall.
• Uncle Joe's Mint Balls Factory.
• Wigan Market Square.
• Mesnes Park.
• Wigan Pier.
• The Grand Arcade
• JJB Stadium
• Whitley Woods

Education

Wigan is home to a number of high reputation colleges of Further Education including Winstanley College the third rated college for A Level in the UK; and Wigan and Leigh college which offers a wide range of courses in vocational and academic subjects.

Regeneration

Wigan is currently in the midst of a large regeneration project with the 'Grand Arcade' shopping complex which opened its doors on the 22nd March 2007 being the largest current development. The area around the famous pier is currently being developed into the “Wigan Pier Quarter” with the redevelopment of Trencherfield Mill, as an office and residential building, being at the forefront of the development. A hotel, numerous bars and art studios are also set to the feature although plans for a new theatre look to be doomed because of spiralling costs. Other developments in the pipeline include a new swimming baths, to be built on the same site as the current baths, which are to be demolished, a new 18 storey tower block (which will include 15,000sq feet of retail and leisure units,35,000 sq feet of offices and 150 apartments) called "Tower Grand" which will be located next to the Grand Arcade, residential and office buildings on the site of the former police station and plans are also afoot to develop the old town hall which has been in a state of decay for many years.^{[citation needed]}

Culture

Wigan is famous for having one of the highest concentrations of Pubs and Social Clubs in the UK. The National Union of Labour and Socialist Clubs until recently held an annual event at Haigh Hall. There are still approximately twenty Labour Clubs in the area.^{[citation needed]}

Music

Wigan has been well known for its popular music since the days of George Formby Snr and George Formby Jnr. It was the birthplace of The Eight Lancashire Lads a dancing troupe who gave the young Charlie Chaplin his professional debut. One member of the troupe was a John Willie Jackson, The "John Willie" to whom George Formby would often refer in his songs. Local bands that gained wider repute include The Verve, The Railway Children, Witness, The Tansads, Limahl of Kajagoogoo and (more recently) Starsailor.

The Verve are one of the most important British rock groups of the 1990s, finding success in the UK and abroad (even touring on the USA's famous Lollapalooza alternative rock festival). The band was formed when the members met at Winstanley College in 1989. They held their most famous homecoming gig at Haigh Hall, Wigan on 24 May 1998.

The Wigan Casino was, from 1973, the location for Wigan's weekly Northern Soul all-nighters (most being DJed by famous deep funk & northern soul DJ Keb Darge), until it was demolished in 1983.

Wigan remains a centre of popular music for young people, with a number of alternative pubs/clubs in the town centre. The town also has a music collective which exists to promote the scene and help out local musicians and bands. They host weekly gigs at The Tavern and also host various other activities such as the annual Haigh Hall Music Festival, which attracted around 7,000 guests in 2007. The Collective also offers recording sessions and gig advice for young musicians.^[17]

Pies

Wigan is home to the annual World Pie Eating Championship, usually held at Harry's Bar on Wallgate, Wigan. The competition has been held since 1992. In 2007, a vegetarian version was added. Wiganers are proud to be called pie-eaters, but the nickname is not thought to be because of their appetite for the delicacy. The name is said to date from the 1926 General Strike when Wigan miners were starved back to work before their counterparts in surrounding towns and were forced to eat "humble pie". ^[18].

Transport

Roads

Wigan lies on the meeting point of two primary A roads, the A49 and A577 which link to the M6 and M58 motorways.

Railways

There are two railway stations in Wigan town centre. These are located virtually across the street from each other in Wallgate, on the southern fringe of the town centre.

• Wigan North Western is linked to the electrified north-south West Coast Main Line.
  Virgin Trains provides express trains to London Euston, Birmingham, Lancaster, Carlisle, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Northern Rail has trains to Preston and Blackpool and a regular local service along the line to St Helens and Liverpool Lime Street.

• Wigan Wallgate serves lines running east and west from Wigan.
  Northern Rail provides trains to Southport and Kirkby (with connections to Liverpool Central and the Merseyrail system). A frequent local service also operates to Bolton and Manchester (Victoria and Piccadilly), with most trains from Wigan continuing through to other destinations such as Manchester Airport, Stockport, Oldham and Rochdale. Pemberton railway station serves the Pemberton area of the town.

Buses

A network of local buses serves Wigan and district; it is co-ordinated by Greater Manchester PTE and departing from a bus station in the town centre, which is also served by National Express long distance services.

Since deregulation and privatisation of the bus industry in the 1980s and 1990s, a number of different companies have operated in Wigan, some big, some small.
At present the two larger national operators are:-

• First Manchester, which operates routes generally to the north-east, east and south-east of the town, including buses to Leigh, Bolton and Manchester.
• Arriva, which operates north and west of Wigan to Bolton, Chorley, Leigh, Preston, Skelmersdale, Southport, St Helens and Warrington.

South Lancs Travel also provide numerous services around the borough of Wigan.

Canals

Wigan is on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and is epitomised by Wigan Pier. There is also a branch of the canal from Wigan to Leigh, with a connection to the Bridgewater Canal which links Wigan to Manchester.

Sports

Wigan's main sports teams are Wigan Warriors (rugby league) and Wigan Athletic (football). Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors share the JJB Stadium in the Newtown area of the town. Wigan RLFC's ground, for most of the 20th century, was Central Park which stood alongside the River Douglas in Wigan. It was the scene of many Lancashire Cup Finals, Challenge Cup Semi-Finals, international games and test matches, Springfield Park, in Wigan, was the former home of Wigan Athletic FC. Orrell R.U.F.C. were one of the north's top rugby union side reaching the National Division One, but have suffered dramatic decline in recent times. They play at Edge Hall Road. Wigan R.U.F.C. are another popular union side.

As Wigan RLFC, the "Warriors" in the eighties and nineties were England's leading rugby league team, however the team has under-acheived greatly in recent years, becoming a shadow of the team they were in the 1990s. A poor start to the 2006 Super League season resulted in the sacking of Ian Millward as coach, and prompted the hiring of Bradford Bulls coach Brian Noble. Noble brought in less inferior players whom were rejected from their former clubs including Stuart Fielden and the team won 9 of their last 13 matches, ensuring that they weren't relegated, and finished 8th in the league table. The team have also been close to relegation for the past two seasons and have had numerous points deductions for salary cap breaches, of which the club always deny depsite being found guilty.

Wigan Athletic were elected to the Football League only in 1978 and had little success for many years, but they have recently gained promotion to the F.A. Premier League and the 2005/06 season was their first ever in the top flight. The team was in the top half of the table for the entire season, finishing tenth, and made it to the League Cup Final in February 2006, where they were beaten by neighbours Manchester United.

Wigan is one of relatively few towns in the UK to have an international-standard swimming pool in the town centre. The pool itself was built to exact Olympic standards, but has never been used for official Olympic sanctioned competition. The resident swimming club, Wigan Wasps, which has now changed its name to Wigan BEST^[19][20] has produced Olympic standard swimmers, including medal winner June Croft.

Wigan staged motorcycle speedway racing at two different venues. Poolstock Stadium was the home of Wigan Warriors who raced in the National League Division two in 1947 and a short open season in 1960. Woodhouse Lane Stadium was used briefly in the early 1950s. Details of the Warriors activities are shown on www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk

Notable people

People who were either born or brought up in Wigan or its surrounding area, or have had some significant connection with the town, or its surrounding area, during their life, include:

Arts and entertainment The Verve music band, met at Winstanley College, Winstanley, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, rehearsed and began playing in and around Wigan (including homecoming gig in 1998) Thomas Billington, professional wrestler Kay Burley, TV newscaster George Formby, comedian, ukulele player and actor Roy Kinnear, comedy actor Stuart Maconie, journalist/broadcaster Sir Ian McKellen, Hollywood actor Jennifer Moss, actress Eva Pope, actress Frank Randle, comedian Ted Ray, comedian Davey Boy Smith, professional wrestler Davinia Taylor, actress Jennifer James, actress Ashley Slanina-Davies, actress Bryan Talbot, comic artist and graphic novelist Greg Ellis, actor and voice over artist Kathryn Drysdale, actress Business David Whelan, businessman and owner of the Wigan Warriors, Wigan Athletic, and JJB Sports

Politics Leslie Cannon, trade union leader Gerrard Winstanley, founder of the 17th century Diggers Joe Gormley born Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan in Lancashire in 1917. NUM trade union leader Sport Billy Boston, Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee Shaun Edwards, Rugby League player Andrew Farrell, former Great Britain Rugby League captain and Wigan Warriors captain Sean Long, Rugby League player, now playing for St. Helens RLFC Frank Richards, Bodybuilder, winner of Mr Universe (Tall) 1970, Winner of Mr World (Tall) 1969, Winner of Mr Britain 1969 and reached the top 10 of Mr Olympia 1985 Peter Atherton, Former Premiership footballer. Lee Croft, Former Man City starlet now with Norwich City. Andy Griffin, Ex Newcastle footballer now with Derby County. Leon Osman, Billinge born Everton star. Danny Wilson, Successful footballer and football league manager. Danny Sonner, Wigan born Northern Ireland international footballer. Angus Fraser, Billinge born former England and Lancashire cricketer. Jim Sullivan, Ex Wigan Rugby League player

See also

• Coat of arms of Wigan
• Wigan Rural District
• Wigan Pier
• The Road to Wigan Pier
• Earl of Crawford
• Category:People from Wigan

References

External links

• The Leeds Liverpool Canal in Wigan www.towpathtreks.co.uk
• Online borough guide
• wigantoday - Wigan Observer, Wigan Recorder, Wigan Evening Post
• Wigan World
• The Wigan Archaeological Society

Ceremonial county of Greater Manchester
Metropolitan districts	City of Manchester • City of Salford • Metropolitan Borough of Bolton • Metropolitan Borough of Bury • Metropolitan Borough of Oldham • Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale • Metropolitan Borough of Stockport • Metropolitan Borough of Tameside • Metropolitan Borough of Trafford • Metropolitan Borough of Wigan
Cities/Towns	Altrincham • Ashton-in-Makerfield • Ashton-under-Lyne • Atherton • Bolton • Bury • Cadishead • Chadderton • Cheadle Hulme • Cheadle • Denton • Droylsden • Dukinfield • Eccles • Failsworth • Farnworth • Golborne • Heywood • Hindley • Horwich • Hyde • Ince-in-Makerfield • Irlam • Kearsley • Leigh • Little Lever • Littleborough • Manchester • Middleton • Milnrow • Mossley • Oldham • Prestwich • Radcliffe • Ramsbottom • Rochdale • Royton • Sale • Salford • Shaw and Crompton • Stalybridge • Stockport • Stretford • Swinton • Tyldesley • Walkden • Westhoughton • Whitefield • Wigan • Worsley See also: List of civil parishes in Greater Manchester
Rivers	Beal • Bollin • Croal • Dean Brook • Douglas • Etherow • Goyt • Irk • Irwell • Medlock • Mersey • Roch • Spodden • Tame • Tonge
Topics	Demography • Geography • Parliamentary constituencies • Places

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