Wigan Building Preservation Trust

Wigan's rich history, architecture and heritage, waiting to be discovered

Resources available and News at the Archives

Archives: Wigan & Leigh

Interesting updates and information from the team at Archives.

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Wigan Heritage Open Days - 2025

Every September events are organised across Wigan to celebrate our history and heritage. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.

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What's On - Sept to Dec 2025

Hello and welcome to Wigan Council's What's On Guide for Autumn - Winter 2025!

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Short Videos

A collection of short videos by the team at the Archives.

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About the Archives

The Wigan Archives Service has well over 500,000 documents, photographs, maps and historic books in our collections. See more ...,

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PastForward - Links to Articles

Thanks to volunteer Marianne Howell for providing an easier way to find and open articles from the back copies of PastForward.

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Wigan Building Preservation Trust is forming a Friends Group to support the restoration of the neglected Ince Cemetery Chapels, the first public works of the renowned Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse This project is more than a restoration — it’s a journey into the rich history of Ince and its heritage. Celebrating the past can help shape a vibrant future for the Chapels and we would love you to be part of it.

About our Project

An overview of the project to investigate the restoration of the Chapels at Ince Cemetery, designed by the eminent Victorian architect, Alfred Waterhouse in 1855.

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History of the Chapels

A brief article describing the original reasons for building the chapels and the appointment of Alfred Waterhouse as architect and the costs, plus the evolution of churches in Ince.

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Newsletter - Summer 2025

This newsletter highlights key developments, ongoing collaborations, and upcoming events that celebrate Ince’s rich heritage and the unique legacy of Alfred Waterhouse and his chapels.

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History of Ince - Lots of articles and resources

Lots of articles and resources from our volunteers and friends, charting some of the history of Ince

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Join Us

Joining the Friends group means helping to preserve a key asset of the heritage of Ince. Friends will receive regular updates to heritage talks and guided tours.

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Chapels Video

Drone footage with commentary on the history of the Chapels

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A collection of historical articles, and reminiscences of Wigan

Margery Booth – The Operatic Spy

The revised and updated true story of Margery Booth, the famous Wigan born opera singer who spied for Britain in Berlin during WW2. By Graham Taylor . Revised and updated 2025 from original 2021 version.

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Buildings "At-Risk"

Wigan Building Preservation Trust defines an at-risk building as typically a building or structure that is in a poor or deteriorating condition, often vacant, and at risk of decay, loss, or damage. The attached list is currently under review:

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Queen's Hall Discovery Room

Queen’s Hall Methodist Mission & Wigan Building Preservation Trust unveils new Discovery Room to celebrate Wigan’s heritage.

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The Yew Tree

The story of the Yew tree in Jubilee Park, Ashton in Makerfield dedicated to Pte Walter Turton of the Lancashire Fusiliers. By Graham Taylor

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Queens Hall Mission War Memorials

Details of the War Memorials held at the Queens Hall Mission in Market Street, Wigan. By Graham Taylor

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Beyond the Prison Walls

The wartime story of Grenadier Guardsman John Cecil Larkin of Orrell. From his capture in North Africa, to his escape from an Italian POW camp and subsequent journey back to Allied Lines, By Graham Taylor

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Material that could assist in the research and appreciation of the history and heritage of Wigan.

Cemetery Index

Find graves at Wigan, Gidlow, Hindley, Ince and Westwood Cemeteries, with kind permission of wiganworld

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Wigan Buildings

Wigan Building Preservation Trust (WBPT) - All the Listed Buildings within Wigan Council area, including non-listed buildings that are of historical and architectural interest.

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wiganworld

An exceptional collection of photos, history and memories of Wigan

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Haigh Hall - History

A collection of articles and resources relating to the history of the Hall, the people and the wider estate of Haigh

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Old Maps

Ordnance survey maps of Wigan from the 1840's onwards

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Ken Scally

Some cameo pieces by one of our members - Images courtesy of Wigan Archives

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Waterhouse Chapels at Ince Cemetery

Two Chapels, both Grade II Listed, were designed by Alfred Waterhouse. Alfred Waterhouse was born in Aigburth, Liverpool. The chapels were his first public works, and from the very beginning, he was set to be much more than a provincial architect. This presentation provides an overview of their current condition in 2024, along with historical and heritage findings.

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Rylands Mill

A view of the building coupled with historical research and history of this once beautiful building. A masterpiece of design for all to see on the sky-line of Wigan. A very real link to the prosperity and development of Wigan. A 2 minute time capsule.

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King Street - Heritage Action Zone

The High Street Heritage Action Zone of Wigan, focuses on King Street within the Wigan Town Centre Conservation Area. The conservation area was first designated in 1980 and covers around 10 hectares of the town centre.

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Wigan Little Theatre

A look at the Wigan Little Theatre building in Crompton Street, Wigan. In 2024. Along with its surroundings, history and heritage tit-bits. Including information on the area before there was a Crompton Street!

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Queen's Hall

This Grade II listed building is in need of some TLC to guard against damp and general weathering in the 21st. Century. Located on Market Street in full view of the new town centre development. A unique building with a strong social connection with the towns folk of Wigan.

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Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley Green

A History & Heritage video of the remaining assets from The Astley Green Coal Mine, now The Lancashire Mining Museum. The last remaining pithead gear and winding engine in the Lancashire coalfield. Both are scheduled monuments and have listed building status.

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Introduction

The Queens Hall is a grade 2 listed building, and as such, needs urgent action to repair the "at-risk" façade sympathetically.

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Video - Renovation & Restoration

Video highlighting the need for sympathetic renovation and restoration of this iconic building. The Queens Hall has been a landmark in Wigan since 1907

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Donate

We invite you to be part of this crucial effort. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to our goal of preserving this historic landmark. Together, we can safeguard the Queen's Hall and its legacy for future generations.

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Our History - Timeline

Our history spans decades and we are proud of our heritage which began in Wigan as Queen’s Hall Methodist Mission.

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Blue Plaques

The Queen’s Hall is honoured to have two plaques dedicated to Wigan Athletic and Margery Booth reflecting the building’s contribution to the heritage and culture of Wigan. Also a trailer and a documentary of Margery Booth.

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The Brick

The Brick has always been part of Queen's Hall Mission. It was started at the Hall in 2004 with an evening cafe twice a week after the first Christmas shelter. From there it moved to the Bricklayers Arms in Hallgate.

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"The Street That Was" - King Street Heritage Action Zone

Introduction to "The Street That Was"

Wigan Building Preservation Trust is very proud to be invited to contribute to the King Street Heritage Zone project.

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Historic Buildings in the Heritage Action Zone

The Heritage Action Zone covers the area around King Street. It is packed with important historical buildings, there are already 10 listed buildings in the zone and at least another 20 that are historically important.

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Lost Buildings of King Street

The Trust believes it is important to identify the "Lost Buildings" of the Street to evoke the memories and the contribution of these buildings to the rich history and heritage of Wigan.

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The Royal Court Theatre

Built in 1886, a truly magnificent building with years of history.

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People of the Street

Pen portraits of people who built, lived, worked and worshipped in King Street since it was established in the 1780's.

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Shops & Businesses in King Street in the 60's and 80's

To some people it just seems like yesterday, but it's over 50 years ago! If you have any memories of the Street in the 1960's let us know by using the Comments box

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The Building Preservation Trust is committed to raising awareness of projects that maintain and enhance the fabric and infrastructure of Wigan's history and heritage.

1876 - Robbery at the Shop

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1876 - Pianoforte Advert

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1876 - Subscription Concert

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1878 - Charles Halle Concert

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1895 - Partnership Dissolved - Charles Grime

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1895 - Partnership Dissolved - Charles & Somers Grime

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Record Labels

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Obituary - James Grime

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Obituary - Ellen Grime

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RT Johnson - the Architect

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Explosion in Arcade

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