Wigan Building Preservation Trust

Interesting updates and information from the team at Archives.

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

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

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

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

A Searchable Reference List Of Documents, Books and Collections that are held by Archives.

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.

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:

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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