Blue Plaques
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event.
The Queen’s Hall is honoured to have two plaques reflecting the building’s contribution to the heritage and culture of Wigan.
Wigan Athletic Football Club
A blue plaque marking the 90th anniversary of Wigan Athletic FC was unveiled on 13 October 2022.
This plaque is located at the entrance, the historic site where Wigan Athletic was founded in 1932 as a response to the collapse of Wigan Borough the previous year.
The creation of Wigan Athletic marked the sixth attempt to establish a stable football club in the town, following the failures of clubs like Wigan A.F.C., Wigan County, Wigan United, Wigan Town, and Wigan Borough.
The formation of Wigan Athletic began with a public meeting at Queen's Hall, where local football enthusiasts gathered to discuss the future of football in the town.
This meeting was presided over by Councillor W.A. Hipwood, the Mayor of Wigan, and Callum Roper, who urged the town to maintain its sporting heritage by supporting both a football and rugby league team. Their appeal led to the election of a committee and the official establishment of Wigan Athletic.
The newly formed club purchased Springfield Park, the former home of Wigan Borough, for £2,850. Despite initial setbacks, including a rejected application to join the Football League, Wigan Athletic was eventually elected to the Cheshire County League after Manchester Central resigned.
The club played its first-ever league game on August 27, 1932, against Port Vale Reserves, wearing red and white shirts with black shorts.
The plaque formally recognises the origins of Wigan Athletic and celebrates the significant role that sporting clubs play in the town's heritage and culture.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by several notable figures, including the Mayor of Wigan, Councillor Marie Morgan, and other dignitaries, including supporter Anthony Topping, who played a key role in nominating the plaque.
Margery Booth - Opera Singer & WW2 spy
In December 2021 the plaque was unveiled by the Mayor, Yvonne Kleive dedicated to Margery Booth.
Born in Hodges Street in 1906, Margery was a member of the Wigan and District Operatic Society and established a successful classical music career in Germany prior to 1939 and the outbreak of war.
On October 4th 1935 she sang professionally, her first performance outside London, at the Queen's Hall.
Her life took a remarkable turn during World War II when she secretly worked as a spy for the British. Despite being under Nazi scrutiny, she gathered and passed on critical information, even performing in front of Adolf Hitler with secret documents hidden in her dress. After the war, Booth's contribution was crucial in convicting British traitors like Lord Haw-Haw.
Unfortunately, her heroic efforts were misunderstood by some, leading to her rejection in post-war Britain. She emigrated to the United States, where she passed away in 1952 at the age of 46.
"The Once Forgotten is Now Remembered" is an appropriate epitaph to amazing life of a Wigan girl.
For more information on the life of Margery Booth read the extensive and well researched article by Preservation Trust volunteer, Graham Taylor.
Additional Information
See video trailers for a possible film of Margery Booth.
Short Trailer
Documentary
.... with a bit of artistic licence!
