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Wigan Album

TOWN HALL

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Town Hall tablet 1720
Town Hall tablet 1720
Photo: Keith
Views: 1,918
Item #: 26014
In 1698 Celia Fiennes on her journeys round England described Wigan as a “pretty market town built of stone and brick”.
Perhaps this was still the case when the The New Town Hall of 1720 was built to replace the Moot Hall (which had practically fallen down in 1719 - rebuilt and finally demolished 1869).
Wigan’s two MPs of the time paid over £2000 for it (a form of political bribery). The ground floor “the shambles” was occupied by butchers shops with the Council Chamber above. This classical style Georgian building was demolished in 1882, but there is a photo posted on wiganworld by Ron Hunt, go to “Places” - “Market Square” - Page 3 - it’s the 11th photo down.
Above shows the inscribed tablet marking the opening of the new Town Hall, this was attached to the building in 1720 - it is now housed in the Museum Stores at The Museum of Wigan Life - I believe it says “This Town Hall was built at the joynt (sic) expense of the Rt. Hon. the Earle of Barrymore and Sir Roger Bradshaigh Baronet the Members of Parliament for this Borough. Anno Domini 1720”. The balcony, to assist in electioneering speeches etc., was added at a later date.

Comment by: Carol on 14th February 2015 at 09:55

What a brilliant piece of local history. Thanks for sharing.

Comment by: Keith on 14th February 2015 at 21:40

Thank you for your appreciation Carol, with little bit more investigation I'm sure there's lots more of interest to be found about Wigan's rich history.

Comment by: Ashley on 16th February 2015 at 20:36

From t’internet we find for those interested historians out there (of which I’m one) …………...
Lt-Gen James Barry, 4th Earl of Barrymore attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on 31 December 1688 in the service of the army of William of Orange. He succeeded as 4th Earl of Barrymore in 1699. Promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General in 1707, he fought in the Battle of Almanza and was a prisoner there for a while.
Upon returning from Spain, he was elected as Member of Parliament for Stockbridge, and was arrested on suspicion of treason, although never charged. In 1710 he was invested as Privy Counsellor, Ireland, in 1713 and later served as Member of Parliament for Wigan between 1734 and 1747.
He died on 5 January 1747. Sounds a bit like an aristocratic rascal - he married well 3 times. His family came mainly from his last marriage - being MP for Wigan was a convenience of which he availed himself and meeting half the costs of the “New Town Hall” did him no harm at all since 14 years later he was one of Wigan’s MP’s - let’s say it gave the opportunity for him make his fortune even larger.
Those days may be behind us but the question today- Is Wigan still a “rotten Borough” according to research it is :- Evidence shows 21 million people are now living in the local government equivalent of ‘One Party States’ – with single parties holding undeserved supermajorities, and other parties incapable of providing viable opposition - See more at: http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/blog/do-you-live-in-a-rotten-borough#sthash.ASt0C11l.dpuf - Wigan is listed as one of those boroughs.
One hundred and four councils in England and Wales now have a single party holding in excess of 75% of council seats. In every case this is wholly out of proportion to the support the governing parties enjoy locally – and has given these administrations carte blanche on official business. - See more at: http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/blog/do-you-live-in-a-rotten-borough#sthash.ASt0C11l.dpuf
Any decent democracy requires a viable opposition. But the 21 million living in local One Party States don’t have that luxury. These authorities enjoy power without real accountability – and council taxpayers deserve better.
- See more at: http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/blog/do-you-live-in-a-rotten-borough#sthash.ASt0C11l.dpuf
This is one way of looking at our present situation as opposed to 1720.

Comment by: Carol on 18th February 2015 at 08:06

I'd love to have a mooch around those stores!

Comment by: Keith on 18th February 2015 at 22:04

Hi Carol, if you visit, wigan.gov.uk you'll find amongst other things they have "Collections" that include 30,000 objects relating to life in Wigan Borough. I have always found their staff very helpful indeed.

Comment by: Mick on 19th February 2015 at 11:42

I remember reading somewhere that masonry and rubble from this building was used as the foundations for the landscaping around Mesnes Park lake.

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