Wigan Album

A possible 'typo' regarding the date of the painting, Ron?
James Lindsay the 24th Earl lived between 1783 and 1869, and from what can be seen of the two figures in the painting, they appear to be wearing early 19th c. clothes.

According to a painting of Haigh Hall (which I will put on the site soon), it says "A painting by the 24th Earl James of Haigh Hall prior to reconstruction by Sir Roger Bradshaigh (1675-1746)" I was under the impression that these "24th Earl James" are the same person? but obviously they arent...
Still I don't think the view would have changed much in a hundred years???

A bit of a mystery, Ron.
I can only think there has been some confusion with Donald Anderson's information/captions.
The hall was rebuilt in the 1830s by James the 24th Earl, when the old manor housse in the picture was affected by subsidence.
Whatever the case, the two principal figures in the picture are wearing archetypal Regency/early 19th century dress.

Looking to the west,that would be Standish parish church on the hill. Parbold hill beyond?

Is that Billinge Beacon in the distance?

Could be Gary Winstanley,looking south from Haigh Hall.
The beacon was constructed in Elizabethan times to signal by fire imposing danger especially the Spanish Armada.

More likely to be Ashurst Beacon. Billinge Beacon would be more to the left. If that is the Parish Church Tower? Or it could be a windmill?

The fella on the river bank with his pet brown bear appears to have a very long left arm. With all the comments and speculation about the picture, do the readers think he could have used this for fishing with ?.

No river around there.. Looks like an artificial lake? Now the site of the L.& L. Canal

Wiganreds48. He's training a seal to fish for him....as they did in those days.