Wigan Album

As Keith rightly points out the pond was where Haigh Curlers played. Now, unfortunately it seems to be a dumping ground for the low life that litter Haigh with their cans, fast food wrappers, broken baby buggies, even house radiators.

Is this fine building still standing?

Yes and at present the coachhouse is being converted to a dwelling

Do you know how old this beautiful building is and who lived there.

Yes and at present the coachhouse is being converted to a dwelling

It was built by Colin Lindsay, son of the Earl, I think somewhere round about the late 1840s.

It is named on the 1892 Ordnance Survey map but not on the 1845 one, so could have been built between the two dates, or an existing house could have been extended or renamed. Someone on here will know.

My great great grandmother, on my mother's paternal side, started her married life at the equally impressive Moat House in 1861, which is just yards to the left of Haighlands, her husband Maskell Peace was an Attorney and Solicitor, the Steward of the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres Estates and Wigan's Town Clerk - theirs was the "upstairs life", not something I would know much about.

Narrowing the date down, it was in existence by 1854 as Colin Lindsay moved out due to the noise of rebuilding Home Farm in 1854, so somewhere between 1845 and then. Originally a Tannery stood on the site. the approximate route of the current driveway was called Tanners Lane

Keith you descend from William Peace then, Maskell's father. Have you seen his big memorial in Haigh St. David's churchyard. A HERO OF MINE I HAVE TO SAY.

Just to add to the "curling" pond story a little - my gt gt grandmother's brother James Wood came down from the Earl of Balcarres Estate in Fife, where curling is far more popular, to run the Farms for the Lindsay family at Haigh in the early 1850's, perhaps this is how we came to have it down here.

Thanks for the info. Neil. Looking again at the 1845 o.s. map on National Library of Scotland website (excellent for old maps) there is a house named as Tan Yard House in approximately the same grounds as Haighlands but the house was in a different position. Maybe this was demolished, together with the tannery, and the new house built and garden laid out soon afterwards?

Hi Neil, thank you, I wasn't aware of the memorial, next time I find myself in Wigan (I live in the West Midlands) I shall pay a visit. My "interest" centred around his son and wife, but I was aware of William Peace's considerable achievements. I do have a "family history story" focused around Maskell and Ann(ie), if interested I could outline it for you just need your email address. I also have a copy from the 1853 newspapers detailing the "Wigan Riots" in which both father and son are mentioned, could send copy if you wished and I have photo of Maskell with wife Annie Lindsay Peace (nee Wood) etc., etc.,

Keith, thanks I have put up my e mail for you. The William Peace Memorial is at the rear of the Church of St.David's Haigh and is the largest there. The lettering has worn badly but you can still see the Peace name. I could e mail you a photo if required but not until next week.

Keith I realise I didn't respond re the 1853 riots. I have probably got the gist of the report in the coverage in Lancashire and Cheshire Miners, but thanks.

I'll be in touch Neil, once I've got some details sorted.