Wigan Album

Can anyone tell me the reason that this building was demolished, could it not have been converted to some other use ? I am coming to Wigan in the next couple of weeks & wonder if I will recognise anything at all !

I think the main reason it was demolished Helen, was because it was in Wigan, which has an unparalleled history where architectural vandalism is concerned. Any other town would have taken pains to conserve it.

In the Sixties one of the rooms used to hold Dance Classes for young girls, I know this because both my younger sisters did Ballet and Tap when they were aged about Eight and Six. The building later housed the Junior Dole before it was all transferred to Brocul House. The reason it was flattened was so that the car-park for the now almost defunct Galleries could be built, such a wise move!

Oh Dear....there seems to be no hope for what was a fine Lancashire town. Haven't the vandals been voted out yet ?
Still, I shall look forward to seeing what is left of a place I have fond memories of.

Just a PS. I remember going to the Congregational Church with my Grandfather Thomas Bryson. It seemed like a huge space to me as a child, lots of shiny wood & a lofty ceiling. Very sad that is no more.

This is where the "new" market hall is now, what a waste of space.I attended Hope Church from about 1938 to 1950 and have many happy memories of Sunday School and Youth Club, etc. I signed on there when I left school in 1952. I remember Ian Mckellen and his sister Jean being there.

I should be able to remember a fine building like this but, strangely, I can't. Wonder if any of the culprits look at this web-site and blush with shame.

Don't worry yourself Frank, nameless culprits sitting in council offices have no shame & don't look at Wigan World because they don't really care what people want or think. A sad state of affairs in a democratic society (?)

I am tracing my family, who attended Hope Congregational Church. I have seen records from 1903 until 1939. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who might remember/ have information about the Greens or Jacksons - grocers, watchmakers, pawnbrokers and dressmakers of Hindley, Pemberton and Ince, or the church at that time.
Thanks for this website - it's fascinating.

Beautiful photo, pity there aren’t more with such clarity from other angles and of the interior.
Its destruction was nothing more than criminal vandalism by a bunch of nonentities who still put posters up around the town stating ‘Preserving Wigans Heritage’ masking the current destruction.

"Can anyone tell me the reason that this building was demolished?"
Helen, if this building once stood where I think it was (opposite Smith's bookshop), it was not "flattened" to make way for the "Galleries", because it was demolished long before the new market complex was built.
I remember, a piece of derelict land (very rough with broken bricks etc.) being opposite Smith's bookshop and it was later fenced off by square sections of metal fencing; this never changed for years. Also, at the side of this derelict land were a number of old buildings which were still being used: Whelan's supermarket, a small amusement arcade and others. These buildings, along with the old Market Hall, old bus station and the rest were demolished to make way for the new market hall etc complex.
I would give a guess at the building being demolished because it became empty (possibly, due to the expensive running and upkeep of the building) and there was no interest in any company or business buying or renting it.
Wigan planners etc would view that the building was a burden (costly to maintain/renovate etc, could become structurally dangerous, too difficult and costly to restructure for contemporary use...) and, therefore, much easier and cheaper to just demolish it. Basically, knock it down and then we will have a think about what to stick there in its place. After all, one small piece of derelict land is much easier to manage, less costly, less of a hazard and so it isn't really a public safety problem, could be accepted by the general public as just another old building which needs to be removed to create a more modern "and better?" shopping area (which, as they would say, is in the interest of shoppers and to help establish more local businesses)...
Colin gives a good insight to what is and has been going on in Wigan for decades. Sadly, it seems to be an action which is decided by the very few and the many are unable to stop.