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Market Square

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Painting of the “Old Queen’s Head” Market Place. c.1800
Painting of the “Old Queen’s Head” Market Place. c.1800
Photo: Keith
Views: 2,227
Item #: 25919
A painting completed c.1800 of the “Old Queen’s Head” in Market Place (c.1700) and ascribed to the British (English) School. It’s reproduced here courtesy of The Museum of Wigan Life, Wigan Council.
John Heaton is the name on the pub sign. This painting is held by Wigan Arts and Heritage Service and is available on the internet for printing out, however, it is extremely dark and I’ve attempted to make it brighter, I think the painting needs a good clean.

Comment by: Aubrey on 26th January 2015 at 22:34

Thanks Keith for another look at Wigan history. I would guess the location would be roughly where the Makinson Arcade now is, with Standishgate dipping down the slope.

Comment by: Keith on 26th January 2015 at 23:04

Thank you Aubrey. In 1895 Library Street was “developed” and according to the “Wigan Trail” information “The new road linked Market Place with the central library, Borough Courts and Town Hall, cutting through the site of the Queen’s Head Hotel on Market Place.” So this Hotel was at the top of what is now Library Street, the old Moot Hall was once opposite it.The pub was demolished to make way for Library Street - that's my interpretation from the Wigan Trail documentation.

Comment by: Keith on 26th January 2015 at 23:07

The painting was presented by William N Meaden in 1920. There was a Meaden shop at the top of Wallgate also opposite the old Moot Hall, listed as Samuel Meaden, hosier and draper, 1 Market place in 1869 (a photo of which is already on this site) not a common surname and so I think there’s a possibility he is related to the same family - seems likely that the shop was close to the pub.

Comment by: Aubrey on 26th January 2015 at 23:15

Of course, that is Wallgate on the right. I never considered Wallgate but on closer examination the slope is considerably steeper than Standishgate.

Comment by: Wiganreds48 on 27th January 2015 at 09:19

So are you saying this is in the same place as " Moon Under Water" is today?

Comment by: bob on 27th January 2015 at 12:30

Middle of the road next to the Moon

Comment by: Neil Cain on 27th January 2015 at 15:21

I think the pillar on the extreme right is the Moot Hall. Great to see this as it is a new one to me.Thanks

Comment by: JohnB on 27th January 2015 at 20:54

I share your view Neil, a photo already on the site shows part of this pillar as well as the Meaden shop. The paintings perspective is haywire perhaps underlining the fact it may have been an amateur artist but the intriguing thing is that the Queen's Head may have been built as early as 1700 and you can take your pick as to whether it was painted then or as late as 1800. Whatever the truth it's a very early record of Wigan.

Comment by: Andrew Lomax on 31st January 2015 at 10:49

Not unless it's the cross which fronted the Moot Hall.

Comment by: Keith on 1st February 2015 at 21:05

No photograph exists of the cross but there is one of the corner of the Moot Hall.

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