Wigan Album

Five years later Lord Balniel's son would be born and inherit the title & estate in 1975. Robert would now be aged 95 and still lives at the family home of Balcarres, Fife, Scotland.

He was kind enough to respond to my letter some 15 years ago and was delighted to hear from Wigan. He was then good enough to send a £200 donation to the Save Wigan heritage group, which morphed in to the Wigan Building Preservation Trust who operate the Wigan Buildings website.

This photo has left me wondering if the names of two places in Whelley, are named after this family.Because they are both situated right on Haigh Plantations. Balniel Walk, and Balcarres Ave.You can walk out of Balniel Walk right into the Plants leading up to Haigh Hall.Thank you Ron for the photo.Very interesting.

Yes,Edna
Lord Balneil was the Conservative candidate for Wigan in 1923

The old Wigan ward in which the streets you mention were built was Lindsay WardThe family name and titles are found in many Wigan places and societies not least the Balcarres Arms in Scholes and Crawford Street in the town centre

Thank you Donald, very interesting information. I remember Balcarres Ave, and Balniel Walk being built.