Wigan Local History & Heritage Society

Monday 14th Feb, 7pm
At Real Crafty, Upper Dicconson St, Wigan

The Most Calamitous of Times - Wigan During the English Civil War Period



More info:
Facebook / www.wiganlocalhistory.org

More talks: YouTube
Previous thread: Sep 2020 - Jul 2021

Loyal to a King who was in turn totally disloyal to his subjects: what does that say about us?

The Annie Mossity, between Wigan and Leigh goes back to the English Civil war, when the Lobby people, supported Cromwell, instead of the King

Incy Mossity, maybe. I don't dig it, but I gather they did.

An intriguing tweet by the Society - @wiganlocalhist1:

“During the English Civil Wars, Wigan was said to be Loyal to the King, but was it, and what price did the town pay?”

Wigan during the English Civil War Period
By Jim Meehan
Filmed + recorded live by C Fox

YouTube Link

The Society’s next talk is on Mon 14th March, 7pm at Real Crafty

@WiganLocalHist1:
Wigan has many fine heritage buildings. Sadly, some are ‘At Risk’. Spotlight on Blundell Memorial in Alexandra Park.

Who was Blundell?



Read all about it:
www.wiganbuildings.co.uk

The society now has a dedicated YouTube channel and it’s free to subscribe. (Fb)

Wigan Local History & Heritage Society Talks: YouTube Channel

Society Membership
“If you are interested in becoming a member of the society you’ll be very welcome. Online membership is also available. The subscription fee is £10 a year, see here for the benefits“: Link



Application Form: Link

Care of Friendless Girls and Unmarried Mothers in Wigan 1884 -1934

Tue 8th Mar, 1pm - 2pm
Leigh Town Hall - Link

Between 1884 and 1934 homes such as St Margaret's in Goose Green were set up to care for women and girls deemed 'vulnerable', to provide shelter for them.

Mon 14th March, 7pm
Real Crafty, Upper Dicconson St, Wigan

A History of Wigan Cinemas
By John Gostellow



Facebook

The Museum of Wigan Life on Library St, Wigan is well worth a visit, as is Leigh Town Hall for the Archives: Wigan and Leigh Exhibition.

Info: www.wigan.gov.uk


Wigan and Leigh Archives Online
Photographic and collections website

archives.wigan.gov.uk

!

I was thinking of you, Tonker, as I posted ‘Wigan and Leigh’, and should have added this caveat: if you visit any of the exhibitions watch your blood pressure.

@WiganLocalHist1:



Article - Link

Cinemas of Wigan Talk is now on YouTube

Wigan U3A now meet at:

Wigan Cricket Club,
Bull Hey, Parson’s Walk, Wigan

Speaker's Meeting
Wed 4th May, 10.30am

The History of Haigh Hall
By Geoff Brown

More info: u3asites.org.uk/wigan / Facebook

Museum of Wigan Life
FREE lunchtime building & permanent exhibition tour



• Wed 4th May, 12noon (Sold Out)
• Wed 6th Jul, 12noon
• Wed 7th Sep, 12noon
• Wed 2nd Nov, 12noon

Link: Eventbrite


Talk on Alfred Waterhouse
By Sean Jinks (Link)

Sat 7th May, 12pm - 1pm
Museum of Wigan Life, Library St, WN1 1NU

Alfred Waterhouse was an English architect particularly associated with the Victorian Gothic Revival style of architecture. He designed many celebrated buildings including Manchester Town Hall and Natural History Museum, but did you know he also left his mark on Wigan? Join local historian Sean Jinks for this fascinating talk where he will bring to life the man, his beautiful buildings, and his links to the Museum of Wigan Life.

£2.50, includes tea or coffee
Booking essential
Ring 01942 8281288 or email wiganmuseum@wigan.gov.uk

Coalopolis – Wigan’s Mining Heritage
By Alan Davies

Thu 21st April, 12pm - 1pm
Museum of Wigan Life, Library Street, WN1 1NU

In the late 19th century Wigan took on the title ’Coalopolis’. It was the most important coal mining town in the world with 700 years of developing mining methods, technical advances and mining education. In 1863 the borough had 48 collieries operating and by 1912, a total of 31,932 men and women were employed in the industry. At the time of nationalisation in 1947, 34 mines remained with its last deep mines Bickershaw and Parsonage in Leigh, closing in 1992. Join Alan Davies for this fascinating talk to find out more about Wigan’s amazing mining heritage.

£2.50, includes tea or coffee
Booking essential
Ring 01942 8281288 or email wiganmuseum@wigan.gov.uk

"In the late 19th century Wigan took on the title ’Coalopolis’. It was the most important coal mining town in the world "

What a load of absolute rubbish. If Alan Davies gives a talk on this claim, he should be hung, drawn and quartered on Believe Square!
It's a pack of lies and incorrect information.

You are very right.
What does Jonathan Creek know about industrial towns? He comes from Chingford.

But, (joking apart) Tonks, I agree. Would you like to "hook up" (never known what that means but showing I'm down there with it) and go and heckle from the back?

Jonathan Creek indeed!

Sorry, Tonker, I don’t know who’s behind the write up, but Alan Davies is a mine of local information & I’m sure it will be a very interesting talk.

"... is a mine...." ha ha ha....

Oh, jo anne, you are hilarious.

"In 1863 .... the borough ...... etc."

Thank you Tonks.

“Ince Township” - on the old map Tonker linked to - those were the days!

gerrumonside! Exhibition
Museum of Wigan Life

Tues-Sat, 10am-4pm, & it's free! Family friendly, jam packed with objects from all aspects of the game & there's even a mini stadium.


@WiganMuseum

gerrumonside! FREE Exhibition Tour

• Wed 6th Apr, 12 noon
• Wed 1st Jun, 12 noon
• Wed 3rd Aug, 12 noon
• Wed 5th Oct, 12 noon

Link: Eventbrite

Wigan Rugby Heritage Society officially launches this weekend

Sat 2nd April, 10am - 4pm
Museum of Wigan Life



Pop in to find out more (Link)

@WiganCivicTrust Members Meeting
Mon 25th April, 7.30pm
Deanery School, Frog Lane

Talk by David Proctor
Wigan Town Centre - ‘A Sustainable and Vibrant Future’
On the regeneration of our historic town centre and how the town is evolving to meet the changing needs of our community

Mr Proctor is Acting Assistant Director Growth and housing

Free parking at the school

www.wigancivictrust.uk

A talk recently added to YouTube: Link

An interesting response to John’s presentation from Eric Curless: Link

*Today - Mon 25th Apr, 7.30pm*

Talk by David Proctor
Wigan Town Centre - ‘A Sustainable and Vibrant Future’

Deanery School, all welcome!

www.wigancivictrust.uk

I went, never got further than talking about the New Development. To be honest I felt sorry for the guy as he was inundated with questions he couldn't answer I asked if the rumors that were going around that the Chinese had pulled out of the development were true By his demeanor and angry answer, that He didn't answer questions about rumours from market traders led every one to think they are in fact true??? If not why didnt he just say THEY ARE JUST RUMOURS ??? Lets wait and see. I think the council should now make a statement. to either confirm or deny these rumours.

Here Here

I agree!

Museum of Wigan Life Tour
Wed 4th May, 10.30am - 11.30am (Link)



Also Wed 6th July, 7th Sep

Booking link: Eventbrite

jo anne are you employed by the council? if so whats your job? You appear to be the main source of council information<g>

No, just a social media busybody really, Admin.

Booked my ticket for the Library Tour.

jo-anne,

Just going back to the Civil War: wasn't Ince on the opposing side to Wigan?

I stand to be corrected, but I thought that the Parliamentary Ditch (Front line, close to Ince Moss) separated the two.

Sorry, Ena M, I’m not well up on that history, but it does sound intriguing.

Local Life - Wigan - May 2022 is out now and it’s a really great read: Link

On p.58 - 61, there’s an interesting local history article: ‘The Tale of William Tipping’ by Nicola Gray.

Talk by Brian Groom
Mon 9th May, 7pm
At Real Crafty, Upper Dicconson St



More info: Facebook

Brian Groom’s talk is now on the Society’s YouTube Channel:

Northerners: A History

The book is one of the recommendations which Amazon sent to me.

Apparently number three in 'The Times' best seller list.

A bit expensive: even the Kindle version is a tenner.

I am a bit warry though: Historians usually offer a distorted interpretation of the past, and when journalists do so, it is too easy to be seduced into believing things about which it is wise to be more circumspect.

As they say, Ena, never let the facts get in the way of a good history.

@ArchiveWigLeigh (17th May):

Articles wanted for the next edition of Past Forward, up to 1,000 words and can include images, deadline 17th June (Facebook)

That's Tonks, back right.

Mon 13th June, 7pm, at Real Crafty - Link

Pony Dick: A lost community between Winstanley and Wigan
By Derek Winstanley

All welcome and free of charge

Derek’s talk is now on the Society’s YouTube Channel:

Pony Dick - A Lost Community Between Winstanley & Wigan

Wigan u3a at Wigan Cricket Club



Upcoming Local History Talks (10.30am)

Wed Jul 6th Eric Curless
Thomas Linacre & His Famous Contemporaries

Wed Aug 3rd Gwyneth Millard
Great Aunt Eliza

Wed Oct 5th Barbara Lambert
Victorian Chemists and their Cures

Wed Nov 2nd Frank Vignon
The Sixties – A Decade of Decadence – Youth in Revolt

More info: u3asites.org.uk/wigan/events

Museum of Wigan Life
More tours added:

gerrumonside! Rugby League Exhibition Tour
• Sat 2nd Jul, 1.30pm
• Sat 15th Oct, 1.30pm

Details: Eventbrite

Heritage Buildings of Wigan

Fb Group



Members of the Fb group who’d like to help can contact an admin.

www.wiganbuildings.co.uk

Punching Above Its Weight - Wigan’s Part in the Brass Band Movement
By Peter Moss (Facebook)

YouTube Video

Monday 8th Aug, 7pm
The Real Crafty Pub

Irish Potato Famine
A Presentation by Kevin Griffin


Facebook

Kevin’s talk is now on the Society’s YouTube Channel:



The Irish Potato Famine

New public Facebook group:



Wigan Local History and Heritage

Local events include:

Sat 17 Sep:
Museum of Wigan Life
• Building tour: 10.30-11.15 & 1.30-2.15
• Rugby league exhibition tour: 11.45-12.30 & 2.45-3.30
• Research your family history sessions: 11-3
• From the Wigan Nightingale to Rock and Roll: 1-2

Mon 12th Sep:
Real Crafty, 9 Upper Dicconson St
• Film - The Changing Face of Wigan and King Street: 7-9

Further info & how to book: www.heritageopendays.org.uk

* Tonight *
Mon 12th Sep, 7pm - 9pm
WLH&HS at Real Crafty
The Changing Face of Wigan and King Street


@WiganLocalHist1

Nairn Across Britain: Transpennine-Canal (1972) - BBC iPlayer

“Ian Nairn travels by canal looking at the industrial area of the North. The journey begins at Worsley and continues through Leigh, Wigan, … (to) Leeds. The canal-side towns fall under Nairn's critical eye and he asks 'why ignore the canals when they could revitalise a whole slice of the industrial North?'”

YouTube Link


YouTube Link

A look at the Former Westwood Estate, Ince
By Andy Lomax
Mon 10th Oct, 7pm, at Real Crafty


@WiganLocalHist1

Times of Change
Part 1: The Walmesleys

YouTube Link

@WiganCivicTrust Members Meeting
Mon 17th Oct, 7.30pm
Deanery School, Frog Lane

Talk by Al & Al,
Artistic Directors of Haigh Hall

’The Three H's of Haigh Hall: Humanities, Horticulture, and Hospitality’

Al & Al will share insights from their conversations with the public in the vestibule of Haigh Hall and how the people’s passion for Haigh is inspiring a new era.
Celebrating Haigh Hall's magnificent 800th year, Al & Al will talk about major restoration work to be undertaken in the new year and the future master plan.

Everyone welcome and free parking at the school.

www.wigancivictrust.uk

"Haigh Hall's magnificent 800th year" ...... My Arse!
It was built in 1840. 183rd year is more truthful.

Wigan Local History and Heritage Loonies ...... We Make Things Up As We Go !

PS: I know, why doesn't 'Wigan Local History and Heritage Loonies' celebrate The Grand Arcade's 2.000th year? After all, it is built on the same site, nearly, as where the Romans built their version of a Grand Arcade, all them years ago!

The free Gerrumonside! exhibition finishes on 19th Nov



Links:
www.wigan.gov.uk / Facebook / @WiganMuseum

History Exhibition
Standish Library (Link)
Thu 3rd Nov, 12pm - 5pm



Facebook

The History of Thomas Linacre
By Eric Curless
Mon 14th Nov, 7pm, Real Crafty
Eric will also talk about the “Sweating sickness”
often referred to as the “English sweats”
All welcome. Free of charge

Now on the Society’s YouTube Channel

Link

FOR JO ANNE.
Hi Jo Anne i have just finished reading the piece about the Ordnance Survey and found it brilliant and memorable mainly because that was were i worked during the 1980s ,my first task was carrying out survey work along the south coast , it was a trial and called "Motorised Levelling " as opposed to the guys "walking along the footpaths and roadways obviously on foot a system of doing on vehicles was trialled , the project lasted several years and was the most enjoyable task /work one could wish to have . The comradeship we had was second to none , The team consisted of just 4 which were 2 surveyors and 2 driver field assistants ,this involved working and being away from home for periods ,nevertheless were fantastic. Final note you cannot beat holding a paper map in your hands and finding out were you are in a particular place .
Thanks Jo Anne . G.B.

Sat Navs are easier though

hmmm.

This is from the Armed Services Driving School:

"BY CAR:

The postcode for satnav users (Which should not be solely relied upon) is HU17 7LX. DST is signposted Normandy Barracks and is located 3miles north of Beverley on the A164."

Seems satnavs have sent people to very peculiar locations, stories abound of folk driving into the river.

WHY ...... is Wigan not marked on Google Maps?

Hello Golden Bear, your work on the Motorised Levelling trial sounds wonderful. Must admit, my map reading skills aren’t up to much, but it must be great to be involved in creating them. A real sense of accomplishment.