Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 9th December, 2016)

Good one MIck, makes a change from leaves and branches.

Hideous building

A nice neat building. A study in greys, I like the reflections in the water....a canal or ornamental lake ?

A marvellous contribution to Wigan's architecture (not).

A good style for an industrial building. Being where it is it doesn't clash or spoil the character of anything else.

They have shelter for the smokers and when I see them stood there puffing away I always think it looks like they are waiting for a bus

Absolutely brilliant photo. For the simple reason that it is not Haigh hall, Thank's Mick !!!!!

It looks like a child has built it from Lego, but as Anne says, at least it's out of the way, unlike The Glass Box Library and the Life Centre in Millgate.

The building is like many others on the industrial estates round about -giant flat packs. Canal areas have improved for the better though. Perhaps the trees will eventually give some cover when fully grown!

Come on you Wiganers, let's move on, this is a brilliant modern building and well photographed. We have to progress from Victorian architecture, as nice as it is. Had we not progressed from then in other styles and techniques, we would still be riding around on a horse and cart and wearing plus fours etc.

Thank God it's not Haigh Hall again

Well said Roy! Breaks my heart , but Roy is 100% correct. Wigan, like every other town , is changing , but change cannot remove memories we each hold. I also thought Mick you captured this well, thank you

I am currently in the process of drying out my plus fours on the maiden in front of my cast iron range, having recently returned from an enjoyable, if somewhat damp, afternoon ride out in my horse and cart, and to be perfectly frank, I find your comments a tad bit condescending Roy, if you don't mind me saying so.

Regards. Ozy.

It's a fascinating place - I've had a tour inside - very impressive!

I do mind you saying so actually Ozy, but it wont make any difference, what is condescending or patronising about my comment ? I find your would be extracting the urine comment to be more than childish.

Roy's not a Wiganer with statements like that. Irene sums it up perfectly. First of all I've see many changes in Wigan and know Wigan more than most on here. I have see some beautiful buildings demolished to make way for, well as Irene says a glass box that replaced the Baths.
When the powers that be decide to demolish perfectly good structural buildings with beautiful architect and design, only to put silly cheap buildings in its place is a crying shame. Look at some photos from 1960s of Wigan town and look at some now. Next time some of you are in Wigan, take a good look at the Town Hall building in Library St, and then look at the Life centre building. Yes well I'll say it for you, there's no comparison.

nephro. I was going to say and canals as well, but there is one there.

It looks very much like Morrisons depot in Bristol, just off the M5.

I'm sure the architect would describe it as a bijou build. in a rurl. sett. with all mod. cons. comp: cent. heat., dbl glz wndws. and pvt. pkng. area. Personally I think it's a sht. hle. (This is not a criticism of the photo, but of the hideous building). Just my opinion, to which I am entitled, as are the opinions of those who like it. It would be a boring world if we all saw things through the same eyes.....one man's meat etc etc....

Roy, what is it that you admire about this building? What is it that you consider to be "Brilliant"?

Who doesn't use wet wipes ?, apart from me that is. Not many households I suspect. And where does one suppose they are manufactured ? Woburn Abbey possibly, or perhaps Bamburgh castle? Maybe wordsworth's Dove cottage even ? Sorry to disappoint, but they are made here, in this modern, functional building by the side of the canal in Poolstock. I suspect if they were made at Rufford Old Hall or Chatsworth, you may have to pay a few coppers more for them. And after all's said and done, does the place look any worse than Westwood power station or the Girobank did? ( retires swiftly to Anderson shelter ). By the way Mick, keep up the good work. Regards. Ozy.

I think it looks great. Clean, modern lines. Just right for the use its been built for. Why are so many Wiganers stuck in the "cloth cap" era? The past has gone, its dead and we need to modernise. No use wallowing in the past as it won't return. No wonder forward thinking countries are leaving us behind. Stop harping on about the, so-called , 'good old days' Good?... for many in Wigan they were terrible.

Put very neatly and cleverly in perspective Oz....built for purpose. Bland,sleek and characterless for the hard working characters inside!

Ps hope the plus fours are dried by now!

Garry, i've been a Wiganer for 75 plus years, longer than you have i would imagine.
Den s, it's a breath of fresh air, i know some modern buildings are OTT, i can show you some 'old' ones that are a sight for sore eyes.
Christine, well said.

Ozymandias and Christine,

I couldn't agree more.

Christine, it's not about "Cloth caps" or "Wallowing in the past". Everyone is aware that old and tired buildings need replacing but surely the idea is to preserve the best while, at the same time , replacing the worst with buildings of some quality so that future generations will have some buildings from our time that they think worth preserving.
The Victorians were the masters of the Industrial Revolution but they took a pride in the buildings that they erected. If they hadn't we would have very little from that time worth preserving.

You should have more sense Roy.

Sadly, because of the industrial revolution , Wigan hasn't had many buildings worth saving, Den s.
To my mind; Wigan has never looked better. Unlike many northern industrial towns, Wigan has managed to re-invent itself.

Christine, you say Wigan as never looked better, have you been down King Street lately?
Wigan HAD many buildings worth saving. Unfortunately they also have a Council that is happy to pull them down and replace them with dull, lifeless Factory Sheds.

Den s. The buildings in King Street are old, not new! Are they worth saving? List the buildings in Wigan worth saving... A far cry from buildings in the centre of Liverpool, Manchester, and even one in Bolton. (The Town Hall) No, Wigan has never had any really top notch buildings worthy of saving. A couple of churches perhaps. i.e. St Mary's in Lower Ince, but that's not Wigan. Even the old town hall was nothing special. I love modern Wigan. Our council is much demeaned, but in truth, its one of the best in Lancashire. They look forwards instead of backwards.

Christine, Lower Ince not in Wigan? Wigan Council one of the best in Lancashire? I think we should just agree to differ.

Lower Ince (or Ince) isn't truly in Wigan, Den s. Its a township within Makerfield. However, because of modern boundary changes and the creation of the Wigan Metropolitan area its now linked to Wigan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ince_(UK_Parliament_constituency)