Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 23rd August, 2021)

In terms of age it's still an embryo compared to our well loved old Market Hall to us of a certain age. Very sad for the stall holders and customers that it's closing or by now closed.

Mick is it true that the council saved that wrought iron canopy from the old market hall.

Nice picture of somewhere I’ve not been to for years, looks no different. However I am told any shopping is now a dismal experience

If this is the building that is going to be demolished after only standing for 14 yrs, did someone say ? Then I think Wigan needs a new Metropolitan Borough Council . Its a sheer waste of money and
what will be put in its place , another bad replica of Wigan architecture or another glass palace ? The mind boggles that ' they 'can get away with it....

Good photo. Mick, and a good subject. I have a dvd of the last days of the Old Market Hall including its very last day. It has all the old stall-holders being interviewed ....the man from Gibson and Young's
crockery and fancy goods stall, Alice Hitchen from the electrical stall, Mr. and Mrs, Sutcliffe from the tripe stall, Adams's hardware stall, Smailes' butchers, Harold Bradshaw on his menswear stall and Mr. Ali Khan on his clothes stall, complete with his surprising Lancashire accent! I got it in video form just after the hall was demolished and wasn't that impressed, but of course those stalls and people had only just gone. and some of the stallholders were still there in the new Market Hall ....but oh! what a treasure it is to look back on NOW! I THINK, but am not sure, it is also on youtube.

It is the entrance canopy from the original market hall Joan.

When I would go into town many years ago now, I found walking along the front of those benches to be hazardous when wet, and from the drippings of the grease laden pies and pasties from Greggs, where folks would sit to eat.

Joan yes, Helen yes. Irene theirs a video here of what the market hall and Wigan town centre looked like two years ago.

https://youtu.be/I5mIkMFe_Zo

Sail boats drift
As time will shift ,
and land neath feet falls empty .
The trees we knew ,
Swung ropes we threw ,swing frayed and all alone .
Will fresh new earth prove what it’s worth ,
Or will it befall a similar ,when buildings shift like boats they drift ,
Which way or where they go...

Information about the proposed demolition of the Market and parts of The Galleries can be seen at this link.
https://galleries25.com/

Here is a link to a topic on the Message Board with information about how to object to the plans.
https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/communicate/mb_message.php?opt=f1&msd=1498393&page=1&subject=The%20Galleries%20Redevelopment%20(cont.)

Here is a link to the Save Wigan Town Centre through Friends of Wigan Town Centre Facebook group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2979532515624218

Helen, 21yrs it's been there, The new Market Hall. The date 1987 is on the other entrance round the corner, and yes your right, its a waste of money.I believe the government is involved now questioning Wigan Council as to why so much money was spent on the new Market, and now they want it demolished.

For goodness sake...keep it simple and give the people what they want, in a town centre...Surely it is so easy..??

The Chinesey peoples are paying for it all, they found out nobody is shopping in the market hall like they used to, so they said we want to make Wigan town centre modern with lots of facilities and apartments for the younger generation.

What people want is a supermarket in the centre. Not on the fringes ... the Market Hall should be left as it is combining a Supermarket and indoor market perhaps - all under one roof.... but it seems that is far too simple.... and why the Chinese have to be involved is beyond me. At least it would be used by local people ...that's what people really want!!! I visited Kendal the other day, a town centre really well planned mixing the old and new in a very clever way. Lovely arcades with a Supermarket slap bang in the middle with a good mix of shops as well. Yes it is a touristy place and the big stores have gone, but people still need shops they have to eat. They should have a choice. I hope the council will be refused permission to demolish the Market Hall.

Veronica I like Kendal but there is a small shopping arcade about half the size of the Galleries and most of the shops are unused? By the way I use the market hall two or three times a week and will be sad if it closes.

Keswick too was very busy with a good mix of shops and a great outdoor market. Yes I expected some shops to be unused Dave but it was quite busy for a Sunday. Wigan council should visit some of these places to get some ideas.
I feel the local people don't have enough choice now. I don't think I would want to do a weekly shop at Iceland, B&M or Homebargains. Tesco is on the fringe and out of the way for most people going into Wigan, if you haven't got a car it's very inconvenient.

You will get small supermarkets, but I would think they will be the upmarket ones like Booths, Waitrose and M&S

There's an Asda and a Sainsbury's also Booths in Kendal. Only a Booths in Windermere. ( not cheap either)
They could put a Mark's Foodhall inside the Market Hall with a bit of imagination with the other stalls. Bad idea Marks at the Robin Park. I bet there's been a lot of custom lost since Marks and Morrisons left their town centre locations.