Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 21st February, 2025)

Apart from the cars and road to the left, it looks like a scene from the 1950s.
Now the Council is trying to make use of old tired buildings. I believe in recycling, but I wouldn't complain if this place was demolished. We've all see much better buildings pulled down and destroyed, these look very old, cold and damp and seen much better days.
Let's hope the Council isn't wasting more tax payers money, only time will
tell if the investments is worth it!

Wigan pier looks scruffy these days, I wouldn't mind if the demolition men cleared up round there and built some modern buildings, like a new shopping centre away from the centre of town.
A miserable photo Colin, but thanks for sharing.

Strangely at first glance I thought this was a painting…the red and brown buildings especially. The whit3 building looks like a drawing.

The view will be better after dark.

A very painterly photo with nice contrasting tones and textures . Plenty of spirit haunting it .

Splendid view.

That's a real eye sore Colin.
I think its time for the bulldozers to move in instead.

I think the place served a purpose some years ago but not now.
The area looks awful what ever they are planning. Looks like the 1800s.

St Joseph's Church is in a sorry state, I wouldn't grumble if that place was demolished, the Councils always pulls down the wrong buildings, some great buildings that we've lost, ie the beautiful
Council Chambers offices at the start of King, opposite the social security department. Demolished for a mere car park.
street.

Some of you lot make me laugh.
You spend so much time perpetually complaining about Wigan Council neglecting old buildings and crying out for them to preserve them, even an outdated shopping centre that nobody went in and cost the council a fortune to maintain.
Now you are saying bulldoze the lot, a major part of our industrial heritage. get real.

Wigan Pier looks tired too.
That old church that's been empty for years needs attention with the demolition ball too.
I thought Wigan Council should concentrate on that.

Good photo Colin.
Another poor side of Wigan.

Kath, we had a modern shopping centre in the middle of town and everybody stopped using it. Why would a new out of town shopping centre do any better? Homes are what is needed and that’s what these buildings are being converted into along with restaurants and bars. Good luck to them, it will look good when finished.

I wonder what my Dad & my Auntie Annie Foster would think of a roof top bar above where they both worked in the weaving sheds.
Colin your photo reminds me a little of a Lowry painting...minus the people !

Good pic Colin, the council took half the chimney down and if someone hadn't complained it would have been removed altogether, behind chimney was 2 Hamworthy Dolphin Boilers which provided steam and heat for the factory that was named Dorma sheets, there was 185 looms rattling away on the site until it closed in 1988, I myself worked on the site until it's Demise, when factory had their 2 Wigan weeks holidays the boilers were cleaned out and descaled not a nice job I can tell you, I personally am glad it's being preserved just imagine how much foot traffic has been on the site over the years gone by with thousands of people daily travelling to and from work.

Moaning Wiganers, all down in the dumps since Leigh beat you 1 -0.
What will you have to moan about tomorrow when Hull FC come up trumps?

There was an interesting section on Politics North West on Sunday morning, about the re-development at Eckersley Mill. Apparently it is the largest brownfield site to be developed in the North West. Site one will be finished this summer and then work will start on Mill 3 to provide both flats and houses within the next five years.

Well, not quite the reaction I expected and quite surprised by some of the negative comments.
There is one other photo that might appear, taken from a drone high above the entire site showing the almost completed Eckersley Mill 1.
I have a report on what is to be retained and what will be demolished to make way for new buildings, I’ll try to post this later.
I for one could not fail to be impressed and with the level of investment being put in, much of it private.
For the rest of the day, please look on the bright side of life, It’s all too short. Colin XXX

How did you get up there Colin?
You can get where Cod Liver Oil couldn’t reach!
A good photo though, well worth the effort.

You lot are council mad with "council did this" and "council did that" as if eckersleys mills belongs to the council but council doesn't own eckersleys mills and are not doing any of the work on the site.

Exactly Colin , 250 million pound investment ! This is wonderful for Wigan ! This is what Wigan needs , investments like this .

So long as Wigan Athletic win...whose bothered about Rugby anyway.

Spot on WN6.Damned if they,damned do,damned if they don’t.

Lobbygobber, what about the people who moan abt Wigan, its Council & their plans....and never ever make their views known, never make a comment , never vote, never do anything but I am sure they moan just as much.

Colin I have much respect for you, you've taken some outstanding pic's, over many months for all to see. I for one love our industrial Wigan and understand its not everyone's cup of tea.

'You lot are council mad with "council did this" and "council did that" as if Eckersleys mills belongs to the council but council doesn't own Eckersleys mills and are not doing any of the work on the site.'

Never let facts get in the way of a good prejudice.

Heaton Group reveals £180m vision for Eckersley Mills
Proposals for the grade two-listed complex include a further 817 residential units, a 120-bedroom hotel, and a roller rink.
The Heaton Group has lodged its latest plans with Wigan Council for the regeneration of the 17-acre Eckersley Mills site off Meadow Road.
Plans form the third phase of of the Wigan-based group’s wider £180m masterplan for the transformation of the Victorian cotton mills.
The first phase is already under construction, as Mill One becomes a mixed-use building with 80,000 sq ft of offices, a rooftop restaurant, a food hall, and a microbrewery. Plans for Mill Three were approved in June for its conversion into 137 apartments.
Designed by Fletcher-Rae Architects, the scheme would see the demolition of various buildings including Mill Two, the former welfare building, the former 1884 reeling room, and Mill One’s weaving sheds.
Another former reeling block, as well as the winding block and offices on site would be retained and redeveloped.
The former reeling block would provide a 2,100 sq ft roller rink and events area, alongside 16,200 sq ft of commercial space.
In total, 13 commercial units ranging from 200 sq ft to 3,000 sq ft are proposed to be delivered within the former winding block and office building.
Heaton Group also wants outline permission to build 817 homes across five blocks, which would bring the total of homes across the site to 954. There are also plans for a 120-bedroom hotel and two commercial units totalling 4,600 sq ft, as well as a 289-space multi-storey car park.
Proposals feature 505 one-, 280 two-, and 32 three-bedroom homes, including 121 later living residences.
John Heaton, managing director of Heaton Group, said: “We’ve spoken to residents and key stakeholders from the council, Homes England and Historic England, and the local MP to explain our thoughts and take in their comments and feedback.
“For us as a Wigan-based business, we know that this site has been neglected for far too long and our plans will bring new life to an important site”, he continued.
“They will provide significant benefits for the whole town, providing high-quality facilities everyone will be able to enjoy.”
Paul Butler Associates is the scheme’s planning and heritage consultant. The project team also includes Rachel Hacking Ecology, Salford Archaeology, Exterior Architecture, Quality Engineering Design, Temple Group, Andy Maw Design, and JBA Consulting.

The Crocuses are out and the Daffodils soon to follow. So lets cheer up, Spring to look forward next.
I love Wigan.

Lobbygobber. Wigan Rugby are lucky playing on a Football pitch.
The DW now the Brick, was built for Football, ask Dave Wheelan, the man who paid for it and is a football man.

According to The Council Leader, Wigan are committed to building 19,000 new homes by 2039.
It's more people we need in the town to create wealth and building on Brown Field Sites such as this, whilst at the same time preserving much of our heritage is welcome.

When was the last time the Latics pulled in a crowd of nearly 22,000 like last Friday night against little Leigh??????
Don't think Latics got that when they played Liverpool or United.

Good photo Colin and educational information of disused buildings that have now been given a new lease of life.
The Brick stadium is indeed a purpose built football ground, funded by the then owner ex footballer and Millionaire Dave Whelan.

Oval Ball

Wigan Athletic vs Manchester United. The FA Cup Third Round. 8:15pm, Monday 8th January 2024. DW Stadium Attendance: 22,870.

24,000 when Wigan played Arsenal. And that's a London club.

Wigan v Man utd over 25,000 in May 2008. Check on Google.

Dave Whelan didn’t fully pay for the stadium to be built. A sizeable chunk was paid by government city-challenge funding. Wigan council are the landlords of the stadium.

I think they were called Maryland Investments who were first given permission to develop eckersleys site and that was in 2010.

In March 2009 Dave Whelan used the business JJB Sports to venture the new DW Stadium. The Stadium was completed in 1999.
The highest football Premiership attendance for Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium was 28,133 against Manchester United in May, 2008.
Hope this helps.

The total cost of the new DW Stadium in 1999 was over £34 million. The Stadium is shared with Wigan Rugby since September 1999 after the demolition of Central Park, the land now host Tesco Supermarket.
Many Football fans don't share the same enthusiasm as the Rugby fans.

Looking from the outside to inside, the Stadium looks very much a football ground with its design. Rugby League grounds never look so attractive with full seating. Leigh Rugby league ground although new..ish looks so basic as do most Rugby clubs.

Looking from the outside to inside, the Stadium looks very much a football ground with its design. Rugby League grounds never look so attractive with full seating. Leigh Rugby league ground although new..ish looks so basic as do most Rugby clubs.

Football Writer, after the demolition of Central Park, the land now hosts a large car park.

'Many Football fans don't share the same enthusiasm as the Rugby fans.' Can you expand on that Football Writer?

Ticsmon. Kate has answered your question.

Agreed Football writer.
The Stadium is Designed for footy more than Rugby. Most Rugby stadiums don't have seats but barriers

Can you lot please take your ball games to the sport section and leave this topic on Wigan Heritage and Development for people who are interested.

The initial interest was the unfounded anti-council comments.