Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 15th May, 2025)

The Hall will never be the same again.

Any idea where the money came from for the renovations & what it will be used for in the future ?
WMC seem to have spent or borrowed much money recently... beware that they don't go bust like other Councils have.

What will the Hall be used for when the work is completed? The stonework looks great.

Now then John this lovely photo is taking me back to last Tuesday morning when I was stood in more or less the same spot.
I've done a quick scan of your bike and I don't like that big luggage bag and I don't like your handlebars, they are to straight for me, I like the sit up and beg type.

Not sure where the millions have come from Helen but I’m sure Dennis will know,as I just enjoy going on adventures around Wigan Standish and Parbold and taking what I think are interesting photos,not forgetting Shevington which was a first last week and quite impressive.

When I was a child, you could get a cup of tea and a butty or a cake in the hall itself, over to the left as you walked in through the front doors and you felt you were a part of it, somehow.....that it belonged to us all. It's all very well having the cafe where it is now......nice though it is, it's a separate building. I think Wiganers would feel it was "our" Haigh Hall if we could go inside it to have our drinks. I don't mean throw the whole building open and unsupervised as I realise there could be damage/graffiti by a few undesirables, (certainly not most Wiganers, but it happens everywhere unfortunately). but just a small cafe inside the hall; it would make us feel as if it was "our" Haigh Hall if we could walk into it through the door rather than just standing outside looking at it.

Thanks for the photograph update John on the progress.
I have not been to the Hall for a couple of years, I might make an effort this weekend but cannot wait for the Electric Train Transport to start running from the Plantation Gates so I van make more regular visits.
And so, it may not look like much has been done from the photograph but that is be deceiving, the roof and chimney's have been renovated and strengthened and the stonework restored and cleaned, the window frames and doors which were rotting replaced and the huge ornate glass dome over the staircase also cleaned and restored.
With regard to the funding, according to initial reports which stated that £20m for the project had come from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund; £4.6m came from the National Lottery Heritage Fund; £85,000 from Arts Council England; £249,000 from Up projects and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and £24m matched funding from Wigan council’s capital programme.
When completed in 2028 it will create a ‘regional visitor destination’ offering heritage culture and events.

Mick, John has to have somewhere to keep his large stash of butties!

Mick I don’t care for the big bag on the carrier but I carry everything I need for repairing chains,punctures and tools for everything that may come loose and sometimes a spare battery as I do ride long distances sometimes .

John, I take it you a not a lycra clad cyclist, like those who are sometimes not the most polite road users. Our son was probably a cyclist of your type, he belonged for many years to the CTC, they seemed to be more for endurance than seeing how fast they could go ! Then like some youngsters...he changed to an engine powered cycle, the dreaded motorbike & caused us no end of worry !
Happy Cycling !

Mick we’re just enjoying a drink in Shambles M/C in the Oyster Bar albeit you have been it’s like being abroad.

Helen of troy what do you expect when these lunatics who run this council who are spending money on unnecessary things left right and centre there will be no money left for important things what matters the most than spending it on doing haigh hall up!

I once went to the mayors ball there.It must have been mid seventies when mr Sumner was mayor.He was a close relative of my wife.Coach laid on both ways and a enjoyable meal and good company.

Some times I despair at the negativity of some people, always going on about how money could be better spent than what they term unnecessary things.
I don’t agree, well perhaps with exception of The Winter Fuel Allowance.
Anyway most of the money is from outside WMB Council so we should be pleased that our heritage is being protected on a resource will be there for all to enjoy for another century, regardless of John’s Lycra Tights!

John, I've sat on the steps and watched the customers at the Oyster Bar, but I don't drink alcohol now, so I've never been in except once to have a pee.. and Oysters in this country are not for me because you never know how long they have been out of the sea.
But I enjoy oysters in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

the hall should never have allowed to get so dilapidated

What is it with most Wiganers? They are never happy with what they are getting. Haigh Hall is going to end up like Tatton Park (where I was yesterday). It's going to be used for all sorts of things, like weddings, golf tournaments, wildlife watching, and when the newly introduced herds of deer and rabbits get breeding.
The ornamental pond is going to be restocked with Japanese Koi carp and beautiful water lilies.
The interior of the hall itself will be filled with furniture from the National Trust stock.
Women's Institutes from all over Britain will be coming coaches in their thousands to see the reenactment weekends that they will be holding there.

Don't forget the ice cream too Irene.

Irene, I didn't notice any graffiti on the walls of Tatton yesterday.
Will you be taking part in the reenactment weekends when they start?

Mick, I doubt Haigh Hall will be furnished with cast offs from the NT. I was a volunteer for 10 years at our local NT property..usually the furniture is sold off to pay Death Duties, very rarely is it left in situ like the property I volunteered at which was left to the NT Lock Stock & Barrel & could not be sold, because as as the saying goes it belonged to The Nation....believe it or what you will.

Australia, New Zealand, China, Middle East. What was it Mick, would the authorities not let you back in here once they got you out?

Arthur, yes, I remember the ice-cream too.....it was in the days when the children's playground was to the LEFT of The Hall as you approached it, and was down in a dip. Mick, I was just suggesting that it would be nice if people could go into Haigh Hall as they could when I was child; I remember a room with a huge glass case containing brass musical instruments, (I don't think people had a free run of the place back then..... just certain rooms and corridors). We too have been to Tatton Park to Classic Car events, and no, there wasn't any graffiti.....neither is there any at Haigh; my concern was just that children and young people would need to be supervised if allowed freedom to access all the rooms; that's just common sense. I would certainly go if they held a forties' event.....in fact we have been to TWO forties' events at Haigh Hall , a few years ago, and won a prize for our outfits. (there is a photo of us on Album somewhere), but they haven't held one in recent years.

Helen sorry for the late reply but we have been out until now, I’m definitely not a Lycra Lunatic and would say I’m one of the most politest cyclist you could wish to meet and get thanked for my politeness many times as do the lads I cycle with.

Lyons Maid yellow bricks
Slotted into goblet cones

And last before the tractor home
Fizzy Vimto up your nose .

Perfect ,Poet...that's just how it was!