Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 3rd June, 2025)

What a fantastic design, credit to the marvellous architects bringing this old building up to date. And saving Council Tax payers money. I applaud Wigan Council.

I know most people hate this building and would have preferred to have seen it demolished but I think it is has architectural merit as one of the better examples of ‘Brutalism’ of its period and will be valued by future generations.
It has ‘scrubbed’ up rather well, the concrete cleaned up, new windows and doors and refurbished internally. When the landscaping is completed ready for a productive future for its new occupants.
Mark my words, one day it will be Grade ll Listed but I am braced for the negative comments.

It reminds me of Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol"....."Are there.no prisons? Are there no workhouses?" ..
"No Mr. Scrooge, but there's a very good replica of one in Millgate".
.
.

I agree, Sue, it looks lovely, and the whole street looks so much better with the new street furniture and smooth footpaths.

Much better than before, looks more pleasing and less concrete.

I like it!
Give credit where it's due.

Spending money on that when other distinctive buildings have been left to rot. It blends in well with the other modern glass buildings in the area though. Not my taste but I don’t live in Wigan…

A recycled building,Lets hope it last longer than the Galleries did.

We are heading in the right direction, we need to build more prisons though.

Not usually a fan of modern buildings, but this looks quite pleasing. A lovely sunny day and good planting also helps it to blend with its surroundings. Thank you Dennis.

I don't know this building at all, before my time but I would say...with my tongue in my cheek...' Beauty lies in the eyes of the Beholder'

I like it too from the photo.I will have a good look next time I am in Wigan.

Dennis, I think you have created what might be termed a ‘Damascene’ moment of conversation.
Much more positive comments than those that were posted in the past when this building appeared on PAD.
I always had faith!

Actually it looks like the typical Call Centre around Middlebrook at Horwich.

Your still a Wiganer Veronica.

I was told by the security man that the green-coloured sections were lift shafts and would soon be painted a different colour.
I also like it. It looks much cleaner than the old building.

Good photo Dennis. It looks so much better than it used to, much more pleasing to look at than the old weather stained concrete block that it was. Such a shame that someone can't rescue the old Pennington's building next door. I went past last week and it looks as if the roof is ready to fall in.

I’ll always be a’ Wiganer’ in my heart and in my roots Sue. But I think it was better at that time.

I agree with Irene, it's cleaner but still far from attractive.Can't help feeling there are a lot of pseudonyms on here

Agreed, Elizabeth. It looks like Dennis's caption for it...."a bit better", but it still looks like Cell Block H. Still, each to his own opinion.

We used to call jobs in factories, we should nt do a foreigner ! But it was a lovely give a take where the foreman turned a blind eye - a foreman who knew the score !
Foreigners on WW have left their place and history and are just saying look at me !!

Lipstick on a Gorilla but, not a bad looking Gorilla saying that !
I was sceptical when I heard about this refurb / conversion but, it looks like its turning out pretty decent.

I'm supposing the green will soon be painted in Feldgrau - so it will all blend into a grey day, a typical colour of a government building - or a prison as Irene mentioned.

Meg, maybe that is what they who are in charge are hoping will happen, so it'll become beyond repair and so be demolished.
I too agree in that it should be preserved, why couldn't this listed Georgian building be made into offices too, seeing that the ideas for it to become a restaurant have never materialised.