Wigan, Ancient and Loyal

THE earliest incorporation of the Town is mentioned in the report of the Norry King of Arms in 1613, that "The Towne and Bourrough of Wiggin was antiently incorporated by the most noble Kinge, Kinge Hen, the first, in the first year of his raygne," (i.e., 1100) a certified copy of which document is now in the Public Library, but no contemporary record survives.

IN the two centuries following the Conquest, Wigan made such substantial progress that in 1246, the Lord and Rector, John Maunsel, obtained the Charter from the King creating the town "a free borough forever." Maunsel was a favourite of the King, and was thus able to secure a very liberal grant of privileges more far reaching than any town in Lancashire had hitherto received, except the King's own town of Liverpool. Indeed, the Wigan Charter, with its full grant of judicial autonomy and freedom from county suit, its Treasury, its Guild-Merchant, etc., was modelled on the Charter given to Liverpool a few years earlier in 1229. Its reception was a great day for Wigan, and necessitated a corresponding Charter from the Lord of the Manor creating a body of free Burgesses. These were created by making certain citizens tenants in perpetuity at a rent of twelvepence per annum.

OTHER Charters granted to Wigan were as follows :-

THE motto of the town "Ancient and Loyal" has its authority from the Charter of Charles II. in which Wigan is designated by the King "an ancient borough" and granted "a special token of our favour for its loyalty to us," the phrase being used as an epithet for the town as early as 1683.

THE illustration given is that of the Charter of Edward II., and is dated 7th June, 1314.