Stuff
Stuff
Timeline
Over 2000 years of important dates, events and happenings in Wigan's past. Follow the time line from before B.C. up to the present day! It is my aim to document each event, I will make each date a link when I have the information.
| Before B.C. | The area was occupied by Celtic brigantes and Wigan was one of their settlements. |
| A.D. 77 | Agricola subdues the locals and settles down in 'Coccium'. |
| 1086 | Wigan part of the Newton Barony and rectors became 'Local Lords'. |
| 1100 | It is said that King Henry I granted a Charter of Incorporation. This would have made Wigan the oldest borough in Lancashire. |
| 1245 | Wigan gained the right to hold a weekly market (Mondays) and six days annual fair. |
| 1246 | A Charter was granted by King Henry III to John Mansel, the rector of Wigan which constituted the town a free borough. |
| 1291 | Pope Nicholas IV required all ecclesiastical livings to be valued and the income of Wigan Parish Church was given as £33 6s 8d. |
| 1295 | Parliamentary representation given to the town. Two members enter Westminster, they were William Teinterer and Henry le Bocher. |
| 1314 | Edward II confirms the 1246 Charter. |
| 1333 | Sir William Bradshaigh was killed at Newton-in-Makerfield. |
| 1351 | The sixth Charter of Wigan granted by Edward III. |
| 1378 | The seventh Charter of Wigan granted by Richard II. |
| 1399 | The eighth Charter of Wigan granted by Henry IV. |
| 1519 | Thomas Linacre became Rector of Wigan. |
| 1552 | An act was passed stipulating that "Lancashire Cotton" must be 22 yards long, three-quarters of a yard wide and weigh at least 30 pounds a piece. |
| 1580 | Francis Sherington became Mayor of Wigan and initiated a movement to found a Free Grammar School. |
| 1603 | Grammar School opened in Standish. |
| 1619 | Peter Plat, a chandler in Millgate, dug what was probably the first pit within the township, he was granted a licence by the Rector to drain water from his pit into Millgate. |
| 1644 | Famous siege of Lathom House. |
| 1651 | The Battle of Wigan Lane, last battle in Civil War. |
| 1670 | John Ogilby wrote that Wigan was noted for its ironworks and that pewter and pottery both flourished. |
| 1675 | A copper vessel containing more than 200 silver coins, ranging from AD 90 to 240, was found just beyond the northern edge of Wigan. |
| 1715 | Following the up-rising in Preston, Jacobite prisoners were marched through Wigan on the way to London for trial. A few were tried in Wigan, and five were publicly executed in the Market Place. |
| 1720 | Sir Roger Bradshaigh and Earl Barrymore, the two Wigan MPs built a new Town Hall in the Market Place. |
| 1727 | Canal constructed parallel to River Douglas to transport coal. Later became part of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. |
| 1745 | The Young Pretender - Prince Charles Edward - retreating from Manchester stayed the night in Wigan, at Walmesley House in Bishopgate. |
| 1767 | The Leeds and Liverpool canal was projected at a cost of £260,000. |
| 1770 | Work started on the Leeds and Liverpool canal. |
| 1796 | The Wigan Dispensary was founded and this gradually developed into the Infirmary. |
| 1801 | Population of Wigan 10,989. |
| 1822 | Two Roman urns containing bones were found during excavations for the foundations of the Wigan Gas Works. |
| 1829 | Wigan had its first railway. |
| 1835 | Wigan included in Municipal Corporation Act. |
| 1849 | Wigan Parish Church was completely re-built in the original style, except for the Tower and Walmesley Chapel. |
| 1852 | Riots in Scholes largely involving the Irish element in the population severely taxed the forces of law and order. |
| 1853 | Wigan Observer first publshed. Previously the only local paper had been the Wigan Times. |
| 1856 | Lower Ince Cemetery opened. |
| 1868 | Moot Hall demolished. |
| 1872 | Coop's factory opened in Dorning Street. |
| 1873 | The Prince of Wales opened The Royal Albert Edward Infirmary. |
| 1877 | The New Market Hall was opened by the Mayor Alderman Mayhew. |
| 1878 | The Mesnes Park was opened by the High Sheriff of Lancashire N. Eckersley, Esq. |
| 1901 | Population of Wigan 89,152. |
| 1913 | Their majesties King George & Queen Mary visit Wigan (July 10th). |
| 1922 | New coat of arms granted to Wigan. |
| 1930 | First "Robot" traffic signals in Wigan at Standishgate and Mesnes Street Crossing. |
| 1933 | Mayor opens Wigan's Automatic Telephone Exchange. |
| 1942 | Wigan's first British Restaurant opened. |
| 1947 | Wigan Corporation bought Haigh Hall and Plantations from the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres for £18,000. |
| 1964 | Wigan Central Station closed. |
| 1979 | Ten men killed in an explosion at Golborne Colliery. |
| 1980 | Wigan Casino Club closed. |
| 1986 | HM The Queen opened Wigan Pier. |
| 1988 | Wigan oficially twinned with Angers in France. |
| 1989 | Death of Wigan artist J Lawrence Isherwood, aged 72. |
| 1991 | Princess Diana officially opened The Galleries. |
| 1994 | Wigan Rugby League Club win the RL Challenge Cup for the seventh year in succession. |