Wigan
Wigan is a large town in Greater Manchester, roughly halfway between Manchester and Liverpool. It expanded rapidly in the Industrial Revolution and became a major mill town and coal mining area. By the late 19th century there were more than 1,000 pit shafts within 5 miles of the town centre.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Wigan town centre is limited. Places to stay include the Brocket Arms, a JD Wetherspoon hotel, and the Wigan Oak.
Large hotels in the surrounding area include the Britannia Wigan and 4-star Kilhey Court. Both are in Standish, a village 4 miles north of the town.
The Park Inn at Leigh Sports Village opened in 2008 and is now one of the busiest hotels in the area. The Sporting Lodge, also in Leigh, offers cheap rates and is another popular choice.
Attractions
Wigan Pier, a wharf on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, was made famous by George Orwell’s pivotal book about the northern working class, The Road to Wigan Pier. Orwell did much of his research in Wigan Public Library. With a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the building reopened in 2010 as the Museum of Wigan Life.
The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, two thirds of which is open land, boasts some fantastic parks and recreation areas.
The Haigh Hall estate, once the home of the Earl of Crawford, has been under public ownership since the middle of the 20th century. It features over 250 acres of park and woodland, a miniature railway, children’s playground, craft gallery and nature trails. Haigh Hall itself, one of over 200 listed buildings in Wigan, is now a popular wedding venue.
Pennington Flash is another popular spot. The centrepiece of this relaxing country park is a 70 hectare lake, created at the turn of the 20th century by coal mining subsidence and subsequent flooding. More than 200 species of bird have been spotted here, making it one of the best places for bird watching in North West England.
Robin Park is a retail and leisure complex just west of Wigan town centre. It is home to the DW Stadium (the ground of Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors) and the Empire Cinema.
Wiganers are frequently referred to as ‘pie eaters’ but the name does not actually derive from their love of pies. It actually dates back to a miners’ strike in 1926 when starvation forced the miners of Wigan to eat ‘humble pie’ and return to work early. Nevertheless, the town is host of one of the UK’s wackiest events; the annual World Pie Eating Championship.
Shopping
Wigan achieved worldwide fame as the home of the Wigan Casino, the home of northern soul music and voted the best nightclub in the world by Billboard magazine. The Grand Arcade shopping centre now stands on its site.
Other retail sites in Wigan include The Galleries, a mall in the town centre, and Robin Park, a shopping and leisure complex on the outskirts of the town.
Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls are produced in Wigan by William Santus and Company. In 2001 the family-run company opened Uncle Joe’s Emporium on Crompton Street in the town centre. It stocks a huge range of retro and modern sweets, plus gifts and souvenirs.