Wigan

Wigan Metroplitan Borough is one of the 8 boroughs and 2 cities comprising Greater Manchester. It lies wholly within the old boundaries of Lancashire, unlike the others boroughs which tend to sprawl across two or more counties. The town of Wigan itself is the administrative centre, the largest of the group, and the town from which the borough takes its name. The town is within easy reach of Liverpool, Manchester and Preston.

In the Middle Ages Wigan was part of the Barony of Makerfield and received its charter from Henry lll in 1246. During the Civil War between Cromwell's Parliamentarians and King Charles' Cavaliers, the town came out in support of the king and, in recognition of this loyalty, was allowed to use the motto 'Ancient and Loyal', by Royal decree.

Wigans's early prosperity came from its cotton industry and, so important was the town's industry, that the Leeds-Liverpool canal was constructed to take in Wigan along its route. The canal link was needed so that necessary raw materials, and coal to feed the hungry steam engines of the cotton mills, could be brought in. As in so many other mill towns, the recession in the cotton industry in the 1930s, hit the town's economy hard.

Say 'Wigan' and many people will supply the word 'Pier'. Of course, the town isn't on the coast, and this isn't a pier with all the seaside entertainments. The reference is to George Orwell's famous novel, of 1937, The Road to Wigan Pier which examines the social conditions of the era.

Sport plays a big part in the town's life and it fiels both football and rugby teams. It is also fortunate in having an Olympic-standards swimming pool and, although never yet having been used for an Olympics, the club based there has produced notable swimmers including June Croft.

Noteworthy names associated with Wigan include those of George Formby, famous for his ukelele, Joe Gormley, one-time president of the national Union of Mineworkers, the actor Sir Ian McKellan and the performer Roy Kinnear.

The Wigan Council area today is split up into ten townships which are Standish, Aspull and Shevington, Wigan North, Wigan South, Orrell. Billinge and Winstanley, Bryn and Ashton, Hindley and Abram, Golborne and Lowton, Leigh, Atherton plus Tyldesley and Astley