Wigan's History
Bickershaw Colliery, 1980
The closure of Bickershaw in 1992
brought an end to mining in Wigan.
Wigan has a long and varied history:
- it was the location of "Coccium" in Roman times;
- one of the four Lancastrian "ancient boroughs" in the medieval period;
- and people came to "take the waters" in the 18th century.
The Industrial Revolution brought greater prosperity
with the expansion of the mining and textile industries
- but at a great social and environmental cost.
The second half of the 20th century saw a decline in industry and much unemployment,
but the new millennium brings a promise of renewed prosperity.
People
(pages about ordinary people who reflect Wigan's history)
Liz Swift 1848-1938, part 1
Liz Swift 1848-1938, part 2
Thomas W. Barnes, Rebel Headmaster
John Ambrose, Miller
Thomas Darwell - mill owner
the Fairclough family - weavers-1
the Fairclough family - weavers-2
Mary Cook, mining widow
Richard F. Cook, mining hero
James Taylor - miner
William Lord, teacher, part 1
William Lord, part 2
William Lord, part 3
Henry Brown - pupil teacher
Miscellaneous
Fights Over Ince Moss (1514), part 1
Fights Over Ince Moss (1514), part 2
The History of Elnup Wood
Oatcakes
Hindley and Abram Grammar School, origins
HAGS, the new building
The History Shop
A Strange Marriage
Battle of Wigan Lane
Cockersand Abbey
Health
Scarlet Fever (1874)
Crooke Explains (1874)
Infant Mortality, 1840s
Wells
Wigan Spa
Pingate Well
Standish Wells
Burning Wells
Industry
The Nail Makers of Chowbent
Coal Mining
Clearing the "Fierydamp" (1751)
Cannel
More About Cannel
Roman Mining
Mining Accidents
Two Explosions
Textiles
Hand Weavers-1
Hand Weavers-2
Hand Weavers-3
Early Mills - Development
Early Mills - Conditions
The Cloth Hall
Transport
Colliery Railways
Yorkshire Horse
Yorkshire Horse part 2
The First Trams to Pemberton
Pemberton Trams, Danger
River and Canals
Douglas Navigation, part 1
Douglas Navigation, part 2
Douglas Navigation, part 3
Douglas Navigation, part 4
River Douglas, part 1
River Douglas, part 2
River Douglas, part 3
How Others Have Seen us
John Ogilby, 1675
George Orwell, (1937), part 1
George Orwell, (1937), part 2
George Orwell, (1937) part 3
William Dodd (1841)
Celia Fiennes (1696)
Early History
Romans
Coccium
Origin of Place-name
Arthur in Wigan?
Arthur in Wigan by Rev. Whitaker
Medieval History
The Lost Land of Occleshaw, part 1
The Lost Land of Occleshaw, part 2
Medieval Norley Hall
Feudal Homage
Norse Settlement
Anglo-Saxons, part 1
Anglo-Saxons, part 2
Wigan in the Domesday Book
Wigan in the 11th century - part 1
Wigan in the 11th century- part 2
Wigan in the 11th century - language
Standish Copyholders
Crime and Punishment
Stocks
Poverty
The Funeral of Margaret Horrox
Alice Battersby, apprenticed pauper (1805)
Betty Battersby, fallen woman (1795)
Miners in 1842
Weavers in 1842
John Bird, 1840
Hallgate in 1849
Privilege
Francis Sharp Powell, The Statue
F. S. Powell, The Early Years
F. S. Powell, The Politician
F. S. Powell, Bradford's Benefactor
F. S. Powell, Wigan's Benefactor
F. S. Powell, summary part 1
F. S. Powell, summary part 2
Privilege, Wigan Area, 1664
Privilege Ince, 1664
Mill Owners
Mine Owners
Locations
Chowbent
Lamberhead Green
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