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Wigan Museum

@wiganmuseum.bsky.social

Showcasing Wigan Borough through exhibitions, events, and local studies. Operated by wigancouncil.bsky.social. Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm. Saturday 10am-2pm.

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Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 4d ago

Joseph Taylor Winnard was a local surgeon, residing on Standishgate at the time of his death in 1873. He left money for the purchase of books for Wigan's Free Library, which at the time, had not yet been built. It opened in 1878 and the building is now home to the museum and local studies.

Photograph of the painting of Joseph Taylor Winnard that hangs above the door in Wigan Local Studies. He is standing up, leaning against a desk.
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 3w ago

On this day in 1973, Wigan Casino held its first Northern Soul all-nighter. In 1975, Tommy Hunt appeared live at the 2nd anniversary celebrations & here he is pictured in front of a red bus headed for Library Street. Were you there that night? We would love to hear your memories 😍 #WiganCasino

This poster was in the centre pages of the Blues & Soul magazine no.261 in 1978. We can imagine the bus stopping right outside our museum on Library Street!
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · last mo.

In the 1967 edition of Wigan Borough's Official Handbook, we found this lovely advert for children's footwear. This advert is for Lord & Sharman Ltd., who were a well known shoe manufacturers at Ross Works on Campbell Street and known locally as the 'Slipper Works'.

The colourful advert shows two different style shoes, one in pink and the other red. There is also a boy wearing shorts, shirt, and tie and a young girl wearing a, striped top and blue and white skirt. The girl is on a rocking horse.
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · last mo.

We are having a sale of some of our duplicate reference books in Wigan Local Studies. There are plenty of local history books on offer, so do drop-in and see what catches your eye. All proceeds will go towards buying new reference stock for Wigan Local Studies. Happy reading!

Photograph of some of the books available for sale.
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · last mo.

Have you ever wanted to trace your family tree? Curious about the history of your house? Book your place on a free introductory session to unearth your story! 📆 Thurs 17 Sept ⏰ 10:15-11:00, 11:15-12:00, 12:15-13:00, 14:15-15:00 Spaces are limited & booking is essential. Ring 01942 828128 to book.

Poster advertising introductory family history sessions. It shows a researcher using a microfiche machine and using a reference card index.
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · last mo.

You might have seen our ground floor looking a little empty if you've visited Wigan Local Studies this month. Over the past weeks, our staff have been busy taking the objects off display & safely transporting them to our collection store. We'll be sharing exciting updates over the coming months 😍

Photograph of the Wigan’s Voice exhibition featuring cases full of taxidermy, and walls of artwork, and some Roman artifacts. Photograph of the space showing empty cases and that the partition walls have been removed revealing an open space and original columns.
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 2mo ago

On this day in 1946 an exhibition was held in our reference library to commemorate the granting of the first Royal Charter of Incorporation by Henry III in 1246. Wigan's first charter granted it borough status and gave it permission to hold markets and control trade.

Poster advertising the exhibition that included documents, books, and historical relics.
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 2mo ago

'Holidays at Home' was a scheme created by the government during WW2, encouraging people to avoid travelling and holiday close to home. Local attractions and events gave people something to look forward to and included sports, concerts, and even canal cruises. #WW2 #HolidaysAtHome

Poster advertising Holidays at Home, encouraging you to consult the full programme of events happening throughout Wigan’s holiday week 31 July to 7 August. It’s the last full week of the school summer holidays! Today we’re highlighting these lovely posters from our Holidays at Home collection Holidays at Home was a scheme created by the government during WW2, encouraging people to holiday close to home instead of travelling. Local attractions and events were programmed throughout the summer to give everyone something to look forward to. From sports, concerts, and even canal cruises, there was a lot to get involved in! You can view these posters in Wigan Local Studies alongside a small collection of programmes, which would have been seen around our borough during that time. Wigan Local Studies is located on the first floor of Wigan Museum and is still open as usual: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm and Saturday, 10am-2pm. #Wigan #LocalHistory #LocalStudies #HolidaysAtHome #WW2 #PostersPoster advertising canal motor cruises to Botany Bay, Chorley. It’s the last full week of the school summer holidays! Today we’re highlighting these lovely posters from our Holidays at Home collection. Holidays at Home was a scheme created by the government during WW2, encouraging people to holiday close to home instead of travelling. Local attractions and events were programmed throughout the summer to give everyone something to look forward to. From sports, concerts, and even canal cruises, there was a lot to get involved in! You can view these posters in Wigan Local Studies alongside a small collection of programmes, which would have been seen around our borough during that time. Wigan Local Studies is located on the first floor of Wigan Museum and is still open as usual: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm and Saturday, 10am-2pm. #Wigan #LocalHistory #LocalStudies #HolidaysAtHome #WW2 #PostersPoster advertising a grand gala and water polo match held at the public baths on 4 August, 1943. It’s the last full week of the school summer holidays! Today we’re highlighting these lovely posters from our Holidays at Home collection. Holidays at Home was a scheme created by the government during WW2, encouraging people to holiday close to home instead of travelling. Local attractions and events were programmed throughout the summer to give everyone something to look forward to. From sports, concerts, and even canal cruises, there was a lot to get involved in! You can view these posters in Wigan Local Studies alongside a small collection of programmes, which would have been seen around our borough during that time. Wigan Local Studies is located on the first floor of Wigan Museum and is still open as usual: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm and Saturday, 10am-2pm. #Wigan #LocalHistory #LocalStudies #HolidaysAtHome #WW2 #Posters
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 2mo ago

#OnThisDay in 1908, a tragic explosion took place at the Maypole Colliery in Abram, resulting in the death of 75 people. Our staff put together a small display in memory of the disaster and all those who lost their lives, as well as the many brave people who participated in rescue efforts.

#OnThisDay in 1908, a tragic explosion took place at the Maypole Colliery in Abram, resulting in the death of seventy six people. Our staff put together a small display in memory of the disaster and all those who lost their lives, as well as the many brave people who participated in rescue efforts. If you'd like to learn more, the display looks at books, documents, and photographs held in our collection at Wigan Local Studies and at Archives: Wigan & Leigh. You can find us on the first floor of Wigan Museum on Library Street, available via stairs or lift. #Heritage #Wigan #LocalHistory #LocalStudies #CoalMining
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Do you have a story for Past Forward Magazine? Articles must focus on a local history topic within the geographical boundaries of Wigan Borough, and we prefer a maximum length of 1,000 words. Submissions are accepted via email or post, all details are on the poster below and in the image alt text.

Upcoming deadline for submission for Past Forward Magazine. Articles must focus on a local history topic within the geographical boundaries of Wigan Borough. We prefer articles to have a maximum length of 1,000 words but please contact us if you would like to submit an article of greater length. If you have any questions, please contact us at the email address below Submissions are accepted via email at pastforward@wigan.gov.uk OR via post (address to 'The Editor' at Past Forward, Archives: Wigan & Leigh, Leigh Town Hall, Market Street, Leigh, WN7 1DY) We look forward to seeing what you write! Deadline is Monday 7th September, happy writing!
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Today we're looking at songs from over 200 years ago! The New Wigan Warbler is a collection of popular songs from 1818, printed and published by John Sumner in Wigan. The book features words to local hits like The Cook Shop, In my Cottage Near a Wood, and the pictured, Lovely Nan ☺️

Photograph of the title page of The New Wigan Warbler, 50 choice songs from 1818.Page 53 of the book features the lyrics for the song 'Lovely Nan'.
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 2mo ago

While sorting through some of our local studies stock, we came across a little book titled 'Look At Wigan' and it includes a fun little puzzle section. It lists four place names in the borough that have been scrambled up, can you solve the puzzle?

Photograph of a map of Wigan with the words Wigan Word Scramble in the middle. Photograph has the scrambled letters of four places in Wigan, let's see if you can work the out. 1. EEBRNPMTO 2. IDLHNYE 3. LRLOER 4. ADPORLB
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Looking for a quiet place to read, research, or study? Wigan Local Studies is located on the first floor of Wigan Museum and is fully accessible by either stairs or lift. It is full of local history and genealogy resources available for free, and no need to book! Tue-Fri: 10am-4pm Sat: 10am-2pm

Photograph of Wigan Local Studies library. It is a period Victorian library, with three tables down the centre and bays of resources.
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Do you remember shopping at Morton's? We came across this commemorative book created for the 100th year anniversary of the store. The book was printed with three purposeful errors as a competition to the readers, can you spot one of them in the second image? (hint: it can be anywhere on the page😉)

Front cover of the book. It has a light blue background with dark blue overlay. Page 26 of the book. It lists prices for a variety of items including beans, barley, bird seed, bovril, and black lacquer. Page 64 of the book. It shows drawings of products and says Morton's Saayune Coupon Products, obtainable only at Mortons.
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Wigan Museum is now closed and undergoing a complete transformation to make way for a brand-new exhibition, ‘Our Northern Soul’. Wigan Local Studies, located on the first floor of Wigan Museum, is still open as usual for all your research, local, & family history needs. It's FREE, no need to book.

Photograph of the local studies library upstairs in Wigan Museum. It has original Victorian features, the same as when it opened in 1878.
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 3mo ago

We've got some big news... Wigan Museum will be closing its doors on 25 July while our ground floor gallery undergoes a complete transformation to make way for a brand-new exhibition, ‘Our Northern Soul’. Wigan Local Studies (upstairs) will remain open as usual for all your research needs.

We've got some big news... Wigan Museum will be closing its doors on 25 July while our ground floor gallery undergoes a complete transformation to make way for a brand-new exhibition, ‘Our Northern Soul’. ‘Our Northern Soul’ will celebrate the people, places, stories and collections that make Wigan what it is. And the best bit? We'll be working with local people to help shape it, sharing stories, memories and objects that capture the spirit of our borough. While the museum building is closed, you’ll still be able to find us out and about across Wigan Borough, including at our new pop-up space in Makinson Arcade from September. Please note that throughout most of the development, Wigan Local Studies will still be open on the first floor, accessible via stairs or lift, so do come up and visit! We can’t wait to welcome you back to Wigan Museum in Summer 2027 and show you what we've been working on!
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 3mo ago

These two paintings by David Wood capture Wigan from the 70s. The left painting is 'Wigan Casino', depicting the venue of the popular northern soul all-nighters. The painting on the right is 'Wigan Library and Baths'. David painted them during covid, and they are on display until 25 July.

Do you enjoy looking at scenes of the past? These two paintings by David Wood capture Wigan from the 70s. The left painting is 'Wigan Casino' from 2021, depicting the venue of the popular all-nighters that ran there between 1973-1981. DJs favoured obscure Black American records over mainstream Motown sounds in an underground scene known for its dance styles, friendships, and unique fashion. Downstairs played more progressive and rarer 1960's tunes, with Mr M's upstairs leading the way as an oldies venue. The building was destroyed by fire in 1982. The painting on the right is 'Wigan Library and Baths' from 2020. This piece shows Wigan's swimming baths which boasted an almost Olympic size pool! The red building on the left is Wigan's First Free Public Library that opened in 1878, now Wigan Museum! You can still see the paintings on display as part of our Wigan's Voice exhibition for another two weeks.
Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Still time to get tickets to join Jennifer Reid & Tom Kitching for an evening of songs & stories as they present their new show 'Bitter & Mild', a celebration of their native North West of England. Fri 10 July 7-9pm £10 Book via link below or ring 01942 828128. www.eventbrite.com/e/bitter-and...

Bitter and Mild - Jennifer Reid and Tom Kitching

Jennifer Reid and Tom Kitching present their show, ‘Bitter and Mild’, a tongue in cheek celebration of their native North West of England.

eventbrite.com

Wigan Museum@wiganmuseum.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The bust of Henry VIII is made from cannel coal mined at Haigh. It was reputedly commissioned by Lord Crawford in 1756 and carved by local sculptor Robert Towne for the price of one guinea. The urn was carved out of cannel coal in 1889 and was presented by Wigan Coal and Iron Ltd in 1946.

Did you know that these objects were made from cannel coal? 🧐 Local people would make snuff boxes, trinkets, and other items out of this high-grade coal, sometimes fooling outsiders that the material was really a valuable black marble! This bust of Henry VIII sits on a base of green marble, and was carved in cannel coal mined in the Haigh area of Wigan. It was reputedly commissioned by Lord Crawford in 1756, and the work carried out by local sculptor Robert Towne for the princely sum of one guinea. Also made our of cannel coal, this urn from 1889 was presented to Wigan Public Library (now Wigan Museum and Wigan Local Studies) by the Wigan Coal and Iron Association in 1946. You can see both items on display at our current exhibition Wigan's Voice.