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!colspan=2 align=center bgcolor="#ff9999"|Metropolitan Borough of Wigan
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|[[MPs elected in the UK general election, 2005|MPs]]:||[[Andrew Burnham]], [[Barbara Keeley]], [[Ian McCartney]], [[Neil Turner]]
|[[MPs elected in the UK general election, 2005|MPs]]:||[[Andrew Burnham]], [[Barbara Keeley]], [[Ian McCartney]], [[Neil Turner]]
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The '''Metropolitan Borough of Wigan''' is a [[Metropolitan Borough]] of [[Greater Manchester]], in [[North West England]]. It is named after its largest town, [[Wigan]], and covers a number of nearby towns.
The '''Metropolitan Borough of Wigan''' is a [[Metropolitan Borough]] of [[Greater Manchester]], in [[North West England]]. It is twinned with [[Angers]] in [[France]]. The historic town of ''[[Metropolitan_Borough_of_Wigan#The_town_of_Wigan|Wigan]]'' is the largest Town, and gives rise to the name, of this Metropolitan Borough.
==The Metropolitan Borough==
The Township Programme has been set up to make it easier for residents to get involved in planning the future of their communities. The Borough has been divided into ten Township areas. Each area has a Township Manager and Township Co-ordinator who are working to co-ordinate the way in which public services are delivered locally and to encourage improvements in services, where they are needed.<Ref>[http://kinnear.wiganmbc.gov.uk/services/entry.asp?EntryID=812 Wigan council site.]Accessed 5 November, 2006</ref>


They will also be encouraging local people to have a greater involvement in the borough's Community Plan by helping people to identify local issues and action. Each of the ten townships has a Township Forum - made up of a number of agencies, organisations, local Councillors and local groups. Township Forums are responsible for producing local action plans that reflect the long-term vision for the future of the Township area. The action plans are based around eight themes; community safety, economy, education, environment, health, leisure and recreation, neighbourhood development and traffic and transport. These plans detail what the Forum feels are important issues for the Township. Township Staff work closely with the Forums in a supporting and advising role and to encourage improvements in services where needed<Ref>[http://kinnear.wiganmbc.gov.uk/services/entry.asp?EntryID=812 Wigan council site.]Accessed 5 November, 2006</ref>

==Extent==

Towns and villages in the borough include [[Wigan]] itself, [[Abram, Greater Manchester|Abram]], [[Ashton-in-Makerfield]], [[Aspull, Greater Manchester|Aspull]], [[Astley, Greater Manchester|Astley]], [[Atherton]], [[Billinge with Winstanley, Greater Manchester|Billinge with Winstanley]], [[Bryn]], [[Golborne]], [[Haigh, Greater Manchester|Haigh]], [[Hindley, Greater Manchester|Hindley]], [[Ince-in-Makerfield]], [[Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh]], [[Lowton]], [[Orrell, Greater Manchester|Orrell]], [[Pemberton, Greater Manchester|Pemberton]], [[Platt Bridge]], [[Standish, Greater Manchester|Standish]], [[Shevington]] and [[Tyldesley]].

The current boundaries of [[Wigan]] were set by the [[Local Government Act 1972]], which on [[April 1]], [[1974]] formed the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan from the former [[county borough|County Borough]] of Wigan, along with the [[municipal borough]] of Leigh, the [[urban district]]s of Abram, [[Aspull, Wigan|Aspull]], Atherton, Hindley, Ince-in-Makerfield, Orrell, [[Standish-with-Langtree]], Tyldesley, part of the urban districts of [[Ashton-in-Makerfield]], [[Golborne]], [[Billinge-and-Winstanley]], and part of [[Wigan Rural District]].

==Identity==

According to an opinion poll, 26% of 299 residents surveyed felt they belonged "very strongly" or "fairly strongly" (4% very strongly) to Greater Manchester, 64% (28% very strongly) to the borough of Wigan, and 63% (31% very strongly) to [[Lancashire]]. <ref>[http://www.boundarycommittee.org.uk/files/dms/Add58Wig_12198-9334__E__.pdf MORI local government and identity opinion poll] December 2003 - February 2004</ref>.

==Subdivisions==

The borough has three civil parishes: [[Haigh, Greater Manchester|Haigh]], [[Shevington]] and [[Worthington]], which all came from the [[Wigan Rural District]]. The rest of the borough is an [[unparished area]].

===Area committees===


'''The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan''' ''Townships'' are:<ref>[http://www.wiganmbc.gov.uk/pub/partnership/township/index.htm Wigan council site/Townships.]Accessed 5 November, 2006</ref>
'''The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan''' ''Townships'' are:<ref>[http://www.wiganmbc.gov.uk/pub/partnership/township/index.htm Wigan council site/Townships.]Accessed 5 November, 2006</ref>
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*''Wigan South'' Township, (Goose Green, Hawkley Hall, Kitt Green, Lamberhead, Marsh Green, Marus Bridge, Newtown, Norley Hall, Pemberton, Poolstock, Worsley Hall, Worsley Mesnes). <ref>[http://www.wiganmbc.gov.uk/pub/partnership/township/wigan-south/index.htm Wigan Council site, individual Township.] Accessed 5 November, 2006</ref>
*''Wigan South'' Township, (Goose Green, Hawkley Hall, Kitt Green, Lamberhead, Marsh Green, Marus Bridge, Newtown, Norley Hall, Pemberton, Poolstock, Worsley Hall, Worsley Mesnes). <ref>[http://www.wiganmbc.gov.uk/pub/partnership/township/wigan-south/index.htm Wigan Council site, individual Township.] Accessed 5 November, 2006</ref>


Each township has a manager and a co-ordinator; their roles being to work with Councillors and local residents to develop more opportunities for local people to have a say about their area.<Ref>[http://kinnear.wiganmbc.gov.uk/services/entry.asp?EntryID=812 Wigan council site.]Accessed 5 November, 2006</ref>
Each Township has a manager and a co-ordinator; their roles being to work with Councillors and local residents to develop more opportunities for local people to have a say about their area.<Ref>[http://kinnear.wiganmbc.gov.uk/services/entry.asp?EntryID=812 Wigan council site.]Accessed 5 November, 2006</ref>


Towns and villages in the borough include the Town of ''Wigan'' itself, [[Abram, Greater Manchester|Abram]], [[Ashton-in-Makerfield]], [[Aspull, Greater Manchester|Aspull]], [[Astley, Greater Manchester|Astley]], [[Atherton]], [[Billinge with Winstanley, Greater Manchester|Billinge with Winstanley]], [[Bryn]], [[Golborne]], [[Haigh, Greater Manchester|Haigh]], [[Hindley, Greater Manchester|Hindley]], [[Ince-in-Makerfield]], [[Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh]], [[Lowton]], [[Orrell, Greater Manchester|Orrell]], [[Pemberton, Greater Manchester|Pemberton]], [[Platt Bridge]], [[Standish, Greater Manchester|Standish]], [[Shevington]], [[Tyldesley]].
Each of the township areas also has a forum. The forum is made up of a number of agencies, organisations, local councillors and local groups. Township forums are responsible for producing local action plans that reflect the long-term vision for the future of the township area. The action plans are based around eight themes; community safety, economy, education, environment, health, leisure and recreation, neighbourhood development and traffic and transport. These plans detail what the forum feels are important issues for the Township. Township Staff work closely with the Forums in a supporting and advising role and to encourage improvements in services where needed.

The current boundaries of [[Wigan]] were set by the [[Local Government Act 1972]], which on [[April 1]], [[1974]] formed the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan from the former [[county borough|County Borough]] of Wigan, along with the [[municipal borough]] of Leigh, the [[urban district]]s of Abram, [[Aspull, Wigan|Aspull]], Atherton, Hindley, Ince-in-Makerfield, Orrell, [[Standish-with-Langtree]], Tyldesley, part of the urban districts of [[Ashton-in-Makerfield]], [[Golborne]], [[Billinge-and-Winstanley]], and part of [[Wigan Rural District]].

According to an opinion poll, 26% of 299 residents surveyed felt they belonged "very strongly" or "fairly strongly" (4% very strongly) to Greater Manchester, 64% (28% very strongly) to the borough of Wigan, and 63% (31% very strongly) to [[Lancashire]]. <ref>[http://www.boundarycommittee.org.uk/files/dms/Add58Wig_12198-9334__E__.pdf MORI local government and identity opinion poll] December 2003 - February 2004</ref>.

===Parishes and unparished areas===
====Parishes====
Showing former status (prior to 1974):

# [[Haigh, Greater Manchester|Haigh]]
# [[Shevington]]
# [[Worthington]]

====Unparished areas====
[[Unparished area|Unparished areas]], showing former status (prior to 1974):

# [[Abram]] (Urban District)
# [[Ashton-in-Makerfield]] (Urban District) (part)
# [[Aspull, Wigan|Aspull]] (Urban District)
# [[Atherton]] (Urban District)
# [[Billinge and Winstanley]] (Urban District) (part)
# [[Golborne]] (Urban District) (part)
# [[Hindley, Greater Manchester|Hindley]] (Urban District)
# [[Ince-in-Makerfield]] (Urban District)
# [[Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh]] (Municipal Borough)
# [[Orrell]] (Urban District)
# [[Standish-with-Langtree]] (Urban District)
# [[Tyldesley]] (Urban District)
# ''Wigan'' (County Borough)

==The town of Wigan==
'''Wigan''' is the largest Town in the ''Metropolitan Borough of Wigan''<ref>[http://www.wiganmbc.gov.uk/ Wigan Coucil Home-page] Accessed 5 November,2006<ref>, and lies within the [[Historic counties of England|historic borders]] of [[Lancashire]].

It is roughly equidistant from the cities of [[Liverpool]], [[Manchester]] and [[Preston]]. Towns nearby are [[Leigh]], [[St Helens, Merseyside|St Helens]], [[Bolton]] and [[Warrington]].

===Etymology===
Wigan's place-name meaning has a rather doubtful etymology. Some sources suggest the name is a Celtic one named after a person called Wigan; this would be a [[personal name]] place-name, e.g. [[Stevenston]] in [[Ayrshire]] or [[Kelly, Devon|Kelly]] in Devon but other sources suggest the etymology is from [[Old English language|Old English]] ''wig'' / ''wiga'' 'warrior' (not meaning the same as modern English [[wig]]!) or ''wicga'' 'insect', but this is not backed up by most written sources.
The name was recorded as ''Wicgen'' in 1286.{{fact}}

===Early history===

The first people reported to have settled in the Wigan area were the [[Brigantes]].{{fact}} It is believed by some Wigan residents that the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] took over "Chochion", as it was then known, in around 79 AD during one of many [[war]]s with the [[Celts]] and renamed the settlement “Coccium”, however, there is no proven evidence of this claim being true. Indeed, contents of the 'Antonine Itinerary' (written evidence of Roman roads and stations) prove the 'Coccium' claim unfounded. However, some evidence of Roman occupation has been found in the area, the most recent finding being a hypocaust system discovered during the construction of the foundations for a new shopping centre in the town centre.

By the time of the Middle Ages, Wigan had become a constituent manor of the Barony of Makerfield. It received its Royal Charter from King Henry III in 1246 when it was made into a Borough in its own right. Its new status as a Royal Borough is reflected in the insignia of the town Coat of Arms.

The earliest incorporation of the town is actually mentioned in the report of the Norry King of Arms in 1613, that "The Towne and Bourrough of Wiggin was antiently incorporated by the most noble Kinge, Kinge Hen, the first, in the first year of his raygne," i.e. the year 1100. If so, this would make the borough the oldest in the region, and one of the oldest in the country.

Owing to its loyalty to the Crown during the Civil War, the motto, "Ancient and Loyal", was bestowed on the town by Royal decree. It is the oldest such motto in the English language.

===Civic history===

Wigan was one of the few industrial towns of the [[19th century]] to be have already received charter as a borough. It was reformed by the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]], and was one of the boroughs to be granted the status of [[county borough]] by the [[Local Government Act 1888]]; giving it independence from Lancashire County Council. The former area of [[Pemberton Urban District]] was annexed to the borough in 1904. In 1974 the county borough was abolished and its former area transferred from Lancashire to Greater Manchester to form part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.

===Industry and comerce===

Wigan, primarily a [[mill town]], was once important for [[cotton]] [[textile]] production. The Leeds-Liverpool [[canal]] was diverted from its original planned course, at the request of the mill owners, to transport coal from the Lancashire coalfield pits into Wigan for the mills and was used extensively to transport local produce. In 1818 William Woods introduced the first power [[loom]]s to the Wigan cotton mills. These mills swiftly became infamous for their dangerous and unbearable conditions, low pay and use of [[child labour]]. After the 1914-18 war there was a boom followed by a slump from which Wigan's textile industry did not recover. The last working cotton mill, the [[May mill]], closed in 1980. The novel ''Rose'' by [[Martin Cruz Smith]] is centred around the [[Victorian era]] coal mining in Lancashire, not far from Wigan.

In 1937, Wigan was prominently featured in [[George Orwell]]'s [[The Road to Wigan Pier]], which dealt, in large part, with the living conditions of England's working poor. The town has enjoyed a complex relationship with this association. Wigan has occasionally embraced the Orwellian link, as it has provided the area with a modest tourist base over the years. However, most regard the insinuation that Wigan is in fact no better now than it was as the Victorian era slum with objection and frank hostility. A recent TV documentary about Orwell visited Wigan, and made a comparison to less-affluent areas such as [[Platt Bridge]] and [[Standish Lower Ground]], commenting that not much had changed. This was met with widespread local disapproval.

===Music===
Wigan has been well known for its [[popular music]] since the days of [[George Formby (Senior)|George Formby Snr]] and [[George Formby|George Formby Jnr]]. It was the birthplace of [[The Eight Lancashire Lads]] a dancing troupe who gave the young [[Charlie Chaplin]] his professional debut. One of the troupe was a John Willie Jackson, The "John Willie" to whom George Formby would often refer in his songs.

Local bands that gained wider repute include The Railway Children, [[Witness UK|Witness]], The Tansads, [[Limahl]] of [[Kajagoogoo]] and (more recently) [[Starsailor]]. More recently, [[The Verve]] were one of the most important British rock groups of the 1990s, finding success in the UK and abroad (even touring on the USA's famous [[Lollapalooza]] alternative rock festival). The band was formed when the members met at Winstanley College in the Billinge area of the town.
The [[Wigan Casino]] was, from 1973, the location for Wigan's weekly [[Northern Soul]] all-nighters (most being DJed by famous [[deep funk]] & northern soul DJ [[Keb Darge]]), until it was demolished in [[1983]].

Wigan remains a centre of popular music for young people, with a number of alternative pubs/clubs in the town centre. The town also has a music collective which exists to promote the scene and help out local musicians and bands. They host weekly gigs at The Tavern and also host various other activities such as the annual [[Haigh, Greater Manchester|Haigh Hall]] music festival, recording sessions and gig advice for young musicians.

=== Labour clubs ===
Wigan has traditionally part of the heartland of the ''National Union of Labour Clubs''; having thirty Labour Clubs at its highest, and about twenty currently. The NULSC has used Haigh Hall for its annual festival.

===Sport===
Wigan's main contributions to sport are:

*[[Wigan Warriors]] ([[rugby league]]),
*[[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] ([[Association football|football]]),
*[[Orrell_R.U.F.C.|Orrell]] ([[rugby union]]).
*[[Wigan BEST|Wigan B.E.S.T.]] Swimming Club[http://www.wigan-best.org.uk/]

Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors share the [[JJB Stadium]]. While Orrell play at Edge Hall Road.

As Wigan RLFC, the "Warriors" were England's leading [[rugby league]] team in the [[1980s]] and [[1990s]].

Wigan Athletic were elected to the [[Football League]] in [[1978]] - and to the [[F.A. Premier League]] in the 2005/06 season; getting to the League Cup Final in February 2006.

Wigan has an international-standard Swimming Pool in the town centre, but the Pool has never been used for any official Olympic sanctioned competition. The resident swimming club, Wigan B.E.S.T., has produced Olympic standard swimmers, such as [[June Croft]].

==Transport and communications==

===Canals===
The [[Bridgewater Canal]] was extended from [[Worsley]] to the middle of ''Leigh'' in 1795, and in 1819 the ''Leigh branch canal'' was cut from the [[Leeds-Liverpool Canal]] at Poolstock, ''Wigan'', to meet the Bridgewater at Leigh Bridge, giving access from Leigh to all parts of Lancashire, Yorkshire and the Midlands.

===Rail===
There are two main rail stations in ''Wigan''. These are located virtually across the street from each other in ''Wallgate'', on the southern fringe of ''Wigan Town Centre''.

* [[Wigan North Western railway station|'''Wigan North Western''']] is on the [[Railway electrification system|electrified]] north-south [[West Coast Main Line]].<br>[[Virgin Trains]] provides express trains to [[Euston Station|London Euston]], [[Birmingham]], [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]], [[Carlisle]], [[Edinburgh]] and [[Glasgow]]. [[Northern Rail]] has trains to [[Preston]] and [[Blackpool]] and a regular local service along the line to [[St Helens, Merseyside|St Helens]] and [[Liverpool Lime Street railway station|Liverpool Lime Street]].

* [[Wigan Wallgate railway station|'''Wigan Wallgate''']] serves lines running east and west from Wigan.<br>[[Northern Rail]] provides trains to [[Southport]] and [[Kirkby]] (with connections to [[Liverpool Central railway station|Liverpool Central]] and the [[Merseyrail]] system). A frequent local service also operates to [[Bolton]] and [[Manchester]] ([[Manchester Victoria railway station|Victoria]] and [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Piccadilly]]), with most trains from Wigan continuing through to other destinations such as [[Manchester International Airport|Manchester Airport]], [[Stockport]], [[Oldham]] and [[Rochdale]].

In addition to the two Wigan town centre stations, there are stations served by local trains at [[Bryn railway station|Bryn]], [[Pemberton railway station|Pemberton]], [[Orrell railway station|Orrell]], [[Gathurst railway station|Gathurst]], [[Appley Bridge railway station|Appley Bridge]], [[Ince railway station|Ince]] and [[Hindley railway station|Hindley]].

''Leigh'' was the southern [[terminal station|terminus]] of the [[Bolton]] and Leigh Railway (7.5 miles: 12km). [[George Stephenson]] carried out the survey for the line. It opened for freight on August 1st 1828 and for passengers on June 13th 1831. The first locomotive on the line was an [[0-4-0]] called The [[Pendle Witches|Lancashire Witch]]. The town station was at West Leigh. Later the line was extended southwards to Pennington. The line was closed to passenger traffic on 29th March 1954, and later closed completely.

The second [[railway]] to serve the town of ''Leigh'' was a branch line from the [[Manchester]] - [[Eccles, Greater Manchester|Eccles]] - [[Wigan]] line. It joined the earlier railway at Pennington: there was a station, originally named ''Leigh and Bedford'' to serve the town. It was closed in May 1969, leaving the town without a passenger railway. Numerous freight-only lines crossed the town, but with the closure of the [[coal mining|collieries]] these were no longer required.

Today the nearest railway station to ''Leigh'' is at [[Atherton]], three miles to the north. Leigh is the second largest town in [[Great Britain]] without a railway station; second only to [[Gosport]] in [[Hampshire]].

===Buses===
A network of local buses serves Wigan and district, co-ordinated by [[Greater Manchester PTE]] and departing from a bus station in the town centre, which is also served by [[National Express]] long distance services.

Since deregulation and privatisation of the bus industry in the 1980s and 90s, a number of different companies have operated in Wigan, some big, some small.<br>At present the two larger national operators are:-
* [[First Manchester|'''First Manchester''']], which operates routes generally to the north-east, east and south-east of the town, including buses to [[Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh]], [[Bolton]] and [[Manchester]].
* [[Arriva North-West & Wales|'''Arriva''']], which operates north and west of Wigan to [[Preston]], [[Skelmersdale]], [[Southport]], [[St Helens, Merseyside|St Helens]] and [[Warrington]].

[[South Lancs Travel]] also provide services around the borough of Wigan.

The large bus station in ''Leigh'' is now that town's main public transport hub.

==Notable people==
*[[Billy Boston]], Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee.
*[[Kay Burley]], TV Newscaster
*[[Leslie Cannon]], trade union leader
*[[Edward Entwistle]], engineer and the the first passenger train driver in the world, was from Tyldesley, Salford, (now in Wigan borough).
*[[Andrew Farrell]], former Great Britain Rugby League captain and Wigan Warriors captain, now at Saracens Rugby Union.
*[[George Formby]], comedian, Ukulele player and Isle of Man TT racer on a 'Shuttleworth Snap'. Arguably the most famous person who 'Genuinely' came from Wigan.
*[[Joe Gormley]], (Ashton in Makerfield), former miner and president of the '[[National Union of Mineworkers]]'.
*[[Roy Kinnear]], Comedy actor
*[[Limahl]],Chris Hamill, pop singer (Pemberton)
*[[Stuart Maconie]], Journalist/Broadcaster
*[[Ian McKellen|Sir Ian McKellen]], Hollywood actor
*[[Jennifer Moss]], actress
*[[Eva Pope]], actress
*[[Frank Randle]], comedian
*[[Ted Ray]], comedian
*[[Davey Boy Smith]], professional wrestler. Held various [[World Wrestling Federation]] championships (Golborne, Warrington, but now under Wigan Borough).
*[[Davinia Taylor]], actress, is NOT from Wigan.
*[[Wallace and Gromit]], fictional [[stop motion]] characters created by [[Nick Park]] in Preston, Lancashire.
*[[Dave Whelan]],Yorkshireman from Bradford, businessman and owner of the Wigan Warriors, Wigan Athletic, Orrell RUFC and JJB Sports.
*[[Gerrard Winstanley]], founder of the 17th century [[Diggers]]

Business connections to the town include [[Heinz]] the home of the baked bean, formaly 57 varieties,the largest food manufacturer in Europe. [[JJB Sports]], [[Uncle Joe's Mint Balls]] and [[Pataks]] who are in [[Leigh]] which is in the Wigan borough, their head office being in [[Haydock]] and countless others including Yates's Fish and Chip Shop in Goose Green.

Thomas [[Beecham]], sold his 'Beechams Pills' in Wigan for a short time, before moving to [[St Helens]] where he founded, what was to become, the worlds largest pharmacutical producer. The [[Lindsay]] art connoisseurs are connected with the town.


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>


==External links==
{{Greater Manchester}}
* [http://www.british-publishing.com/Pages/wiganBG/Frame.html Online borough guide]
* [http://www.wigantoday.net/frontpage.aspx wigantoday] - Wigan Observer, Wigan Recorder, Wigan Evening Post
* [http://www.wiganworld.co.uk wiganworld] - photographs
*[http://www.wiganathleticyears.com Information site on Wigan Athletic FC]


{{Greater Manchester}}
{{NW_England}}
{{NW_England}}


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[[Category:Metropolitan boroughs]]
[[Category:Wigan]]
[[Category:Wigan]]



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Revision as of 23:14, 5 November 2006

Metropolitan Borough of Wigan
Wigan
Geography
Status: Metropolitan Borough
Region: North West England
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Area:
- Total		 Ranked 194th
188.19 km²
Admin. HQ: Wigan
ONS code: 00BW
Demographics
Population:
- Total (2022)
- Density		 Ranked

/ km²
Ethnicity: 98.7% White
Politics
Arms of Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council
Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council
http://www.wiganmbc.gov.uk
Leadership: Leader & Cabinet
Executive:  
MPs: Andrew Burnham, Barbara Keeley, Ian McCartney, Neil Turner

The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is a Metropolitan Borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. It is twinned with Angers in France. The historic town of Wigan is the largest Town, and gives rise to the name, of this Metropolitan Borough.

The Metropolitan Borough

The Township Programme has been set up to make it easier for residents to get involved in planning the future of their communities. The Borough has been divided into ten Township areas. Each area has a Township Manager and Township Co-ordinator who are working to co-ordinate the way in which public services are delivered locally and to encourage improvements in services, where they are needed.[1]

They will also be encouraging local people to have a greater involvement in the borough's Community Plan by helping people to identify local issues and action. Each of the ten townships has a Township Forum - made up of a number of agencies, organisations, local Councillors and local groups. Township Forums are responsible for producing local action plans that reflect the long-term vision for the future of the Township area. The action plans are based around eight themes; community safety, economy, education, environment, health, leisure and recreation, neighbourhood development and traffic and transport. These plans detail what the Forum feels are important issues for the Township. Township Staff work closely with the Forums in a supporting and advising role and to encourage improvements in services where needed[2]

The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan Townships are:[3]

  • Hindley, Abram Township, (Hindley, Hindley Green, Low Hall, Platt Bridge, Abram, Bickershaw, Bamfurlong, Spring View), [4]
  • Bryn, Ashton Township, (Landgate, Bryn, Ashton, Ashton Heath, Stubshaw Cross, Town Green), [5]
  • Standish, Aspull, Shevington Township, (Aspull, Appley Bridge, Crooke Village, Haigh, New Springs, Shevington, Shevington Vale, Shevington Moor, Standish, Whelley), [6]
  • Tyldesley, Astley Township, (Mosley Common, Shakerley, Gin Pit Village, Astley Green (inc. Higher & Lower Green), New Hall Farm Estate), [7]
  • Atherton Township, (Hag Fold, Howe Bridge, Hindsford), [8]
  • Orrell, Billinge, Winstanley Township, (Orrell, Far Moor, Billinge, Highfield, Marus Bridge, Winstanley), [9]
  • Golborne, Lowton Township, (Golborne, Lowton, Lowton St Lukes, Lowton St Mary's), [10]
  • Leigh Township,( Pennington, Westleigh, Bedford, Higher Folds, Siddow Common, Lilford), [11]
  • Wigan North Township, (Beech Hill, Lower Ince, Higher Ince, Scholes, Swinley, Wigan Town Centre, Whitley), [12]
  • Wigan South Township, (Goose Green, Hawkley Hall, Kitt Green, Lamberhead, Marsh Green, Marus Bridge, Newtown, Norley Hall, Pemberton, Poolstock, Worsley Hall, Worsley Mesnes). [13]

Each Township has a manager and a co-ordinator; their roles being to work with Councillors and local residents to develop more opportunities for local people to have a say about their area.[14]


Towns and villages in the borough include the Town of Wigan itself, Abram, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Aspull, Astley, Atherton, Billinge with Winstanley, Bryn, Golborne, Haigh, Hindley, Ince-in-Makerfield, Leigh, Lowton, Orrell, Pemberton, Platt Bridge, Standish, Shevington, Tyldesley.

The current boundaries of Wigan were set by the Local Government Act 1972, which on April 1, 1974 formed the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan from the former County Borough of Wigan, along with the municipal borough of Leigh, the urban districts of Abram, Aspull, Atherton, Hindley, Ince-in-Makerfield, Orrell, Standish-with-Langtree, Tyldesley, part of the urban districts of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Golborne, Billinge-and-Winstanley, and part of Wigan Rural District.

According to an opinion poll, 26% of 299 residents surveyed felt they belonged "very strongly" or "fairly strongly" (4% very strongly) to Greater Manchester, 64% (28% very strongly) to the borough of Wigan, and 63% (31% very strongly) to Lancashire. [15].

Parishes and unparished areas

Parishes

Showing former status (prior to 1974):

  1. Haigh
  2. Shevington
  3. Worthington

Unparished areas

Unparished areas, showing former status (prior to 1974):

  1. Abram (Urban District)
  2. Ashton-in-Makerfield (Urban District) (part)
  3. Aspull (Urban District)
  4. Atherton (Urban District)
  5. Billinge and Winstanley (Urban District) (part)
  6. Golborne (Urban District) (part)
  7. Hindley (Urban District)
  8. Ince-in-Makerfield (Urban District)
  9. Leigh (Municipal Borough)
  10. Orrell (Urban District)
  11. Standish-with-Langtree (Urban District)
  12. Tyldesley (Urban District)
  13. Wigan (County Borough)

The town of Wigan

Wigan is the largest Town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan<ref>Wigan Coucil Home-page Accessed 5 November,2006<ref>, and lies within the historic borders of Lancashire.

It is roughly equidistant from the cities of Liverpool, Manchester and Preston. Towns nearby are Leigh, St Helens, Bolton and Warrington.

Etymology

Wigan's place-name meaning has a rather doubtful etymology. Some sources suggest the name is a Celtic one named after a person called Wigan; this would be a personal name place-name, e.g. Stevenston in Ayrshire or Kelly in Devon but other sources suggest the etymology is from Old English wig / wiga 'warrior' (not meaning the same as modern English wig!) or wicga 'insect', but this is not backed up by most written sources. The name was recorded as Wicgen in 1286.[citation needed]

Early history

The first people reported to have settled in the Wigan area were the Brigantes.[citation needed] It is believed by some Wigan residents that the Romans took over "Chochion", as it was then known, in around 79 AD during one of many wars with the Celts and renamed the settlement “Coccium”, however, there is no proven evidence of this claim being true. Indeed, contents of the 'Antonine Itinerary' (written evidence of Roman roads and stations) prove the 'Coccium' claim unfounded. However, some evidence of Roman occupation has been found in the area, the most recent finding being a hypocaust system discovered during the construction of the foundations for a new shopping centre in the town centre.

By the time of the Middle Ages, Wigan had become a constituent manor of the Barony of Makerfield. It received its Royal Charter from King Henry III in 1246 when it was made into a Borough in its own right. Its new status as a Royal Borough is reflected in the insignia of the town Coat of Arms.

The earliest incorporation of the town is actually mentioned in the report of the Norry King of Arms in 1613, that "The Towne and Bourrough of Wiggin was antiently incorporated by the most noble Kinge, Kinge Hen, the first, in the first year of his raygne," i.e. the year 1100. If so, this would make the borough the oldest in the region, and one of the oldest in the country.

Owing to its loyalty to the Crown during the Civil War, the motto, "Ancient and Loyal", was bestowed on the town by Royal decree. It is the oldest such motto in the English language.

Civic history

Wigan was one of the few industrial towns of the 19th century to be have already received charter as a borough. It was reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, and was one of the boroughs to be granted the status of county borough by the Local Government Act 1888; giving it independence from Lancashire County Council. The former area of Pemberton Urban District was annexed to the borough in 1904. In 1974 the county borough was abolished and its former area transferred from Lancashire to Greater Manchester to form part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan.

Industry and comerce

Wigan, primarily a mill town, was once important for cotton textile production. The Leeds-Liverpool canal was diverted from its original planned course, at the request of the mill owners, to transport coal from the Lancashire coalfield pits into Wigan for the mills and was used extensively to transport local produce. In 1818 William Woods introduced the first power looms to the Wigan cotton mills. These mills swiftly became infamous for their dangerous and unbearable conditions, low pay and use of child labour. After the 1914-18 war there was a boom followed by a slump from which Wigan's textile industry did not recover. The last working cotton mill, the May mill, closed in 1980. The novel Rose by Martin Cruz Smith is centred around the Victorian era coal mining in Lancashire, not far from Wigan.

In 1937, Wigan was prominently featured in George Orwell's The Road to Wigan Pier, which dealt, in large part, with the living conditions of England's working poor. The town has enjoyed a complex relationship with this association. Wigan has occasionally embraced the Orwellian link, as it has provided the area with a modest tourist base over the years. However, most regard the insinuation that Wigan is in fact no better now than it was as the Victorian era slum with objection and frank hostility. A recent TV documentary about Orwell visited Wigan, and made a comparison to less-affluent areas such as Platt Bridge and Standish Lower Ground, commenting that not much had changed. This was met with widespread local disapproval.

Music

Wigan has been well known for its popular music since the days of George Formby Snr and George Formby Jnr. It was the birthplace of The Eight Lancashire Lads a dancing troupe who gave the young Charlie Chaplin his professional debut. One of the troupe was a John Willie Jackson, The "John Willie" to whom George Formby would often refer in his songs.

Local bands that gained wider repute include The Railway Children, Witness, The Tansads, Limahl of Kajagoogoo and (more recently) Starsailor. More recently, The Verve were one of the most important British rock groups of the 1990s, finding success in the UK and abroad (even touring on the USA's famous Lollapalooza alternative rock festival). The band was formed when the members met at Winstanley College in the Billinge area of the town. The Wigan Casino was, from 1973, the location for Wigan's weekly Northern Soul all-nighters (most being DJed by famous deep funk & northern soul DJ Keb Darge), until it was demolished in 1983.

Wigan remains a centre of popular music for young people, with a number of alternative pubs/clubs in the town centre. The town also has a music collective which exists to promote the scene and help out local musicians and bands. They host weekly gigs at The Tavern and also host various other activities such as the annual Haigh Hall music festival, recording sessions and gig advice for young musicians.

Labour clubs

Wigan has traditionally part of the heartland of the National Union of Labour Clubs; having thirty Labour Clubs at its highest, and about twenty currently. The NULSC has used Haigh Hall for its annual festival.

Sport

Wigan's main contributions to sport are:

Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors share the JJB Stadium. While Orrell play at Edge Hall Road.

As Wigan RLFC, the "Warriors" were England's leading rugby league team in the 1980s and 1990s.

Wigan Athletic were elected to the Football League in 1978 - and to the F.A. Premier League in the 2005/06 season; getting to the League Cup Final in February 2006.

Wigan has an international-standard Swimming Pool in the town centre, but the Pool has never been used for any official Olympic sanctioned competition. The resident swimming club, Wigan B.E.S.T., has produced Olympic standard swimmers, such as June Croft.

Transport and communications

Canals

The Bridgewater Canal was extended from Worsley to the middle of Leigh in 1795, and in 1819 the Leigh branch canal was cut from the Leeds-Liverpool Canal at Poolstock, Wigan, to meet the Bridgewater at Leigh Bridge, giving access from Leigh to all parts of Lancashire, Yorkshire and the Midlands.

Rail

There are two main rail stations in Wigan. These are located virtually across the street from each other in Wallgate, on the southern fringe of Wigan Town Centre.

In addition to the two Wigan town centre stations, there are stations served by local trains at Bryn, Pemberton, Orrell, Gathurst, Appley Bridge, Ince and Hindley.

Leigh was the southern terminus of the Bolton and Leigh Railway (7.5 miles: 12km). George Stephenson carried out the survey for the line. It opened for freight on August 1st 1828 and for passengers on June 13th 1831. The first locomotive on the line was an 0-4-0 called The Lancashire Witch. The town station was at West Leigh. Later the line was extended southwards to Pennington. The line was closed to passenger traffic on 29th March 1954, and later closed completely.

The second railway to serve the town of Leigh was a branch line from the Manchester - Eccles - Wigan line. It joined the earlier railway at Pennington: there was a station, originally named Leigh and Bedford to serve the town. It was closed in May 1969, leaving the town without a passenger railway. Numerous freight-only lines crossed the town, but with the closure of the collieries these were no longer required.

Today the nearest railway station to Leigh is at Atherton, three miles to the north. Leigh is the second largest town in Great Britain without a railway station; second only to Gosport in Hampshire.

Buses

A network of local buses serves Wigan and district, co-ordinated by Greater Manchester PTE and departing from a bus station in the town centre, which is also served by National Express long distance services.

Since deregulation and privatisation of the bus industry in the 1980s and 90s, a number of different companies have operated in Wigan, some big, some small.
At present the two larger national operators are:-

South Lancs Travel also provide services around the borough of Wigan.

The large bus station in Leigh is now that town's main public transport hub.

Notable people

Business connections to the town include Heinz the home of the baked bean, formaly 57 varieties,the largest food manufacturer in Europe. JJB Sports, Uncle Joe's Mint Balls and Pataks who are in Leigh which is in the Wigan borough, their head office being in Haydock and countless others including Yates's Fish and Chip Shop in Goose Green.

Thomas Beecham, sold his 'Beechams Pills' in Wigan for a short time, before moving to St Helens where he founded, what was to become, the worlds largest pharmacutical producer. The Lindsay art connoisseurs are connected with the town.

References

  1. ^ Wigan council site.Accessed 5 November, 2006
  2. ^ Wigan council site.Accessed 5 November, 2006
  3. ^ Wigan council site/Townships.Accessed 5 November, 2006
  4. ^ Wigan Council site, individual Township. Accessed 5 November, 2006
  5. ^ Wigan Council site, individual Township. Accessed 5 November, 2006
  6. ^ Wigan Council site, individual Township. Accessed 5 November, 2006
  7. ^ Wigan Council site, individual Township. Accessed 5 November, 2006
  8. ^ Wigan Council site, individual Township. Accessed 5 November, 2006
  9. ^ Wigan Council site, individual Township. Accessed 5 November, 2006
  10. ^ Wigan Council site, individual Township. Accessed 5 November, 2006
  11. ^ Wigan Council site, individual Township. Accessed 5 November, 2006
  12. ^ Wigan Council site, individual Township. Accessed 5 November, 2006
  13. ^ Wigan Council site, individual Township. Accessed 5 November, 2006
  14. ^ Wigan council site.Accessed 5 November, 2006
  15. ^ MORI local government and identity opinion poll December 2003 - February 2004
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