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NEW museum dedicated to the history of
Wigan will be unveiled at the town’s History Shop once its £1.3m
makeover is complete.
The current exhibition area at the Library Street building will be
completely revamped to allow for a display devoted to the borough’s
past.
It’s the first time the story of Wigan from the Romans to the Battle of
Wigan Lane to the present day will have been presented in its entirety.
Although finer details are still being finalised the history of Wigan
will be split into different themes including Wigan at War, Wigan Sport
and Our Wigan – focusing on the stories of the actual people who lived
and worked in the town.
Carole Tyldesley, Heritage Services Manager for Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust who manage the History Shop, said: “Our aim is to create
an exhibition that explains just what made Wigan the place it is today
and why we’re so proud to be from Wigan.
“It will focus on the community and spirit of Wigan people from Roman
times to the 21st Century.
“We want people to experience, discover and identify the people and the
events that have moulded modern Wigan.”
Wigan History Shop, where George Orwell famously researched his book,
“The Road to Wigan Pier” will close on December 23 for a 12 month
makeover.
Following a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £500,000 and match funding
from Wigan Council and Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust the exciting work
will see new museum displays, major access improvements, a full
refurbishment of the study and research areas and new toilet facilities
on the ground floor.
As part of the changes the temporary exhibition of the Millennium Maps
that have been exhibited since 2002 will be re-united with the
communities that made them.
In the run up to the Millennium celebration communities across Wigan
Borough created a tapestry of their own areas depicting focal points and
places of interest.
Initiated by the Wigan branch of the Soroptimists in 1997 all 29 panels
of the map would create a 300ft tapestry of the borough if put end to
end. Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and Wigan Soroptimists explored
several options to site the map at an alternative location.
Marion Andrews, press secretary for the Soroptimists said: “We’re been
in contact with schools and community venues across Wigan Borough and
almost all the panels have now been allocated.
“When we started this project in 1997 it generated a lot of community
spirit and brought a lot of people together. We’re hoping that can be
replicated again now that the maps are back in the communities that
created them.”
Services at The History Shop will be temporarily switched to Wigan
Library and will be available from January 5th for the next twelve
months.
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Notes to Editors: For further information on this press release please
contact David Taylor, PR Manager 01942 486 937 or email
david.taylor@wlct.org
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to help people across the Wigan Borough to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
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