Produced by Wigan Heritage Service Issue No. 48 April - July 2008 £1 YOUR HERITAGE HERITAGE SERVICE Contents Letter from the 3 Exhibitions at the History Shop Editorial Team 4 Wigan Archives Service By the time you read this issue, Easter will have come and gone, but the editorial team hopes that all our readers had 5 Adult Learners’ Week a peaceful holiday. 6-7 Family History New Reference Collections We would like to make an appeal for more contributions, whether they be articles, photographs, poems, notes, queries or 8 Leigh & District letters. Of course, publication is not guaranteed, but the more Family History Society choice we editors have, the more varied the magazine. We have 9 Cromwell’s Ditch had a few comments from readers, who feel that certain areas 10-11 My Family and Music of the borough are neglected. So, if you feel that your part of the borough could do with more exposure in FORWARD , 12-13 PAST My Teenage Years we would be delighted to hear from you. 14-15 Reader’s Photographs Sadly, Wigan Pier – The Way We Were, is now closed, but we 16-17 Stickability on look forward to the new heritage developments at Trencherfield a Fiddle Mill, and of course the mill engine continues to operate. 18-19 Do you remember? Recently two volunteers, Paul Turner and Amanda Redmond 20-22 The Atherton have been helping with the editing and administration of the Local Board magazine, so a big thank you to them both. 24 Heritage Events 25 Silver Screens Published by Wigan Heritage 26-27 A Short Story Deadline Service, Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust. 28-29 Your Letters for Issue 49 The views expressed in this issue are 30-31 The Search for a not necessarily supported by Wigan Contributors please note Roman Road in Ince Leisure & Culture Trust. Nothing that the deadline for printed may be construed as policy 32 Wigan Heritage receipt of material for or official announcement unless so Network publication is 30 May. stated. Neither Wigan Leisure & 33 Society News Culture Trust, nor the Editor, accept liability for any matter in this 34 From our The Editor publication. Photographic Archive Wigan Heritage Service The History Shop Contributions are welcome, but no 35 Can You Help? responsibility can be taken for loss Library Street or damage to contributors’ material. FRONT COVER PICTURE Wigan WN1 1NU Collar and Jewel showing [email protected] © Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust the Lindsay Coat of Arms March 2008 (see article on page 3) 2 EXHIBITIONS AT THE HISTORY SHOP Freemasonry – it’s no secret! May 6 – 19 July 2008 What do you think when you see the word Freemason? A male preserve? Secret society? Think again. This exhibition focuses on the unique and long-standing history of Freemasonry in Wigan. You will discover why the Wigan Freemasons formed a breakaway Grand Lodge, unique in the history of Freemasonry, and what this act of protest meant for the society. The exhibition also examines the principles of Freemasonry, and reveals present-day charitable and social activities. 2008 also marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation of women Freemasons, and many items illustrating their history and activities in Wigan will be on display. Costume, regalia, banners, photographs and books reveal this fascinating story. We hope to Collar and Jewel belonging to Lindsay Lodge see you there. showing the Lindsay Coat of Arms and the motto Astra Castra Numen Lumen which translates to The exhibition has been written and presented The stars my camp; The deity my light. Made of by the Wigan & District Association for silver in Birmingham in 1874. It is the only one of Masonic Research. its kind. New Staff for the Heritage Service The Heritage Service welcomes new member of staff Sue Maiden, who joins us as Learning Officer. Sue says “My role will be to facilitate learning through the collections and resources held here for groups either in the community or in formal education. Previously I was a Learning Officer at Wigan Pier and following the closure of the museum I will be working to bring together the best of the old learning services with the new Heritage Vision for the future.” Sue will be involved in the development and delivery of learning activities for all ages at the History Shop, Trencherfield Mill engine and out in our communities and schools. 3 ARCHIVES SERVICE Welcome to the Archives Service and fabulous resource for local and family to a column I hope will be a regular historians and we will be collaborating with addition to these pages. In coming our archive volunteers to index the collection editions I will keep you updated and make the information available . about events and activities at the archives, notify you of recent If you would like to consult any of the acquisitions and explore some of the records mentioned, or wish to get involved volunteering at the archives, please do less well know but nonetheless not hesitate to contact me at the archives fascinating items from our collections . (contacts details on the back page). A Spring Clean Archives for All The archives search room and staff offices are I would like to thanks all recent depositors for now newly decorated and the layout of the entrusting their records to our permanent rooms improved for researchers, volunteers and care. We are always keen to receive historic staff, including a dedicated area for the records from individuals and organisations consultation of maps and large building plans. within the borough and help preserve the historic written record of our communities. Recent Acquisitions If you know of local businesses, community organisations or societies, churches or We have two new collections to mention to individuals wishing to deposit the records of researchers: their activities, please ask them to get in touch G A new deposit of parish records from the with the Heritage Service and we will be church of St John, Hindley Green, including happy to examine their records. early twentieth century registers of services, marriages and banns G The final records of the Wigan & District Field Club, a local naturalist and field walking society that recently disbanded. The records document the observation of local wildlife and the countryside around the borough from the nineteenth century onwards. As part of an ongoing project to improve access to our collections, archive staff and volunteers are carrying out a full record survey to make certain all items are well catalogued. In doing so we have (re)discovered a wonderful collection of Second World War civil defence personnel cards for those enrolling to assist the war effort in Leigh. This is potentially a 4 LEARNING & OUTREACH Adult Learners’ Week 2008 From the 17th-24th May Wigan Libraries and Heritage Services will be putting on a series of activities and tasters sessions to celebrate Adult Learners’ Week. What is Adult Learners’ Week? It’s a week long event taking place every May to encourage and inspire us to take up learning, whether to catch up, or brush up, to learn for work or for fun! Adult Learners’ Week is the biggest learning campaign in the country, with events taking place throughout the UK. Libraries and Heritage Services are proud to be a part of it, and hope you will join them in what promises to be an enjoyable week. This year Libraries have chosen the theme ‘Good for the Soul’, with a range of art and holistic therapy taster sessions on offer. Heritage have also picked a leisure theme and are encouraging visitors to take a step back in time- ‘Remembering Holidays’. All events are Free to attend. For further information or to book a place please use the contact details listed in the table below. Saturday 17th May 2008 Aromatherapy Orrell Library 10.30am-12.00 noon 01942 705060 Monday 19th May 2008 Drawing Wigan Library 10.00am-12.00 noon 01942 827619 Water Colour Painting Beech Hill Library 1.45pm-3.15pm 01942 747750 Aromatherapy Hindley Library 3.00pm-4.30pm 01942 255287 Water Colour Painting Standish Library 4.00pm-5.30pm 01257 400496 Beauty Therapy Hope Library 1.00pm-3.00pm 01942 777545 Tuesday 20th May 2008 Water Colour Painting Hope Library 10.00am-12.00 noon 01942 777545 Water Colour Painting Shevington Library 1.45pm-3.15pm 01257 252618 Aromatherapy Ince Library 3.00pm-4.15pm 01942 324423 Reiki Aspull Library 5.15pm-6.15pm 01942 831303 Thursday 22nd May 2008 Water Colour Painting Aspull Library 2.00pm-3.30pm 01942 831303 Remembering Holidays… The History Shop 1.30pm-3.00pm 01942 828128 Come and join us as we Booking reminisce about steam trains, essential candyfloss, Punch & Judy, merry- go-rounds & boarding houses! Friday 23 May 2008 Aromatherapy Marsh Green Library 10.00am-11.30am 01942 760041 Reiki Tyldesley Library 1.00pm-2.30pm 01942 404738 Aromatherapy Leigh Library 3.30pm-5.00pm 01942 404557 Beauty Therapy Atherton Library 10.30am-12.30pm 01942 404817 Saturday 24th May 2008 Aromatherapy Golborne Library 10.30am-12.00 noon 01942 777800 5 FAMILY HISTORY Recent additions Genealogy Henry Prescott, Deputy St Helens Townships F.H.S. Registrar of Chester Diocese to the Reference St Helens area marriage index (Vols 2 and 3) . Collections at the 1538-1940. CD ROM. 942.7 Record Society of Lancashire Parish Register Lancashire and Cheshire History Shop Society Vol 165 : The registers Vol 134: The papers of Sir of St Luke’s Heywood (Vol 2 ) Richard Grosvenor 1585-1645 . 1813-1837. Donations 942.7 Record Society of Aspull St Elizabeth C. E. Lancashire Parish Register Lancashire and Cheshire Graveyard plan .