Arriving at Wigan Wallgate turn left and left and right.
Tucked away along Clarence Yard is the former Princes Cinema.
Photo: Ian Grundy
Where once upon a time the flat capped and hatted audience queued at length, for a glimpse of Dracula and Frankenstein.
Opened in 1934 and closed on 10th January 1970 with a screening of The Mad Room.
It has subsequently been in use as a nightclub.
Back out onto Dorning Street in search of telephone exchanges, three telephone exchanges.
Inter-war
Sixties.
Seventies.
Just around the corner is an expansive GPO Sorting Office of 1959.
Across the way is the Technical College.
The foundations of Wigan & Leigh College date back to 1857, and the current institution was formed in April 1992 through the merger of Wigan College of Technology and Leigh College.
Partly formed from the Thomas Linacre Technical School.
Architects: Howard V Lobb G Grenfell Bains & Hargreaves 1954
School Hall – RIBA Pix
Curious decorative brick motif – a floor plan of the building.
My thanks to Mark Watson for his erudition and insight.
Across the road the former Grammar School now an NHS Centre.
Wigan Grammar School was founded in 1597 and closed in 1972 as part of the comprehensive education movement. it became Mesnes High School until 1989, and then the Mesnes Building of Wigan College.
It was designated a Grade II listed building in 1997.
Architect: A E Munby
Since 2003, it has been known as the Thomas Linacre Centre and is an out-patient department for the Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust.
Let’s head back into town and along Standishgate.
Former Burton Tailors – possibly.
Turn left into Millgate to see the boarded up Civic Centre.
Formerly not boarded up Civic Centre.
Across the way the new Library and Life Centre by Astudio and LCE Architects
Down the road to where the International Swimming Pool was – opened 1968.
Scholes Comprehensive Development 1964 – five thirteen storey blocks.
Moving down the street to the former Police Station now Premier Inn on Harrogate Street.
Lancashire County Architect: Roger Booth
Next door the Post Modern brick monolith of the Wigan and Leigh Courthouse 1990.
Then back up along King Street to visit the Job Centre.
Take a look up at the Royal Court Theatre – 1886 Richard T Johnson
Then back up toward the centre to the County Playhouse.
Construction began on the County Playhouse in 1916. However, due to a shortage of materials and labour during World War I, it was not completed until 1919.
Finally opened on 22nd December 1919 with The Peril Within – starring Dorothy Gish.
Onwards to the Wallgate News.
Finally to The George public house.
All ages, all different, all characters all like a bevvy.
The George is all you need.
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