Wigan Pier

Today's the day ........................... to be unique

We could have spent the day negotiating the 23 locks that would have taken us down the 200 ft necessary to bring us into Wigan.  But then we would have to have done the same thing in reverse the following day - and it all seemed like just too much hard work.  Instead, we came up with the good idea of just walking the three or so miles along the towpath into town - and then getting the bus back!

It seems odd that somewhere as landlocked as Wigan should have any sort of pier - but the name comes from the fact that the canal banks were punctuated at frequent intervals by landing stages for tipping coal wagons, and these were generally regarded as 'piers' even if they failed to conform with the accepted image of the seaside funfair.  In its heyday, fifty thousand tons of coal per annum were transhipped from wagon to barge here, much of it going in export to Ireland or even America via Liverpool docks.  Canal transport ceased at this end of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in the early sixties.

The extra shows something else very particular to this town which demonstrates the warmth and good humour of Wigan folk - the concept of the 'Pie in a Barm'  .............................