Leaving Now!

Hunting for a blip at lunch time I chose this splendid portico which is now the main entrance for the public library and one of the town's most impressive civic buildings. Constructed in 1901 by the Royal London Friendly Society, it housed seven shops with upper floor storage and private offices.

This bold architectural style using smooth, Accrington and Ruabon bricks with their firey red colour is seen in many of the Victorian and Edwardian buildings in the town. The polished granite is less common although the terracotta relief and detail can be seen elsewhere.

The town's prosperity came largely from coal mining although textiles were also an important industry. As late as 1921 over 12,000 men or 28% of the male population and 245 women were employed in mining, with others in associated engineering industries. Over 1,000 coal shafts were sunk within 5 miles of the town centre of Wigan and over 750 million tons of coal extracted.

Many of the town's most impressive buildings were of the late Victorian and Edwarding period. Sadly like many local towns the high street is less affluent today.

I've put a couple of images on my blipfolio if it's of interest, one of which shows the modern interior behind that impressive doorway.