Wigan

Wigan is a large town in the north-west of England, which between 1974 and 1986 formed part of the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester. Although traditionally lying in the historic and geographic county of Lancashire. It is the biggest town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, with a population of around 300,000. The nearest major town is Bolton, and it is roughly equidistant to Preston, Liverpool and Manchester.

Culture

Music

Wigan has been well known for its popular music since the days of George Formby Snr and George Formby Jnr. More recently, The Verve were easily one of the most important British rock groups of the 90?s. Probably Wigan?s most notable contribution to musical culture was as the home of Northern Soul. The Wigan Casino was, from 1973, the location for weekly Northern Soul all-nighters, until it was demolished in 1983 after a mysterious fire gutted it.

Related Topics:
Popular music - George Formby Snr - George Formby - The Verve - Northern Soul - Wigan Casino - 1983

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sport

Wigan's main sports teams are Wigan Warriors (rugby league) and Wigan Athletic (football). The two teams now share the JJB Stadium Wigan Athletic were elected to the Football League only in 1978 and had little success for many years, but they have recently gained promotion to the F.A. Premier League and the 2005/06 season will be their first ever in the top flight. Wigan Warriors were for many years in the eighties and nineties indisputably the best Rugby League team in the world. While still a potent force in the game, recent changes to the structure and organisation of the game have diluted their dominance.

Related Topics:
Wigan Warriors - Rugby league - Wigan Athletic - Football - JJB Stadium - Football League - 1978 - F.A. Premier League - Eighties - Nineties

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wigan is one of relatively few towns in the UK to have an international-standard swimming pool in the town centre. The resident swimming club, Wigan Wasps, has produced Olympic standard swimmers, including medal winner June Croft.

Related Topics:
Wigan Wasps - June Croft

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Culture

Most locals would agree that Wigan?s cultural background is colourful. Known popularly as ?Pie Eaters?, residents eat a massively disproportionate number of pies. The name originally came from the Leigh miners, who berated the Wigan workforce who crossed the picket (they were forced to eat humble pie). Why exactly this led to such a rise in the popularity of pies, and all the wonderful recipies the locals have concocted over the years (e.g., a ?Wigan kebab? is a pie in a barm cake; and a baby?s ?yead is a suet pudding (type of pie) - usually served with mushy peas and/or gravy) is inexplicable. Somewhat less popular is the nickname ?Woolyback?, used extensively by Liverpudlians,refering to mill workers carrying cotton form the docks to the mills on thier backs. Wigan is served by the local, commercial radio station Wish FM.

Related Topics:
Pies - Leigh - Humble pie - Recipies - Wish FM

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sir Ian McKellen, the Shakespearean an actor most recently famous for portraying Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings, grew up in Wigan, but refers to himself as ?Lancastrian? (not true, see above). JJB, the sporting goods retailer, also originated in the town.

Related Topics:
Ian McKellen - Shakespearean - Gandalf - The Lord of the Rings - JJB

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many local residents proudly disregarded the county boundaries of Greater Manchester, formed on April 1, 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 And Abolished on 1st April 1986. The postal address uses 'Lancs', (short for the county palatine of Lancashire) on their mail. The Loyal Toast, 'The Queen, the Duke of Lancaster' is also still in regular use. See also Duchy of Lancaster.

Related Topics:
Greater Manchester - April 1 - 1974 - Local Government Act 1972 - County palatine - Lancashire - The Loyal Toast - Duchy of Lancaster

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Perhaps most ignominiously of all, Wigan is responsible for unleashing Uncle Joe?s Mint Balls on the world. Tasting these boiled sweets truly is believing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~