Wigan and Leigh Archives

Wigan and Leigh Archives is the principal record office for the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, holding the official archives of the local authority and a vast collection of historical material for the wider area. It operates as a service of Wigan Council and is located within the historic Leigh Town Hall. The archive's extensive holdings document the social, industrial, and administrative history of towns including Wigan, Leigh, Atherton, and Tyldesley.

History

The service was formally established in 1974 following the Local Government Act 1972, which created the new Metropolitan Borough of Wigan. This administrative change necessitated a central repository for the historical records of the former County Borough of Wigan, the Municipal Borough of Leigh, and other absorbed districts like Atherton Urban District. Key early deposits included the historic records of the Wigan Poor Law Union and the manorial records for the Lordship of Haigh. Throughout the late 20th century, the archive actively acquired collections from defunct local industries, notably from the region's once-dominant coal mining and textile manufacturing sectors, preserving the legacy of companies such as the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.

Collections

The archives house over a kilometre of shelved material, spanning from the 12th century to the present day. Core holdings include the official records of Wigan Council and its predecessors, encompassing minutes, rate books, and planning registers. Significant deposited collections feature the extensive archives of the Wigan Coal and Iron Company, the records of the Leigh Spinners mill, and the papers of the 5th Earl of Balcarres relating to the Haigh Hall estate. The collections also contain millions of photographic images, including the notable E. W. Tattersall collection documenting Wigan Pier, alongside substantial holdings of maps, newspapers like the Leigh Journal, and records for hundreds of local societies, churches, and schools.

Services and access

The archive provides a public searchroom where visitors can consult original documents, microfilm, and digital resources free of charge, following a simple registration process. Staff offer expert enquiry and research support, and the service runs regular outreach activities including talks, exhibitions, and workshops, often in partnership with institutions like The University of Manchester and the Manchester Metropolitan University. While the majority of the collection is uncatalogued online, printed guides and card indexes are available onsite, and the archive contributes records to national discovery platforms including the National Archives' Discovery database.

Location and facilities

The archive is situated on the second floor of Leigh Town Hall, a Grade II listed building constructed in 1907 originally for the Leigh Corporation. The searchroom and strongrooms are housed in a modern, purpose-built extension added in the 1990s, featuring climate-controlled storage for the preservation of fragile materials. The building is accessible via public transport, with Leigh bus station nearby, and there is limited public parking available. Other facilities include a dedicated microfilm reader area, public computing terminals, and space for temporary exhibitions.

Governance and funding

The archive operates as a direct service of Wigan Council, falling within the remit of the council's Leisure Services department. Its core funding is provided through the local authority's revenue budget, supplemented by specific grants for conservation and outreach projects from bodies such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Archives and Records Association. Strategic oversight is provided by the council's lead member for Heritage, and the service adheres to professional standards set by the National Archives and the UK Archives Accreditation scheme.