Travel to Wigan Map
Wigan tourist guide map of landmarks & destinations by Walkfo
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When travelling to Wigan, Walkfo’s has created a travel guide & Wigan overview of Wigan’s hotels & accommodation, Wigan’s weather through the seasons & travel destinations / landmarks in Wigan. Experience a unique Wigan when you travel with Walkfo as your tour guide to Wigan map.
Wigan history
Etymology
The name Wigan has been dated to at least the 7th century . It has also been suggested that the name is Celtic, named after a person called Wigan . The name of the town has been recorded variously as Wigan in 1199, Wygayn in 1240 and Wygan in numerous historical documents .
Brigantes
There is very little evidence of prehistoric activity in the Wigan area, especially pre-Iron Age . Celtic names in the area around Wigan, such as Bryn, Makerfield and Ince, indicate that the Celtic people of Britain were active in the region in the Iron Age .
Romans
In the 1st century, the area was conquered by the Romans . Antonine Itinerary mentions a Roman settlement called Coccium 17 miles (27 km) from the Roman fort at Manchester (Mamucium) Coccium is Roman Wigan .
Anglo-Saxons
In the early 10th century there was an influx of Scandinavians expelled from Ireland . This can be seen in place names such as Scholes—now a part of Wigan—which derives from the Scandinavian skali meaning “hut”
Domesday Book
Wigan is not mentioned in the Domesday Book, possibly because it was included in the Neweton barony (now Newton-le-Willows) It is wrongly claimed that the mention of a church in the manor of Neweton, which actually refers to the church of St.Oswald (Winwick), is Wigan Parish Church . Wigan was incorporated as a borough in 1246 following the issue of a charter by King Henry III to John Maunsell, the local church rector . The borough was later granted another charter in 1257–1258 . Edward II visited Wigan in 1323 in an effort to stabilise the region which had been the source of the Banastre Rebellion .
Civil War
The Battle of Wigan Lane was fought in August 1651 during the Third English Civil War . It was fought between 1,500 Royalists under the command of the James Stanley, Earl of Derby and 3,000 of the New Model Army . The Royalists were unable to break the Parliamentarian line and were forced to flee after being overwhelmed by superior numbers .
Industrial Revolution
Wigan was a centre for coal production, engineering and textiles in the 18th century . As a mill town, it was an important centre of textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution . In 1854 there were 54 collieries in and around the town, one sixth of Lancashire’s coal pits . Wigan became one of the first towns in Britain to be served by a railway .
20th century
In 1911 the town was described as an “industrial town … occupying the greater part of the township, whilst its collieries, factories … fill the atmosphere with smoke” After the Second World War there was a boom followed by a slump from which Wigan’s textile industry did not recover . The town’s cotton and coal industries declined in the 20th century .
Wigan map & travel guide with history & landmarks to explore
Visit Wigan Walkfo Stats
With 58 travel places to explore on our Wigan travel map, Walkfo is a personalised tour guide to tell you about the places in Wigan as you travel by foot, bike, car or bus. No need for a physical travel guide book or distractions by phone screens, as our geo-cached travel content is automatically triggered on our Wigan map when you get close to a travel location (or for more detailed Wigan history from Walkfo).
| Travel Location: Travel Area: | Wigan [zonearea] | Audio spots: Physical plaques: | 58 4 | Population: | [zonesize] |
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Tourist Guide to Wigan Map
Wigan map historic spot | Wigan map tourist destination | Wigan map plaque | Wigan map geographic feature |
| Walkfo Wigan travel map key: visit National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top travel destinations in Wigan | |||
