For nearly 150 years, generations of Wigan shoppers have passed beneath it.
The cast-iron canopy, one of the few surviving features from Wigan’s original Victorian Market Hall, has been moved once again as part of the town centre redevelopment. First installed outside the Market Hall when it opened in 1877, it was rescued when the building was demolished in the late 1980s and reused at the town’s current market hall.
Now, with the current market hall due to make way for apartments as the former Galleries redevelopment continues, the canopy has been carefully restored and installed inside Wigan’s new market hall, where it hangs above what will be the performance stage.
Made by George Smith & Co’s Sun Foundry in Glasgow, the canopy is one of the last physical links to the original Market Hall and has now found what is expected to be its permanent home.
The move was carried out by Wigan Council, Wigan Building Preservation Trust, Cityheart and Galliford Try, who worked together to restore and reinstall the Victorian ironwork.
Peter Fleetwood, from Wigan Building Preservation Trust, said: “We’ve been working closely with Wigan Council, Cityheart and Galliford Try to find the right future home for the canopy, so we were delighted when the new market hall was identified as its new location.
“This historic structure dates back to Wigan’s 1870 Market Hall, and it’s fantastic to see it being carefully preserved and given a new purpose at the heart of this exciting development.
“By bringing it into the building and making it a focal point for visitors, we’ve ensured that an important piece of Wigan’s heritage can continue to be appreciated for generations to come.”
Darren Jones, senior development director at Cityheart, said: “The historic Market Hall canopy is a remarkable piece of Wigan’s heritage and it’s great to see it become a unique focal point for the new venue.
“We have worked closely with our partners to ensure this important part of local history was carefully restored, incorporated into the development and given a prominent new role.”
Coun Dane Anderton, Wigan Council’s cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said: “We’re honouring the town’s proud market heritage while creating something that is looking to the future, as part of a wider transformation to help our town centre thrive.
“Rather than being lost, the structure has been given a new lease of life, becoming a focal point of a venue inspired by the town’s industrial heritage and the skilled craftspeople, or ‘fettlers’, who helped shape Wigan.”
The council says the new market hall is set to open in Spring next year.
