Born into Wigan at Billinge Hospital in 1961, I moved away in 1984 to the South now living in Henley on Thames. In 36 years I have visited my family regularly, they are all still all there including my fabulous mum and dad who live in Orrell. Successful Wigan councils post 1974 when civic duty and regard disappeared with Wigan Borough have done a reet bodged job and should hang their heads in shame. I try to visit every month although it hurts me when I walk through the ton centre and gradually witness its disintegration. Wigan is still its folk, its straighforward no nonsense approach to life, its tolerance of and kindness to others, its generosity of spirit, its accent and its humour. I am only 58 years old still but have already asked my sons to promise me that my final place of sleep will be Wigan. Wigan Forever
Opposite from me! Born in London 1949, moved to Wigan in 1976 and absolutely loved the town and the warmth and sense of humour of the locals! It is a shame what has happened to the town centre, I loved the old Market Hall and all the shops and stalls outside, Wigan had so much character. I had my wedding reception in what was The Grand Hotel in Dorning Street, it's now a rundown eyesore. When I moved up here, I was living in Marlow, close to where you are now!
I was born in Wigan but living away due to work but always comes back, seen big changes over the years and I can say difficulties for the council, but really they have spoiled Wigan they should have thought outside the box. I remember the town and feel very bad for what as happened to a great town, shame on you all in Wigan Council.
Nice video.. Born in Billinge hospital in 1967. Emigrated to US with my family in 1983. Returned to Wigan in 1990. Moved back to the US in 2016. Will be visiting Wigan next week to see family, looking forward to it but there is no way I would want to move back. Too many changes and not for the better. I'm now in fact a US citizen.
@TheEzy13 Ian Hesketh, a blast from the past! Read somewhere about your dad, sorry to hear. My dad passed 13 years ago. 😔. Yeah, I love life here. Do not believe all the craziness you read about things here. Truth is it is nothing like it is portrayed in the lying, elite owned, and controlled MSM media, but I reckon you are smart enough to realize that! Are you still in Platt Waz?
I was born n bred in Wigan,happy,happy memories of my childhood days,happy days,but like most places has not changed for the better,but my heart is here,and always will be,proud of my heritage,my three children live .... Not here,but one abroad,and the other two in more affluent ares of England,you have to move on,but for me,I'm here till the end,lol....
@@rexluminus9867 Can't think of anything worse than living in the same place all your life. Knowing only the same people all your life. What a boring, dull, depressing small-minded existence.
you can tell how the heart and character as bean rippet out of Wigan town center by cruel developers and short sited council idiots. the time I spent in the park and crofters are gone but not forgotten.
Why don't the town planners show their secretive faces to the UK people & explain why they implement demolition of lovely archictectural buildings only to replace them with plain prison wall like structures????
I like it...I hope see the Hope street bus station picture cos im bus hobbies so.....Great to see old town centre or shop and sad to see the gone. thank for that.
Old buildings used to be a statement of wealth & style. I bet decision makes would now reflect on the sweep away the old and the fashionable. Can't wait for the 3d printed structures, or maybe just a plastic building make from waste. I came looking for Wigan casino then & now.
Sadly I see the disgraceful town planners have been at it again.... some lovely masterpieces of architecture having been demolished & replaced with dumb plain prison wall like stuctures! No wonder these towns become depressed!!
brilliant work mate i always look for your "now and then" vids. notice the canopys above the shops in 123 and 141 then see only 1 above pie shop on the left in 155 keep it up i look forward to more. A fellow wiganer......
Looks like society is being designed out of towns centres, no atmosphere, and no intensive to visit them let alone invest in them. Such lovely buildings have been demolished and replaced with grey miserable monstrosities, so sad.
Wasn't out there for years there was pub down the street can't think the name of the bar but I got a lovely pint lager that was the only place I got nice drink
well you can thank wigan council for a crappy job , they have stolen our history its a horrible place now , i loved wigan growing up now i dont go into town if i can help it , it breaks my heart that everything we had that made wigan , ABC , the casino ,the pier , the baths , king street night life , all the greenery , we had no homeless now its rampant , if the aim was to ruin a great town , then job done , breaks my heart a town i loved & grew up full of second hand shops & take aways nothing much else they have taken its heart & soul & replaced it with heartless cold dull boring over housed over populated pushed in like sheep in a pen , but not only wigan its happening everywhere now .. my poor town
Made me feel so sad that things have changed not necessarily for the best.
Born into Wigan at Billinge Hospital in 1961, I moved away in 1984 to the South now living in Henley on Thames. In 36 years I have visited my family regularly, they are all still all there including my fabulous mum and dad who live in Orrell. Successful Wigan councils post 1974 when civic duty and regard disappeared with Wigan Borough have done a reet bodged job and should hang their heads in shame. I try to visit every month although it hurts me when I walk through the ton centre and gradually witness its disintegration. Wigan is still its folk, its straighforward no nonsense approach to life, its tolerance of and kindness to others, its generosity of spirit, its accent and its humour. I am only 58 years old still but have already asked my sons to promise me that my final place of sleep will be Wigan. Wigan Forever
Opposite from me! Born in London 1949, moved to Wigan in 1976 and absolutely loved the town and the warmth and sense of humour of the locals! It is a shame what has happened to the town centre, I loved the old Market Hall and all the shops and stalls outside, Wigan had so much character. I had my wedding reception in what was The Grand Hotel in Dorning Street, it's now a rundown eyesore. When I moved up here, I was living in Marlow, close to where you are now!
I was born in Wigan but living away due to work but always comes back, seen big changes over the years and I can say difficulties for the council, but really they have spoiled Wigan they should have thought outside the box.
I remember the town and feel very bad for what as happened to a great town, shame on you all in Wigan Council.
Nice video.. Born in Billinge hospital in 1967. Emigrated to US with my family in 1983. Returned to Wigan in 1990. Moved back to the US in 2016. Will be visiting Wigan next week to see family, looking forward to it but there is no way I would want to move back. Too many changes and not for the better. I'm now in fact a US citizen.
Don’t blame you for a second, we went for a few pints in Kessys pub when you returned.
Get in touch Rob, Ian Hesketh. 👍
@TheEzy13 Ian Hesketh, a blast from the past! Read somewhere about your dad, sorry to hear. My dad passed 13 years ago. 😔. Yeah, I love life here. Do not believe all the craziness you read about things here. Truth is it is nothing like it is portrayed in the lying, elite owned, and controlled MSM media, but I reckon you are smart enough to realize that! Are you still in Platt Waz?
I was born n bred in Wigan,happy,happy memories of my childhood days,happy days,but like most places has not changed for the better,but my heart is here,and always will be,proud of my heritage,my three children live .... Not here,but one abroad,and the other two in more affluent ares of England,you have to move on,but for me,I'm here till the end,lol....
Polly Bramall you're a bastian of that town. What a history. Nothing like living a life in one place. Be well till the end. Thank you.
@@rexluminus9867 Can't think of anything worse than living in the same place all your life. Knowing only the same people all your life. What a boring, dull, depressing small-minded existence.
You're wasting your life away.
as my home town wigan has changed through years
you can tell how the heart and character as bean rippet out of Wigan town center by cruel developers and short sited council idiots. the time I spent in the park and crofters are gone but not forgotten.
Rip old wigan.
W. I. G. A. N.
Wigans the town what I live in!
as an expat out in Illinois ...loved it ...Wigan will always be home .....sad to the Crofters shut ...always was a shit hole but still
Why don't the town planners show their secretive faces to the UK people & explain why they implement demolition of lovely archictectural buildings only to replace them with plain prison wall like structures????
Exactly....well said. These town planners/councillors are thick as pig shit and are destroying towns like Wigan. They haven't got a clue.
I like it...I hope see the Hope street bus station picture cos im bus hobbies so.....Great to see old town centre or shop and sad to see the gone. thank for that.
Lovely, thank you!
That was brilliant.
Old buildings used to be a statement of wealth & style. I bet decision makes would now reflect on the sweep away the old and the fashionable. Can't wait for the 3d printed structures, or maybe just a plastic building make from waste. I came looking for Wigan casino then & now.
Thanks for posting this.
Sadly I see the disgraceful town planners have been at it again.... some lovely masterpieces of architecture having been demolished & replaced with dumb plain prison wall like stuctures! No wonder these towns become depressed!!
excellent well done and thankyou five stars commin at ya
brilliant work mate i always look for your "now and then" vids. notice the canopys above the shops in 123 and 141 then see only 1 above pie shop on the left in 155 keep it up i look forward to more. A fellow wiganer......
2017 I was 2 when u made this and I'm watching this for homework :D ty
Looks like society is being designed out of towns centres, no atmosphere, and no intensive to visit them let alone invest in them. Such lovely buildings have been demolished and replaced with grey miserable monstrosities, so sad.
Hi Anthony, hope you are keeping well.
Nice pics. See you are still into nostalgia!
Take care.
Mike Ashurst.
Hi Mike Blimey that's a blast from the past Winstanley Primary so many years ago!!
Hope all is well!!
Now mainly a set of then and then pictures
nice video
I love #wigan
Thanks...crackin.
Wasn't out there for years there was pub down the street can't think the name of the bar but I got a lovely pint lager that was the only place I got nice drink
Need make a part 3 mate
@lightning1975 is this Paul Cushion the copper?
If it wasn't for the models of the cars it would be hard pressed to guess before and after. The arrow of improvement doesn't always go forward.
What a shame that the most famous building that was in Wigan is not featured. Wigan Casino?
Or the Ritz cinema, or in fact any of them - the Court, County, Princes, Empire. Are there really no pictures of them?
The same!!
Is this the same Anthony Mason who used be be in my class at Hawkley in 1991? If soo, how are you and good pics!!! Paul Cushion!
My family live in lock gate place
When was then?
3:14 needs updating on Hilton st
I live in wigan, and is truly a shi****e
The worst change is the Central Park pic, i wuz there to on last match 2
Wow Wigan actually got a lot worse.
well you can thank wigan council for a crappy job , they have stolen our history its a horrible place now , i loved wigan growing up now i dont go into town if i can help it , it breaks my heart that everything we had that made wigan , ABC , the casino ,the pier , the baths , king street night life , all the greenery , we had no homeless now its rampant , if the aim was to ruin a great town , then job done , breaks my heart a town i loved & grew up full of second hand shops & take aways nothing much else they have taken its heart & soul & replaced it with heartless cold dull boring over housed over populated pushed in like sheep in a pen , but not only wigan its happening everywhere now .. my poor town
I Have never ever seen Wigan look so bad as it is now and full of homeless people and druggies.Sad.