King Street – Buildings of the Past

The scene above portrays the lower end of King Street and corner of Rodney Street. On the right can be seen the Town Hall which later hosted the fire brigade. Further up the street is Quadrant Chambers. Over on the left-hand side is the Hippodrome

By Wigan Local History and Heritage Society for the King Street Heritage Action Zone

Many buildings in the heritage action zone have played important roles in the development of the town over the years. From the onset of King Street, the use of many buildings changed due to fires, change of use or generally replaced for modernisation. There are 13 buildings which have played a part in history but no longer exist most of which are arguably more architecturally beautiful than their replacements.

Brief History

The Wigan Brewery was founded around 1780 and originally owned by Thomas Higson. It was later bought by Henry Robinson who had lived at the Brewer’s Arms (considered one of the earliest buildings on King Street. From 1839 a well-known character in the street Thomas Morris leased both the premises and business until the time of his death around 1871. Some years later following legal wranglings the brewery along with 86 public houses and wine stores were sold as one lot to Magee, Marshall and company for £150,00 (approx. £14million today).

The Palace Cinema built on the site of the old Robinson’s Brewery and was made into a roller-skating rink in 1909 before opening as a cinema in 1915 with 700 seats. The last film was shown on Saturday 19 February 1961 and the building later demolished.

The Hippodrome Theatre was designed by Owen & Ward, built for Mr J. Worswick, a familiar family in the area and opened on 7th March 1904. It had been built in the most populous part of town where many people past day and night. Very popular until damaged by fire in 1956, three years later it was demolished making way for Lennon’s supermarket.

The proprietor, of the Hippodrome, Mr. Worswick was a devout Roman Catholic. He was so impressed by the work that was being done by Rev. Harrison of the Wigan Methodist Mission that he not only lent the theatre but promised to do all he could to meet the wishes of the missionary and the friends he had gathered around him. The Mission services were advertised in the theatre programme every night and the brewery company next door had a large poster on its walls. Sunday Services were held in the Hippodrome until the official opening of the Queens Hall Methodist Mission on Market Street in April 1908.

The Shakespeare Hotel was originally the Theatre Royal until its closure in 1904 following the opening of the Hippodrome. Built behind the private house of Mr Thomas Morris it originally opened in March 1851. At that time, it was owned by the sole proprietor Mr R Edgar who also owned theatres in Preston and St Helen’s. The private house was later demolished to make way for the remodelling of the theatre by Mr HJ Worswick in 1890. The site is now occupied by the Revolution Bar.

Thanks to: http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Wigan/TheatreRoyalWigan.htm

The Town Hall Complex

Designed by the Architects Nuttall and Crook around 1868 at the bottom King Street, it was erected at a cost of over £17,000. At the time it contained the Borough Gaol, Police and Fire Engine Stations, Sessions’ Courts, and other public offices. The police station and courts later moved to Gerard Winstanley House on Crawford Street which was built in 1887-8 by Henry Littler, who later designed the County Court and Inland Revenue offices next door.

The 1871 and 1881 census returns show police station with residential areas for Chief Constable William Simm, his wife, sister and one child. The 1881 also notes prisoners on remand, the Chief Constable and his family, police inspector and family, County Bailiff and family and the fire brigade.

Before the introduction of national fire service in 1938, Wigan like many other towns and cities had a municipal fire service. Staged ‘turn outs’ demonstrated to the local population the swiftness of the brigade. The steam powered appliances being later replaced by internal combustion engines. Link below shows a short film demonstrating a ‘Turn out’ at Wigan in 1902.

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-turn-out-of-the-wigan-fire-brigade-1902-1902-online

Public Hall at 62 King Street was designed by Richard Lane, following submission of tenders in August 1852 the corner stone was laid by Nathaniel Eckersley Esq. the current Mayor of Wigan.

The building opened in 1853 with the first tenants being the Mechanics Institute who occupied the building for 30 years. The hall had many uses, for functions, lectures, and meetings. There is thought to have been some architectural changes by Heaton, Ralph and Heaton around 1898.

By 1905 the property was owned by Messrs Roger and Rennick and had been converted into publishing officers for the ‘Wigan Examiner’. The ground floor was altered to incorporate shop units on either side of the main doorway.

The newspaper closed in 1961 and sadly the building remained unoccupied until its demolition in 1970’s. Rodney House is now on the site.

Methodist Free Church was designed by Woodhouse and Potts and built in 1866, from 1907 Methodist New Connexion and Bible Christians merged with the United Free Church becoming the United Methodist Church. Later joining with the Wesleyan Methodist and Primitive Methodists to form the Methodist Church of Great Britain in 1932. Demolished in 1970’s to make way for Tesco supermarket.

King Street Methodist Church, situated near the former TSB bank, now Frank Platt and Fishwick solicitors originally the Baptist chapel was opened in 1854, although services had been held at Commercial Hall since the 1820’s. It was known as the Second Baptist Church to distinguish it from the General (First) Baptist Church, Scarisbrick Street. King Street chapel was closed in 1969.