Two more of the borough’s 23 conservation areas are in line for extra protection and enhancement following consultation with local residents and interest groups.
Studies of one of the biggest conservation areas, Haigh, and one of the smallest, Atherton, were recently presented to the council’s ruling cabinet. The twin reports define the special characteristics of the two, identifying detrimental developments, and making recommendations for improvements.
Haigh and Atherton became part of Wigan Metropolitan Borough in 1974 – but shared local authority boundaries are not the only thing they have in common. Both can claim connections going right back to the Norman Conquest: Atherton through the Le Botelers, who in the 14th Century gave land to the Atherton family, and Haigh via Hugh le Norreys, lord of the manor more than a hundred
years earlier.
Agriculture was important in the development of both areas. From the Bradshaighs in the 13th century through to the Lindsays (Earls of Crawford and Balcarres) in the 19th and early 20th centuries, farming was, and remains, part of the fabric of Haigh.
Atherton's Church of St. John the BaptistOver in Atherton, the lords of the manor traditionally lived in and around the Chanters Brook valley, on lands also tenanted by the Chow family. For many years, Chowbent was an alternative name for Atherton.
Finally, the Industrial Revolution, and in particular coal mining, shaped the areas we know today. At Haigh, the Lindsays introduced small scale commercial mining and iron working. Atherton made its name through cotton as well as coal, and nails as well as nuts and bolts.
And there the similarities end. Although Atherton’s conservation area is concentrated around its mediaeval centre and the Church of St John the Baptist, it is mainly urban in character.
Haigh, despite some obvious legacies of the Industrial Revolution, retains its rural charm and traditional features, such as a windmill, the original red telephone box outside the Balcarres Arms and its wooden telephone posts.
But in both cases, the council is committed to protecting what’s best and addressing detrimental development for the benefit of the people who live and work there. The Haigh conservation area will also be extended to take in a large area of the Haigh estate, including private residences, gardens and Haigh Hall itself, opening up access to funding for much-needed improvements around the hall and grounds.
Council environment champion Cllr David Molyneux says: “Well designed buildings, streets and neighbourhoods can make a positive difference in so many ways: attracting business and investment, promoting sustainable development, and encouraging civic pride and a sense of place.”
For more information about conservation areas, visit www.wigan.gov.uk or telephone Lorraine King on 01942 404250.
