The ever-popular History Shop on Library Street is about to get a thoroughly modern make-over thanks to a £500,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The money will help secure the History Shop’s future as a focal point for heritage for the entire borough.
The site where George Orwell researched ‘The Road to Wigan Pier’ will undergo an exciting series of transformations, including:
- New museum displays and exhibition areas;
- Access improvements, including a lift to the first floor;
- New study and research areas;
- New toilet facilities on the ground floor.
The half-million pound grant has been match-funded by the council to the tune of £405,000 to help restore the roof and make further improvements to the building itself.
A total of £1.3m will be invested in the centre over the next two years with Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust providing £325,000 and a further £100,000 coming from external grants.
Wigan Council’s Cabinet Champion for Culture Cllr Brian Baldwin said: “The aim of this exciting project is to make the wealth of the borough’s historical treasures more accessible for all.”
Meanwhile there are big changes planned just over the road at The Wiend Children’s Library, on Millgate.
The library has temporarily moved to The Galleries shopping centre (next to Argos) but will eventually return to its original home as part of the new £63m joint service centre.
