Wigan Building Preservation Trust - Dedicated to Heritage Preservation
Mission Statement
The mission statement of the Wigan Building Preservation Trust (WBPT) is to protect, preserve, and promote the historic buildings of Wigan for the benefit of present and future generations. WBPT is dedicated to safeguarding the architectural heritage of the area by restoring at-risk buildings and giving them new life through adaptive reuse. The Trust aims to enhance community pride, support local heritage awareness, and foster sustainable development by preserving Wigan’s architectural legacy. Through partnerships and community involvement, WBPT seeks to inspire appreciation and stewardship of Wigan's historic environment.
Introduction
The Wigan Building Preservation Trust (WBPT) is a volunteer-driven charity, established to safeguard Wigan's heritage buildings, both listed and unlisted. The idea for the Trust emerged from a 2013 meeting with Wigan Council, addressing conservation concerns within the Borough.
Objective
The objective of the Trust is to create a comprehensive repository of Wigan's architectural heritage. This initiative includes a database of buildings and a website promoting Wigan's finest architecture, history, and heritage. Originally, the Save Wigan heritage group undertook this task, now continuing under the WBPT (Charity Number 1169253).
Current Progress
The WBPT collaborates with various groups sharing similar conservation goals. The Trust manages two main websites:
- Wigan Buildings: A comprehensive database of Wigan's heritage buildings.
- Wigan Local History: A website dedicated to heritage research, reporting on Trust projects and collaborative efforts.
The Trust also maintains a Facebook page, Heritage Buildings of Wigan, fostering community engagement and content contribution.
Projects Undertaken
Significant projects by the Trust include:
- Retrieval and relocation of the Victorian Market Hall Canopy and Clock.
- Condition report and renovation of Grade II* Plantation Gates.
- Recovery and relocation of the Common Seal Stonework from the demolished Town Hall.
- History and search for portraits of the Gidlow Sisters.
- Assistance with the Grade II listed Queen's Hall Methodist Mission renovation project.
- Hosting and contribution to the Heritage Action Zone project on the History of King Street.
Future Direction
The WBPT aims to enhance its collaboration with other local history and friends groups to populate the website with extensive historical, architectural, social, and family history information related to over 1,100 buildings. We are working through a list of 1,500 properties provided by a former Wigan Council conservation officer to update and include relevant entries.
Donations
Please contribute to our running costs and support work. The Wigan Building Preservation Trust is a local source of research and information on Buildings, Heritage, and' at-risk structures in the Borough of Wigan. Thanks!
