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The History Shop

A History of the History Shop

The Public Libraries Act of 1850 provided for the support of Public Libraries from the rates system. But the limited funding relied on private beneficies to provide the cost of building and fitting out libraries.
The creation of Wigan Library - now the History Shop - followed two major offers of funding. The first was a gift of £12,000 from Thomas Taylor, owner of Victoria Cotton Mills and the second was a further £12,000 bequeathed by Dr Joseph Winnard.
Dr Winnard was a surgeon to the Wigan Poor Law Union and his donation was used to pay for the books.
The architect chosen for the design of Wigan's first public library was Alfred Waterhouse whose notable feats included Manchester Town Hall and the Natural History Museum, London
Wigan Library was built on the site of the former Wigan Grammar School in Rodney Street and opened on 7th May 1878.
The building reflects the romanticism of the Elizabethan Revival Style with some gothic features.
George Orwell visited the library in 1936 carrying out research for his book "The Road to Wigan Pier".
Many exhibitions have been held in the building. In March 1878 Captain Charles Mercier put on an exhibition of his works to raise funds for the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary. In 1944 the Earl of Crawford opened the American Exhibition with a civic ceremony in the reference library.
In 1990, in response to increasing requirements for additional space, the library was relocated across the road to Wigan town hall.
In March 1992 Wigan Heritage Services opened the current facility - The History Shop - with the aim of holding temporary displays for travelling and in-house exhibitions, a study/research area, providing a home for the Wigan Local History collection, parish registers and census returns.

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