Talk:Wigan/archive1

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Archive This is an archive of past discussions. Do not edit the contents of this page. If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an old one, please do so on the current talk page.

Contents

Romans

I heard that Wigan was called Coccium by the Romans because of the red clay found in the area (example: the red brook in Haigh Hall grounds), perhaps that could be added if it is correct? Starsailor are from Chorley, but were formed at Wigan Tech, too. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.155.230.194 (talk • contribs) 22:28, 22 January 2005.

The "red" brook is more properly called "The Yellow Brook". The name comes from the yellow-to-red deposits of iron oxides, etc., that come/came from surrouding old mine workings. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 195.92.168.177 (talk • contribs) 20:05, 23 January 2005.
See Aspull —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.33.158.182 (talk • contribs) 14:28, 17 May 2005.
The rust coloured deposits are known as 'Hockery'. A brook coloured that way is always known as 'Hockery Brook'. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.195.142.222 (talk • contribs) 20:55, 19 October 2006.


  • The people who study Roman development of England say that the place called 'Coccium' was not in the same location as Wigan is now. They estimate it, using information given in the 'Antonine Itinerary', to have been further towards Chorley. (The 'Antonine Itinerary' is a Roman document which lists all of the main roads / routes in the Roman empire, including Britain).

Starsailor was NOT formed in Wigan college at all. They formed at St.Michaels High School, in Chorley.

Marks and Spencer

HOWEVER, THE CLAIM THAT MARKS AND SPENCER WAS FOUNDED IN WIGAN IS TOTALLY UNFOUNDED. THE RETAIL COMPANY WAS ACTUALLY FOUNDED IN MANCHESTER, NOT WIGAN, THE SECOND STORE WAS THEN OPENED IN LEEDS. THIS CAN BE CONFIRMED BY READING THE COMPANY HISTORY, SOME OF WHICH IS SHOWN ON MARKS AND SPENCER WEBSITE AS ' OUR HISTORY '. IN WHICH THERE IS NO MENTION OF WIGAN. originally posted by User:84.43.40.112 to article instead of talk page FreplySpang (talk) 6 July 2005 23:52 (UTC)

OK I'll remove this. Thanks. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 144.32.162.69 (talk • contribs) 12:57, 7 July 2005.
MARKS and SPENCER was NOT formed in Wigan. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.195.142.222 (talk • contribs) 20:55, 19 October 2006.

Population

The population figure of 300000 is for the Metroplitan Borough not the town which is much smaller. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 212.248.225.148 (talk • contribs) 13:09, 17 October 2005.

Pataks

Patak's is not based in Wigan but is based in Leigh (see Patak's office locations. Jhaselden 14:37, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

Spice/Curry firm PATAKS head office is Kiriana House, Haydock Lane, HAYDOCK, near St.Helens, WA11 9UZ. This address is printed on the labels on the jars. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.195.142.222 (talk • contribs) 20:55, 19 October 2006.

Lancastrians

The point about Lancastrians is reinstated, by a local who knows what he is writing about. This is an inportant point about local culture. The Local Government Act 1972 abolished previous existing local government structures, and created a two-tier system of counties and districts. Some of the new counties were designated Metropolitan Counties, containing Metropolitan Boroughs. Although the Metropolitan County Councils were abolished in 1986, the Metropolitan County of Greater Manchester, containing Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, remains – although Wigan residents also regard themselves as Lancastrians. The link to Local Government Act 1972 adequately covers the technical point about 1986, without interrupting the flow of the point(s) being made.Skull 'n' Femurs 00:05, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

An actual place does not change just because of a change in local government. The authority may change but the place is still the same. Belfast is still Belfast, in Ireland, even though it is under British rule. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs) .

Government Statement. .......

  • 'Note that the LGA 1972 did not do anything to the historic Counties of Britain. It only abolished the administrative counties and county boroughs. The Government was (and still is) happy to confirm that the Counties themselves were unaffected...'

"The new county boundaries are solely for the purpose of defining areas of ... local government. They are administrative areas, and will not alter the traditional boundaries of Counties, nor is it intended that the loyalties of people living in them will change." Source:(DoE Statement, 1st April 1974). ....... (ABCounties)

The 'Duchy of Lancaster' still considers the historic boundaries of Lancashire to be in place.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs) .


  • Why is it considered nonesense for the Wigan article to state that Wigan is in Lancashire, even though sports teams based in Greater Manchester are clearly being included in the Lancashire article. ?????

RICHARD ASHCROFT et al

WHAT ABOUT RICHARD ASHCROFT OF THE VERVE? JOE LYDON? SEAN EDWARDS? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.6.129.141 (talk • contribs) 16:41, 5 February 2006.

THE VERVE are NOT a Wigan group. None of the members are from Wigan. Richard Ashcroft is NOT from Wigan. Nick McCabe is from Haydock. He went to Haydock High School and dislikes Wigan. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.195.142.222 (talk • contribs) 20:55, 19 October 2006.

The majority of people born in Wigan were born in Billinge Hospital (Like Richard Ashcroft), how the hell can Ashcroft be described as not from Wigan?. If that is the case the majority of people in the town must also not be from Wigan.

So, if he was born in Billinge Hospital, he must be from Billinge then, NOT Wigan. Most people from St.Helens area were also born in Billinge Hospital, after all, it was the maternity hospital covering the area, not only Wigan. Small town minds strike again! (he's actually from Skelmersdale).

If a dog is born in a stable, is it a horse?

  • The people in this list were either born or brought up in Wigan (not necessarily both), or have had some significant connection with the town during their life.

... That's what it say's on the list. Ashcroft was neither born, or brought up, in Wigan. I know of no 'significant' connections with Wigan either, as all the claims about Wigan and The Verve are untrue. He even 'dislikes' being regarded as coming from Wigan, he's even said so in interviews and regards it as myth and rumour.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs) .

I would be very grateful if you could point us to, or at least find a transcript of said interview(s). This is from a personal point of view as well as the article's. -- Hindleyite 15:37, 25 November 2006 (UTC)
  • online interview. Nick McCabe, asked about the Verve gig at Haigh Hall ....

AS: Right – you wanted it to be special because it was your homecoming show. McCabe: Well, not really…none of us are actually from Wigan. AS: Verve have always been known as a Wigan band? McCabe: Well, it's another one of those myths, isn't it? unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187

  • Congratulations to the above person for deliberately missing out important information on that quote. Looking at your own talk history I get the impression you have something against Wigan. The full quote is here:-

"AS: Right ? you wanted it to be special because it was your homecoming show. McCabe: Well, not really?none of us are actually from Wigan. AS: Verve have always been known as a Wigan band? McCabe: Well, it's another one of those myths, isn't it? I guess there's some truth to it because the band was formed in Wigan. But no one was born there. We all met in college there."

82.33.171.111 00:19, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

  • I would agree that 'The Verve' were formed in Winstanley, which just happens to be in the 'Wigan Metropolitan Borough', but not in Wigan, which is a town in the 'Wigan Metropolitan Borough'. Whatever rumour and belief that is written by people who 'think they know', and who 'want it to be', the truth of the matter is that Ashcroft grew up in Skelmersdale, not Wigan, and Skelmersdale ain't Wigan, is it? We all know that the group was formed in Winstanley College, 'IN WINSTANLEY', none of the band members actually being from Wigan. George Formby is a 'REAL' Wiganer ... Show off about him instead.

As McCabe has already said ... Well, not really…'none of us are actually from Wigan'.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs) .

  • If you think the fact that 'numerous people 'THINK' that The Verve were a Wigan band', amounts to them having 'significant connections' to the town of Wigan, then you must be another 'small minded' individual!—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs) .
Wow, thanks for this. I regard myself as a Wiganer as I come from Hindley, my mother is from Hindley and my Father from Whelley. Am I small minded? Well, that's down to individual opinion. :) -- Hindleyite 20:09, 26 November 2006 (UTC)
  • Many thanks to the above person (80.192.242.187) who hates the fact that The Verve are connected to Wigan and therefore deleted all my proof along with facts and links, so I will just merely post them again:-

Congratulations to the above person (80.192.242.187) for deliberately missing out important information on that quote. Looking at your own talk history I get the impression you have something against Wigan. The full quote is here:-

"AS: Right ? you wanted it to be special because it was your homecoming show. McCabe: Well, not really?none of us are actually from Wigan. AS: Verve have always been known as a Wigan band? McCabe: Well, it's another one of those myths, isn't it? I guess there's some truth to it because the band was formed in Wigan. But no one was born there. We all met in college there."

Link: http://www.excellentonline.com/article.php3?story_id=786

PROOF that they formed in Wigan and therefore have Wigan connections. Those words come from Mccabes own mouth.

Now seeing as we are using quotes from the internet, lets go to The Verves OFFICIAL site. On the front page it clearly states the words:-

"The Verve, from Wigan were formed in 1990"

Link:- http://www.theverve.co.uk/

This is the OFFICIAL site front main page don’t forget. If you also visit the biography page on this official site then you get the following words:-

"The Verve, from Wigan in Lancashire"

Link:- http://www.theverve.co.uk/Qevent.cgi?biography=1

Also on the The Verves official site Richard Ashcroft tells us when he rented a flat in Wigan:-

“When we signed a deal, we got a stash of money. I rented a flat in Wigan and in that flat we just had the most ridiculously indulgent, decadent six months”

Link: http://www.theverve.co.uk/Qevent.cgi?q_e_id=IV010

In another part of this website, they have a few quotes from journalists who reviewed their albums, one of the quotes is:-

"A selection of echoed-out acoustic versions and firing US remixes from the Wigan weirdos"

Link: http://www.theverve.co.uk/Qevent.cgi?q_e_id=R009

Now surely if this band hated Wigan and wanted nothing to do with Wigan then they would not even want the word Wigan quoted on their own website.


Richard Ashcroft, Simon Jones and Peter Salisbury met at Upholland High School

Address:- Upholland High School, Sandbrook Road, WIGAN

Link: http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/119/119751.pdf

They then met Nick Mcabe and formed the band at Winstanley College

Address:- Winstanley College, Winstanley Rd, Billinge, WIGAN

Link: http://www.axcis.co.uk/47925.html

As for the argument futher up this page about Billinge Hospital, the full address of this place is (or more accurately I should say “was” is it no longer exists)

Adress:- Billinge Hospital Upholland Rd, Billinge, WIGAN

Link: http://www.192.com/directory.cfm/WIGAN/HOSPITAL/XB844094CA4A242C0B1B028F24A050FB7


Right, I have quoted links from “the verves” official site but everyone knows that they no longer exist, meaning that site won’t be updated very often, so lets now move on to Richard Ashcroft’s official site as he is now having success as a solo artist.

On the biography page of Richard Ashcroft’s OFFICIAL site, the following quote is mentioned:-

“Verve, a psychedelic rock band he'd formed with three mates at Winstanley College in Wigan”

also mentioned on the same page is the following quote:-

“Ashcroft watched with immense pleasure as his hometown club Wigan Athletic, with whom he played as a junior, have risen to Premiership prominence”

link: http://www.richardashcroft.com/aboutBiography.php

Also on Richard Ashcrofts official site is a section of media press cuttings that have been kept, showing past interviews with Richard and articles on his success.

I will show a few links of these articles along with quotes mentioning Wigan

1. Daily Mail - 20th Jan 06

“Since then, the 34-year-old from Wigan has flattered to deceive"

link: http://www.richardashcroft.com/includes/media/press/DailyMail20jan06.jpg

2. Glamour Magazine - March 06

“Though the band, who met at college in their hometown of Wigan”

Link: http://www.richardashcroft.com/includes/media/press/GlamourMarch06-2.jpg

3. Q magazine – Feb 06

“Born 11th September in Billinge, Wigan”

Link: http://www.richardashcroft.com/includes/media/press/QFeb06-4.jpg

“In 1998 the verve played a huge show in their hometown, Wigan”

Link: http://www.richardashcroft.com/includes/media/press/QFeb06-5.jpg

“there’s a part of me that wants to pull up outside me school in Wigan”

Link: http://www.richardashcroft.com/includes/media/press/QFeb06-6.jpg

4. Telegraph Magazine – Jan 06

“Growing up in Wigan, Ashcroft was mad for football”

Link: http://www.richardashcroft.com/includes/media/press/TelegraphMagazine14jan06-3.jpg

“Before their second gig, supporting a more established Wigan band, Ashcroft declared in the local paper in his first interview, ‘we’re gonna blow ‘em off the stage! This town ain’t big enough for the both of us!’”

“I used to arrive in London sometimes at the record company with no shoes, on the bus from Wigan”

“neglecting to pay the rent on his Wigan flat”

Link: http://www.richardashcroft.com/includes/media/press/TelegraphMagazine14jan06-3.jpg

5. Wigan Observer – May 06

“If you’re talking about Wigan as the place that inspired me, it was the people that inspired me, It was the people that I loved”

Link: http://www.richardashcroft.com/includes/media/press/WiganObserverMay06-1.jpg

“As a kid from Wigan at the age of 17, I had a dream to play a gig in London”

“The Verve’s 1998 35,000 people extravaganza at Haigh Hall, should have become an annual music fetival which will put Wigan on the world music map. ‘Haigh is a very special place to me’ he said. ‘My Mum used take me for walks in the plantations, hand in hand, magical place. That’s why we chose it in 1998’”

Link: http://www.richardashcroft.com/includes/media/press/WiganObserverMay06-2.jpg


If that’s still not enough then you can actually hear richard Ashcroft interviewed on the Chris Moyles (BBC Radio 1 DJ) show podcast. Exactly 21 minutes and 15 seconds into the podcast Richard is talking about playing his first tour of America at Lollapalooza and states the following:-

“playing football with Tibetan monks at the age of 21 from Wigan in places in America that Americans don’t know about”

Link: http://ia301106.us.archive.org/3/items/ChrisMoylesBestof_BestofMoyles_14_07_2006/bestofmoyles_20060714-0700_40_pc.mp3 (This link is a direct download of the podcast)

There are more links I can provide but there is enough evidence here to clearly prove the connections between The Verve, Richard Ashcroft and Wigan.

So from now on please don’t mention that The Verve have nothing to do with Wigan, please don't mention that The Verve are not a Wigan group, please don’t mention that Richard Ashcroft dislikes Wigan and please do not remove Richard Ashcroft from the “notable people” section on the Wikipedia Wigan page.

82.33.171.111 00:24, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

      • THE VERVE ARE DEFINATELY NOT A WIGAN GROUP. THEY FORMED IN WINSTANLEY, NEAR WIGAN (but not Wigan) AND NONE OF THE BAND MEMBERS ARE FROM WIGAN. FACT. IF IT SAYS ANYTHING ELSE, ANYWHERE ELSE, IT IS ONLY BECAUSE OF PEOPLE SAYING EVERYWHERE WITHIN TEN MILES OF WIGAN IS WIGAN, WHEN IT IS NOT.

UNTIL THE BAND MEMBERS THEMSELVES PUBLISH A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THEY ARE FROM WIGAN, THE VERVE WILL REMAIN A 'NOT FROM WIGAN' GROUP. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.33.171.111 (talk • contribs) .

And, while on the subject, if you insist on putting Ashcroft on the list as a Notable Wigan Person, why do you leave out all the other band members, as they played just as important a part as him and they all met at the same place, ie. Winstanley Sixth Form College, in Winstanley, near Wigan, and, like Ashcroft, they are also not from Wigan. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs) .

A postal address is not a guide to where somewhere actually is, it is merely the nearest 'post town' where the sorting office is located. The Wigan sorting office covers parts of Lancashire and Merseyside too. Indeed, parts of Wigan Borough are in Warrington, Manchester and Bolton postal areas, but they aren't 'in' any of those places, just like Winstanley, Billinge, Upholland and Skelmersdale are NOT 'in' Wigan. You Plonker!—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs) .

Replying to the above answers - I have given quotes from their own official sites stating that they are from Wigan and if you read (and listened to) all the links then you would have heard Richard Ashcroft describing himself as from Wigan. The fact that you still refuse to believe this after all the links I have provided is absolutely comical. It seems that you are on a one man crusade to rewrite history. Richard Ashcroft says he is from Wigan, yet you say he isn't, that's got to be the strangest thing yet????? I suggest you read all the links as you clearly have ignored them all.

I have put Richard Ashcroft on the list as a notable Wigan person and not the others due to him being the lead singer and frontman/spokesperson of the band, he is clearly the most notable person, if people wish to put the other band members on then fine. It's a bit like Billy Boston, Sean Edwards and Andrew Farrel are the only notable rugby players on the list because they are three of the most well known and truly great gifted Wigan players who stand out, yet there have been hundreds more good rugby players from Wigan.

With regards to the paragraphs in capital letters, no need to shout, my hearing is perfectly fine thanks.

As for me being a plonker, Hmmmm, maybe I have been called this once or twice in my life, well at least you have got something right on this Wigan page for a change :D—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.33.171.111 (talk • contribs) .

82.33.171.111 00:15, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

  • They are generally known as a Wigan band, but it's not true, only a generalisation, the same as saying Salford is in Manchester when it's clearly not. It is entirely up to Ashcroft to 'think' he comes from anywhere the fancy takes him. However, as nice as it may be, to think you are from somewhere you aren't, the truth of the matter is that Ashcroft does not come from Wigan at all. Skelmersdale can not be, and never has been, historically or otherwise, in Wigan, and that is where he is from. It's just the same as Leigh not being in Wigan, even though some Wiganers say it is. Neither is Hindley, or Ashton, Tyldesley, or Golborne, the list is endless.

Regardless of that fact, there is no denying that Richard Ashcroft has Wigan connections, he has lived in Wigan, played his first gig in a Wigan pub, started recording in a Wigan studio, says he comes from Wigan and even performed the verves most famous "homecoming" gig at Wigan (these are just a few things i have cited above, there will be more). Now I know nothing about Richard Ashcrofts upbringing in Skelmersdale, if you could provide links and references like I have with the Wigan connections, it would be much appreciated. Even if you prove this, then it means that Richard Ashcroft deserves a place on the notable people section of the Skelmersdale wikipedia page as well as the Wigan page, hell, he should be having a mention on the Gloucestershire page too because that's were he is living right now. If the people of Gloucestershire decide to this, I won't mind, you won't find me deleting his name from their page because it would be true, he WOULD be connected and in their notable people section.

82.33.171.111 10:12, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

  • If you can prove that Ashcroft has lived in Wigan, by giving me the name of the Wigan Street in which he lived, I'll concede defeat that he should be on the list!

(THE FLAT ABOVE) CO-OP PHARMACY. 56 CHURCH STREET, ORRELL, WIGAN WN5 2TQ

User talk:80.192.242.187

I don't know the Wigan street in which he lived but the proof is in 2 of the above links I quoted previously about him having a flat in Wigan.

Now I will say this, I have proved all facts in previous discussions by providing valid links, most of them from official sites. It is quite clear in these quotes that Richard Ashcroft has a huge and valid connection to Wigan. You have claimed you know of no significant connections and you have also claimed that he dislikes Wigan. I now ask you to provide proof and links for these claims along with proof and links of his upbringing in Skelmersdale which I asked for previously.

82.33.171.111 14:17, 27 November 2006 (UTC)


  • After asking a couple of 'connected' people, I can confirm that, as far as they know, the nearest place to Wigan that Richard Ashcroft has ever lived is Orrell (near to the station in the village). He went there from Skelmersdale. Wigan may be the 'nearest town', but neither place is 'in' Wigan.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs).


      • Orrell is in Wigan, end of discussion. There is no way Orrell can now be described as a village as it is connected by urban development to Pemberton. It is now simply an area of Wigan in the same way that Ince and Pem are.


However, he has a place in the Notable People on the strength of the fictitious myth, believed by many, that he has Wigan connections. After all, only Wigan would be daft enough to name 'Wallace and Grommit' as being 'famous Wiganers' when they are merely fictitional cartoon characters. (from near Preston).—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs).

The same 'connected people' are saying he is from Wigan, it's you who keep saying he's not.

As for Wallace and Gromit, they ARE from Wigan and thoroughly deserve a mention in the notable people section. I thought you had a sense of humour? and it's Nick Park the creator who is from Preston not Wallace and Gromit themselves. who knows? they may even visit Yates's chippy in the next episode!!

82.33.171.111 22:10, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

QUESTION: WHERE DID RICHARD ASHCROFT & THE VERVE DO THEIR "HOMECOMING GIG" ?

ANSWER: HAIGH HALL, WIGAN.

I'M SICK OF HEARING BITTER YOKELS FROM PLACES LIKE WEST LANCS MOANING ABOUT WHERE THE VERVE WENT TO SCHOOL & ONE OF THEM LIVING IN SKUMSDALE FOR A BIT (SIMON TONG, THE 5TH MEMBER LIVED IN SKEM... AND HE ONLY PLAYED ON ONE ALBUM - THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT SCOUSERS LISTEN TO THEIR WIGAN ACCENTS).

MEASURING HOW FAR THEIR PARENTS HOUSES ACTUALLY WERE FROM WIGAN TOWN CENTRE BY THE INCH FROM SOME SMALL TIME LOCAL COUNCIL BORDER (WEST LANCS - AGAIN!!!) IS A DESPERATE GRAB FOR ATTENTION BY YOKELS WHO ARE TRYING TO CREATE SOME KIND OF IDENTITY FOR THEIR OWN NO-MARK FARMER VILLAGE.

ASHCROFT ALWAYS PRAISES WIGAN IN INTERVIEWS AND OPENLY TALKS ABOUT BEING FROM WIGAN ALL OF THE TIME. (SEARCH THE NME WEBSITE FOR HIS INTERVIEWS IF YOU THINK I'M WRONG.)

I'M FROM WIGAN BUT I WAS ACTUALLY BORN IN BILLINGE HOSPITAL BACK IN 1975 AND SO WERE 95% OF THE PEOPLE AT MY SCHOOLS IN WIGAN (PROBABLY BECAUSE WIGAN INFIRMARY DIDN'T HAVE A MATERNITY WARD BACK THEN IN THE 70S WHEN MYSELF & MR ASHCROFT WERE BORN).

ACCORDING TO SOME OF THESE DUMB ASS STATEMENTS, WIGAN CONSISTS ONLY OF THE TOWN CENTRE, SPRINGFIELD & SWINLEY. SINCE WHEN HAS HINDLEY NOT BEEN IN WIGAN ? THEY HAVE ONE OF THE STRONGEST WIGAN ACCENTS IN WIGAN ?

MR W. IGANER, WIGAN (NEAR BILLINGE).—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.33.132.236 (talk • contribs).

      • If you were born in Billinge Hospital you are a Wiganer, end of discussion.90% of the town was born in Billinge Hospital. Orrell/Pemberton/Ince/Platt Bridge are all 'in' Wigan. This point needs no further discussion—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.77.129.35 (talk • contribs).
                    • Oh, but it does! ..... 90% of St.Helensers were also born in Billinge Hospital, are they Wiganers too?


                      • Doesn't Whiston Hospital provide maternity services for St Helens? Unfortunately if you were in Billinge Hospital when you popped out you are 'originally' from Wigan. (note originally).

And, Mr. Dumb Ass W.Iganer, I see you have had to post in 'BIG WRITING' so that other Dunb Ass Wiganers can read it too. Wigan has signposts, in 'Big Writing' to let you Wiganers know when you are actually 'in' Wigan. As for Ashcroft, HE IS FROM SKELMERSDALE. (so you can read it, lad) and if he thinks otherwise he's a joey. McCabe is from St.Helens. Ashcroft has a scouse twang, as does McCabe. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs).

      • Seeing as Ashcroft started talking with a manc accent a few years ago then changed to something else, the point about him having a scouse twang doesn't really make sense.

THE BIG WRITING IS FOR MORONS LIKE YOU WHO SEEM TO BE STRUGGLING TO ACCEPT THE FACTS. I'LL DRAW YOU A PICTURE IF IT HELPS ?

IF SOMEONES FAMILY IS FROM ST HELENS (OR WIGAN) BUT THEY ARE DRIVEN TO A HOSPITAL IN BILLINGE FOR A FEW HOURS TO BE DELIVERED AT BIRTH, THEN THEY GROW UP IN ST HELENS (OR WIGAN) THEN THEY ARE FROM ST HELENS (OR WIGAN) BUT BORN IN A BILLINGE HOSPITAL... ITS REALLY NOT DIFFICULT SO PLEASE TRY AND KEEP UP EH "LAD" ? (it's not difficult to see that Skelmersdale is not Wigan).

TO BE HONEST I COULDN'T GIVE A TOSS WHAT YOKELS LIKE YOU WANT TO TELL YOURSELVES. ASHCROFTS FAMILY WHERE FROM WIGAN AND IF YOU READ ASHCROFTS INTERVIEWS HE'LL TELL YOU WHERE HE'S FROM HIMSELF (W - I - G - A - N !!!) IF YOU CAN'T ACCEPT THAT THEN ITS YOUR PROBLEM.

P.S GEORGE FORMBY IS FROM LEIGH (NOT WIGAN.. NEXT YOU'LL BE TELLING ME THAT SKELMSDALE (OR SKUMSDALE AS ITS KNOWN IN WIGAN) IS IN LIVERPOOL ?

81.77.129.35

Take it easy matey, they guy you are arguing with is actually an Ashtonian with a prejudice against Wigan and Wiganers, don't stoop to his level by slagging off Skelmersdale and try to keep civilized (I know it may be difficult because the guy you are arguing with is acting like an idiot) but we don't want this discussion forum locked by an admin.

        • I have no prejudice against Wigan or Wiganers. Only against people saying that everywhere is 'in' Wigan when it's clearly not.

Getting back to what our friend 'Mr 80.192.242.187' said in the following quote:-

"After asking a couple of 'connected' people, I can confirm that, as far as they know, the nearest place to Wigan that Richard Ashcroft has ever lived is Orrell (near to the station in the village). He went there from Skelmersdale. Wigan may be the 'nearest town', but neither place is 'in' Wigan"

The connected people he asked are from the richard ashcroft forum (no they're not. I know people who were brought up with McCabe and have mixed with the group. I personally know where McCabe grew up, and went to the same school. He's from St.Helens Borough, but not St.Helens, and had a Warrington postcode. (wiganers, don't think too hard about that one).

The actual discussion is here:-

http://forums.richardashcroft.com/viewtopic.php?t=2461

Mr 80.192.242.187 is Jemmy and the only person to mention that Richard Ashcroft is from Skelmersdale is himself, people have replied with the fact that he grew up in upholland in Wigan. Upholland is NOT is Skelmersdale. Reading the thread further they are saying he is from Wigan.

Quite frankly this guy has vandalised the Wigan page many times now and has received warnings, it's about time he was banned because his attitude stinks and it is quite clear that he is annoying other people too.

82.33.171.111 12:35, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

                    • Mr.111. You have just said yourself that he is from Upholland. How can he be from Wigan if he is, as you say, from Upholland? You're not far out though, as the part of Upholland he lived in, is in Skelmersdale. So, he's from Upholland, Skelmersdale. Either way, it's miles from Wigan (which starts at the river douglas, wigan side of newtown). What's more, Ashcroft is the band member who lived CLOSEST to Wigan, even though he was miles away. Founding band member McCabe has said himself, 'none of us are from Wigan'. It's a Myth!


OK FAIR ENOUGH, I DIDN'T REALISE HE WAS THE RESIDENT D1CKHEAD...

Quote (JEMMY): "If you can prove that Ashcroft has lived in Wigan, by giving me the name of the Wigan Street in which he lived, I'll concede defeat that he should be on the list!"

THE ADDRESS OF THE PHARMACY BELOW RICHARDS FLAT: "CO-OP PHARMACY. 56 CHURCH STREET, ORRELL, WIGAN WN5 2TQ" AND HERE IS THE OFFICIAL ADDRESS OF WINSTANLEY COLLEGE WHERE THE VERVE MET: "WINSTANLEY COLLEGE, WINSTANLEY ROAD, BILLINGE, WIGAN. LANCASHIRE. WN5 7XF."

RICHARD ASHCROFT INTERVIEW http://www.wigantoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=3779&ArticleID=1481893 "Before that my mum bought my first guitar from where John Lennon got his first guitar. She got the train to Liverpool. In Wigan at the time there just wasn't a decent guitar shop. So she bought me a guitar at the age of 17."

"If there's one thing about Wigan culturally – even though at the time we were quite starved, and if it wasn't for Alan's Records and the like which were pivotal to the music scene there would have been no outlet – it's that it is in the centre of the north west."

"What Wigan was lacking was people in charge who would invest," he says, sounding ready for a fight.

"When I look back on my school, UpHolland High, I try to explain to people from different parts of the country, what kind of hybrid situation was going on, who the people were.It was an eco-system for the north west. "You had people from Billinge who talked a certain way, people from Orrell, Standish, Wigan, people from Skelmersdale who talked more Scouse than people from Liverpool. They talked a real potent language."

LIKE I KEEP SAYING... READ RICHARD ASHCROFTS INTERVIEWS AND HE'LL TELL YOU IDIOTS WHERE HE'S FROM. ARE YOU ARGUING WITH THE MAN HIMSELF NOW ? F*CKIN YOKEL RETARDOS....


END OF DISCUSSION !!!

  • Thank god finally some people with some sense. Ashcroft is from Wigan, Orrell's in Wigan, The Verve are a Wigan band and the lad from Ashton who hates Wigan wants banning.


  • The lad from Ashton doesn't hate Wigan at all. He just knows where Wigan starts and finishes.


  • Arnold Schwarzenegger used to live in Pemberton, that's nearer to Wigan than Skem is and he's more famous than Ashcroft. So why aren't the Wiganers shouting that Arnold comes from the Wigan area ?


So Pemberton is just "nearer to Wigan" and not IN Wigan either now is it ? ha ha ha ! That one comment just proves your ignorance. Have you ever even been to Pem (as the locals call it) or Wigan ?

The 1st Verve single "All In The Mind" - 1992 - Front Cover, Mesnes Park, Wigan. Is that close enough to the shops & the town centre for you ? Is it just a coincidence that they chose Wigan park ? Why not pick the fields/parks of Up-Holland or Skem ?

And by the way, "Wigan (which starts at the river douglas, wigan side of newtown)." Does it really ? So who put that "WIGAN" sign in Orrell just before you get to the KFC in Pem ? Not only is history getting re-written on this webpage but now you're having a go at Geography as well. Mind you places like Skem, Ashton/Bryn and Leigh have already re-written maths and think that 2 + 2 = 6 (and they can count that on one hand !!) ;-)


  • Pemberton is a place next to Wigan Wigan is signposted when you get there coming from Pemberton. The River Douglas forms the border between Wigan and Pemberton. Pemberton was included in Wigans Borough in 1894. Have I ever been to Wigan? or Pem.?. I should think I have, seeing as I live six miles away and have owned extensive properties in both places over the last 25 years. Now whose ignorant? Nobhead!

I think you'll find the signpost for Wigan is exactly where I said it was. As you come off the M58/M6 it's BEFORE (Remember this now, not AFTER, but BEFORE the KFC (Which is in Pem). Go up there and have a look ? How can you argue against this ? Its there in the ground... white with WIGAN in black letters on it ? jesus, I drive past it every day to work. If it was signposted just to say that you're not far from Wigan it would say "Pemberton" then "Wigan - 2miles" or something like that... but it doesn't, does it ? It says Wigan (not the met borough of wigan but WIGAN). And thats because Pemberton is in Wigan my friend. This is getting quite funny now... First I'm asked for Richard Ashcrofts Wigan address which I post on here. Then I'm told just because a 'postal address' says 'Wigan' it doesn't mean its Wigan. Now I'm being told that just because a sign says Wigan it doesn't mean its Wigan.

Come on then, entertain me... what else isn't Wigan ? 01942 ? Maybe things have changed slightly since "1894" and you need to keep up son.

  • You're right there. Things have changed since 1894. Several other places have joined Wigan Borough. So many places, in fact, that it is now classified as a 'Metropolitan Borough'. In the borough is Leigh, Standish, Orrell, Golborne, Astley and Wigan too. Wigan isn't 'in' Leigh, just the same as Leigh isn't 'in' Wigan, but they're in the same Borough. Astley isn't in Wigan either and neither is Pemberton. It's next door to Wigan, but if it was Wigan, why would it be called Pemberton? You mention the telephone dialling code, 01942. That code is shared by many places, Wigan being one of those places, some of which are in St.Helens Borough. It's not an 'exclusive to Wigan' number. Wigan is a postown, purely because it has a sorting office, but other places that aren't in Wigan use the Wigan postal address. Places that aren't in Manchester use the Manchester postal address, etc.. You Wigan lot won't be happy until you've made everyone believe that everywhere is 'in' Wigan.

PS .... If you get me to go and look at the sign near KFC, in Pem., that says Wigan, you will be showing me proof that Orrell isn't in Wigan after all, won't you, seeing as the sign is marking the border of Wigan 'County Borough' (as was, which included Pemberton)(not Wigan, because Wigan starts at the Duggie)

PPS ... George Formby is from Wigan. Be happy with what you've got!


George Formby is from Leigh which everyone agrees isn't in Wigan ? Make your mind up...!

Richard Ashcroft was born in Billinge (which you say isn't Wigan) and he lived in Orrell (which again, you say isn't Wigan) and the band met at Winstanley college (which yet again, you say isn't in Wigan) All complete rubbish... the fact is that The Verve practiced and developed their sound in Wigan practice rooms (Pepper Mill - WIGAN CENTRE), they started their career by playing all over Wigan (the mill/wigan pier etc WIGAN CENTRE), their homecoming gig was in Wigan (haigh Hall - 2 ENTRANCES IN WIGAN 1 ENTRANCE IN HAIGH), their first single All In The Mind has a cover sleeve of the band sat in Wigan Park. Ashcroft himself says he's from Wigan. But yeah, the 1894 blah blah blah says blah blah blah so you must be right.

I can't be arsed arguing the point anymore, think what you want... I don't care! The only reason I posted on here is so that people who live outside of Wigan don't get misled by idiots like you.

Richard Ashcroft says he's from Wigan and you say he's not. End of !

I tried to get a train home to wigan the other night but apparently the place doesn't exist. I ended up somewhere called: OrrellpembertonstandishscholeswhelleyinceHindleyWinstanleyhighfieldbeechhillswinleywhitleynewspringsKittgreenmarshgreennewtownandafewothersmallplaces..

  • Dear Mr. CleverSod, George Formby was born, and lived his early years, a stones throw from the old Wigan rugby ground, Central Park. Now then, that's definately in Wigan. I've never heard of him being from Leigh.

Also, the 1984 blah, blah, blah, you refer to, doesn't mention Richard Ashcroft. So, new evidence says that The Verve 'practiced and developed their sound in Wigan practice rooms (Pepper Mill - WIGAN', fair comment (if it's true), however, no matter what you say, or the press says, or Richard Ashcroft says, none of the band members come from Wigan.

In other words you're saying that I'm wrong, The Press is wrong, EVEN Richard Ashcroft himself is wrong but you are right.

Sounds like bollox to me but fair enough if thats what you want to think. It is true that the verve started off in Wigan because I've been in bands that have practiced and recorded at these places myself and over the years I've spoken to other people from bands who were there at the time in the next rooms to the verve. I also know people who knew him from the pier (including a guy who used to sell Ashcroft weed in there). The fact that you say (if its true) as if i'd make this up just shows your unwillingness to accept facts so theres no point me arguing with you about this. I think I've made my point now so go ahead and have the last word like a little girl but i'm happy to leave it at that now. Goodbye loser !


  • I REPEAT .... no matter what you say, or the press says, or Richard Ashcroft says, none of the band members come from Wigan. .... FACT.


  • According to you:

1) Richard Ashcroft doesn't know where he's from. 2) The press don't know where he's from. 3) Post codes mean nothing. 4) Signs on roads with place names on them mean nothing. 5) Orrell & Pemberton are not in Wigan even though there's a sign saying "Wigan" (Not "Wigan Borough", not "near Wigan" but "Wigan" - you're most comical remark so far)


Something is only 'FACT' when there is significant evidence to back it up. You have no argument. There's enough evidence on here to prove that you are wrong yet you continue to say "No he's not" like a 5yr old. Wheres YOUR evidence to back up what you say. From what you have said it sounds like you're not even from Wigan yet you'll come on here arguing over and over again about this point. You're obviously just somone with a grudge against the place with nothing better to do than hide behind your PC trying to wind people up. FACT.

Pronunciation of name

How is the name "Wigan" pronounced? For better or worse, as an American, I really don't have much of a clue about British place names... I suppose it cuts both ways. Maybe articles on geographical topics can include a pronunciation guide as a matter of course. Regards, 207.174.201.18 03:17, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Wig-an Nessuno834 05:23, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
Or if you come from Wigan, 'Wig-in' Hindleyite 20:32, 15 March 2006 (UTC)
Perhaps you'd give us an example of how an American would pronounce 'Wigan' ? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.195.142.222 (talk • contribs) 21:13, 19 October 2006.

Pool to short

can anyone provide a reference for the pool being too short? It has a real air of Urban myth about it. I have heard this story myself but frankly I doubt it. If no-one can come up with a reference I'll delete it soon. Of course it may have failed to meet IOC criteria for all sort of other reasons.--NHSavage 07:28, 18 May 2006 (UTC)

Why doesn't this article mention their fondness for pies? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 144.135.66.126 (talk • contribs) 09:23, 17 September 2006.

The 'Pies' story is a myth, only kept alive by Wigan people because they know no better. Most of them don't know the origin of the pies story. It's nothing to do with actual pies, either. It's that sad. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs) 22:12, 1 November 2006.
Wigan people tend to think myth and rumour is true. This is because most of them have never left Wigan in their lives and are poorly educated. The more they are told these stories, the more the rumour gets passed around. It's a shame, really, for the children in the town, because their teachers often use the information put on sites like this for educational purposes, therefore the children are given information which is not fact, just hearsay.
LEIGH IS NOT WIGAN. NEVER HAS BEEN and NEVER WILL BE. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.195.142.222 (talk • contribs) 80.195.142.222.

POOR EDUCATION ??? 2 PEOPLE FROM MY SCHOOL YEAR ARE NOW DOCTORS, 1 RAF PILOT, SEVERAL IT CONSULTANTS... THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. FOR SOMEONE FROM SOMEWHERE AS BACKWARD AS LEIGH TO SAY THAT IS JUST COMICAL. YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT ONE THING THOUGH "LEIGH IS NOT PART OF WIGAN" - I AGREE 100%, YOU CAN KEEP IT MATE !!!

rewording

This edit introduced the following errors:

  1. 'Borough of Wigan' - scare quotes are not required for districts, it suggests they do not exist
  2. metropolitan county changed to Administrative Area - aside from the inappropriate use of capitals it is a term that has never been used for that county, in any context. MRSC 20:51, 24 September 2006 (UTC)
The Borough of Wigan is in the Greater Manchester area, however, Greater Manchester Administrative Body does not exist. All Greater Manchester is in Lancashire County. Wigan is a town 'in' Wigan Borough, 'in' Greater Manchester, 'in' Lancashire County, the same as New York is a City 'in' New York State. Buffalo and Rochester are in New York State but they aren't New York. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.195.142.222 (talk • contribs) .
Question: Why is it that some young person in America, having been made an administrator on Wikipedia, suddenly becomes more knowledgeable about places in England than people who have lived their entire life in those places? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs) .

Metropolitan Borough of Wigan

Why not read a much better merged article at Metropolitan Borough of Wigan Gosh it even has some references! ;-) Generic Character 23:22, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

Twinning

Is it the metropolitan borough that is twinned rather than the town? MRSC • Talk 10:08, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

It is. This needs moving. Morwen - Talk 10:39, 6 November 2006 (UTC)
Moved. MRSC • Talk 10:43, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

Ask any Wiganer, 'Name the French town which is twinned with Wigan'?, and they won't have a clue. That, in itself, shows the actual worth of 'twinning'.

Suburbs

The point about the ONS and the Wigan Urban area should be left with the aras described as 'suburbs'. The majority of people who work in the town centre live in these areas and commute into the town centre for work. These areas are not seen as seperate towns/villages. Trafford in Manchester is seen as a suburb of Manchester not a seperate place (example). I live in Wigan so am trying to give the perspective as seen by thoses who live in the the area. When asked by someone 'where do you live' you say 'Wigan', not Ince, Orrell, Standish etc. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Man2 (talk • contribs)

  • Trafford is not 'in' Manchester. Ince, Orrell and Standish are not 'in' Wigan. They are seperate places. They are not suburbs of Wigan. (jimmy h)


(from User_talk:Man2)

Can you provide some form of citation for the claims that the areas near Wigan are suburbs, and not nearby towns? The people over at Talk:List of English cities by population would claim that the ONS evidence is in itself proof that these areas are not suburbs.
this document by Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council identifies a "town centre" at Standish and at Pemberton. Having a town centre is not generally a characteristic of a suburb, so this indicates that to me that they are better analysed as several towns, of which Wigan is the largest and most well-known, forming a small conurbation.
The point about Wigan's local sphere influence is accepted. I don't think answering "where do you come from" from outsiders really is the end of it. Bear in mind that 'suburb' can be taken as a derogatory or demeaning term. Morwen - Talk 16:13, 9 November 2006 (UTC)
Furthermore this document by WMBC outright says that "Standish is not a suburb of Wigan"

To Put It Politely

We need a local expert, who can be TRUSTED to give the facts and not His or Her POV. this is turning out to be urgently needed as i have had to have a revert war with an unsigned user about facts in this article. Can someone oblige please! Random articles 22:03, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

Suburbs of Wigan are as follows : Swinley - Springfield - Beech Hill - Standish Lower Ground - Haigh - Whelley - Scholes - Poolstock. Pemberton is an adjacent town to Wigan, but is now connected. Other towns, some close, others not so close, to Wigan are as follows : Ince - Hindley - Standish - Ashton in Makerfield - Golborne - Leigh - Atherton - Tyldesley, each of these small towns also have their suburbs. The Borough was formed and Wigan (one of the towns in the borough) gave it's name to that borough. However, each individual town/village, some historical, others relatively new, was not stripped of it's name, they all still exist. The fact that administrative control has been taken over by one large authority should not detract from their identities. Those of you in America, obviously a very large country, who care to look at Wigan and surrounding towns on Google Satellite you will notice the clear outline of each town and it's adjoining 'suburbs'.

Government statement

I'm moving this text here from the main article because it really interrupted the flow of the article and probably doesn't belong in the heading.

Government Statement. .......

  • 'Note that the LGA 1972 did not do anything to the historic Counties of Britain. It only abolished the administrative counties and county boroughs. The Government was (and still is) happy to confirm that the Counties themselves were unaffected...'

"The new county boundaries are solely for the purpose of defining areas of ... local government. They are administrative areas, and will not alter the traditional boundaries of Counties, nor is it intended that the loyalties of people living in them will change." Source:(DoE Statement, 1st April 1974). ....... (ABCounties) --Wafulz 02:59, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

Also, is misquote and misattribution. Morwen - Talk 09:04, 20 November 2006 (UTC)
  • Greater Manchester Authority was disbanded in 1986. Also, Why has the true distance from Manchester been deleted and why delete the distance from Liverpool. It is a fact that Liverpool has played an important part in the history of Wigan re. cotton supplies and trade and was even linked to Wigan by the Leeds/Liverpool canal for that purpose. Also, it is a true historical fact that the Wigan Parish is part of Liverpool Diocese. Why deny fact?

Above point

I believe the point regarding Wigan as a part of the Liverpool Diocese should be include, (maybe in the civic history section). The 'true' distance of Wigan from Manchester is 18 miles. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.77.129.35 (talk • contribs)

Saying "historically in the Diocese of Liverpool" is problematic: because the Diocese of Liverpool was only formed in 1880: prior to then it had been part of the Diocese of Chester. The language used is strange as well: is "Head Parish" Anglican jargon? Because I can't find any evidence of that. Anyway, why should we give one particular religion's hierachy prominence? Morwen - Talk 09:55, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

  • Before Chester it was in the Diocese of Lichfield. Anglican 'jargon' can be expected to be found in an 'Anglican' country. The 'Church of England' is the 'Head' Church in this country, The Queen being the Head of that Church.
  • Distance, point to point, Wigan to Manchester 16.6 miles, Wigan to Liverpool 16.8 miles. By road, shortest route, Wigan to Manchester 23.4 miles, Wigan to Liverpool 21.6 miles. Source: Ordnance Survey/Google Maps/my van's mileometer.
Can you provide evidence for the "head parish" usage. I can find no evidence on the internet for the term being used in this way. Morwen - Talk 10:12, 20 November 2006 (UTC)
  • The word more commonly used is 'principal' or 'mother'. They have the same meaning as 'head'. Wigan 'All Saints' Parish regards itself as being the 'mother' in the Wigan area of 30 different parishes, the others being 'daughters' !?!?. (ref: Wigan Parish All Saints). In Bryn, 'Holy Trinity' Parish was made the 'principal' one, of the Ashton in Makerfield area including Haydock, in 1845. It's all to do with power, land and money. A way for the aristocracy to keep themselves in high positions, without the need to kill people, or work. (re: British History Online/ashton in makerfield). (ps. I have no religious interest and have, therefore, no bias)

Circular Editing

This article is having the same edits added/removed/readded and so on and so forth. I know not who is correct but as this is coming from a large number of anon users, should this article be considered for locking to all but registered users? Regan123 20:06, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

Signing Articles / Language

Please can everyone remember to sign their contributions - underneath where you write the edit summary it has a clickable to do it. The discussion is getting difficult to understand as to who is saying what. I have added substitute signatures as best I can.

Also, please don't remove comments from the talk page and don't use words like "Plonker". Always assume good faith.

Thanks, Regan123 23:46, 26 November 2006 (UTC)


The Verve/Winstanley College

Found this on the Wigan MBC website : http://www.wigan.gov.uk/pub/council/25facts/25things-wigan.pdf At the bottom left of page 2 is the follwing:

"Before they split in 1999, Wigan band The Verve became the town’s most famous musical export since George Formby. They were all from the Wigan area and met while at Winstanley College, a sixth form centre on the outskirts of town.. Singer Richard Ashcroft is now pursuing a successful solo career."

This clearly states that the Verve were form Wigan and that Winstanley College is on the 'outskirts' of the town (therefore in Wigan).—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.77.129.35 (talk • contribs).

  • Wigan MBC will say that. They tell people all sorts of lies. The 'history shop' is full of lies too, they are a bunch of frauds, putting out false information. Winstanley College is on the 'outskirts' of Wigan, but it isn't 'in' Wigan. It's across the border. It's 'in' Orrell actually, look at the Orrell 'ward boundaries' on the Governments National Statistics. You say 'they were all from the Wigan area', well, thats a false claim for a start, because Nick McCabe is from the St.Helens area, went to the same school as me and he says that "None of us are from Wigan, that's just a myth". Myths are what Wigan MBC are good at. Skelmersdale can't be regarded as being in the Wigan area either, and that's where Ashcroft is from.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs).


    • Your right Nick McCabe was from the St. Helens area. I didnt say they were all from the Wigan area, Wigan MBC did. I also dont think that anyone would suggest that Skelmersdale was in Wigan, it is clearly a town with its own identity and if Ashcroft lived there then yes he was from Skelmersdale, however if he was born in Billinge Hospital he is originally from Wigan, he should therefore be included in both areas 'notable people'. If Wigan MBC say that Orrell is 'in Wigan' and 99.9% of people in Wigan say Orrell (and Pemberton and Ince etc etc) are 'in Wigan' (which they do), then it should described as 'in Wigan'. You appear to have hostility towards Wigan MBC and I detect a slight 'agenda' in your comments. If im wrong about this I sincerely apologise, but you must accept offical citations.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.77.129.35 (talk • contribs).
    • You're not wrong mate about his hostilities towards Wigan and Wiganers in general, he's an Ashtonian and seems to have a grudge for some strange reason, if you look above I have been arguing (sorry, discussing) with him about these things in the section headed "Richard Ashcroft et al" it really makes an interesting read and his prejudices can be seen there too. I do like his sense of humour though, I just wish he could use it to more positive effect 82.33.171.111 22:00, 30 November 2006 (UTC)


  • If Orrell's not in Wigan somebody better tell Wish FM, St Peters High School, Orrell Balti House, Abbey Gabby High and all the other businesses and schools in the area as they all have the address, "Orrell, Wigan, Greater Manchester". Not "Orrell Nr Wigan", "Orrell Village Near Wigan", "Orrell just outside Wigan", "Orrell that place in Wigan...but not really", "Orrell x amount of miles from Wigan" or anything else. Or alternatively next time you go in one of the shops say "dear me ive been looking all over the town centre for this shop....I thought your address said you are in Wigan.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.77.129.35 (talk • contribs).


WISH FM ... the WISH stands for 'WI'gan and 'S't.'H'elens. It's the local radio station for the Wigan and St.Helens area. Based in Orrell Road, Orrell. Not in Wigan or in St.Helens, but kind of 'inbetween'.


      • What idiot would think that Orrell is 'somewhere inbetween' Wigan and St Helens!!? Its nowhere near St Helens, its 3 miles from Wigan town centre.


Doesn't matter how far away it is, it's still 'inbetween'.

  • Are you familiar with maths and the english language? the word 'inbetween' in a geographical sense means basically equidistant from two things (i.e. the Isle of Man is 'inbetween' England and Northern Ireland or Wigan is 'inbetween' Manchester and Liverpool) anyone with a map and reception class maths can see that Orrell is in no way 'inbetween' Wigan and St Helens, not sure I'd call a place 3 miles from Wigan and 7 miles from St Helens 'inbetween'. Orrell is also west of Wigan and St Helens is south of Wigan!! how do you get 'inbetween' from that!!. Billinge Chapel End is basically 'inbetween' Wigan and St Helens, Orrell certainly is not.


  • It doesn't matter to me where it's nearest to. It's neither here nor there. Do you suggest that they change the name of the radio station from WISH FM to WI FM, to get rid of the St.Helens part of it then? Maybe change it to WISK FM, seeing as it's equidistantly inbetween Wigan and Skelmersdale?
  • Yes thats what im suggesting, what a stupid comment. Your point was that the Orrell areas is 'inbetween' Wigan and St Helens, which it is quite clearly not. The station can still be called WISH FM as it broadcasts to Wigan and St Helens, but the studio is not located between Wigan and St Helens.


  • I clearly recieved WISH FM, the other day, while I was in Southport. It seems that it broadcasts to anyone who can recieve the signal ......... Oh No, That cant be right, can it? Because it's Wigan's radio station, well, you can hear it a little bit in St.Helens's too, but its nearer to Wigan (in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan) and everybody who comes from Wigan (in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan) says its 'wigans radio station' and we don't want 'every man and his dog' listening to the principal radio station for Wigan (in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan), do we?
  • You can pick Wish FM up in Salford as well, what the hell is your point?. The station is called Wish FM as its principal broadcast area is Wigan and St Helens (Key 103's principal broadcast area is Manchester but you pick it up in Wigan as well). The point was that the studio is not located 'somewhere in between' Wigan and St Helens, it broadcast's from the Wigan suburb of Orrell, to areas all over the Metropolian Borough of Wigan AND the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens. How can this be such as big deal?


  • In 'Between' ... Lying within, or amongst, a space which separates TWO entities. Orrell area definately lies 'within' the space separating Wigan area from St.Helens area.
  • Wrong again. Get a map, you will see that the space that separates Wigan and St Helens houses Billinge Chapel End, Rainford and Garswood. St Helens is South-West of Wigan, Orrell is directly West. How the hell can it be in the 'space' that separates the two places?. St Helens is not directly West of Wigan.


If you took the 'direct route' from St.Helens to Wigan (A571) you wouldn't go through Orrell, but you'd not be far off. Wigan is in between Liverpool and Manchester, but not 'bang in the centre'.


  • What the hell are you on about?. As you say you dont go through Orrell at all, by your way of thinking Pemberton must also be 'in between' Wigan and St Helens. Billinge Chapel End is 'in between' Wigan and St Helens, for the last time Orrell is nowhere near St Helens it is West of Wigan and a long way North east of St Helens.


  • That sign shows that you are entering 'Wigan Borough' ie. Wigan and Pemberton = Wigan Borough.

Now, I never said that Orrell was 'close' to St.Helens, did I. I merely said it was 'in between', which it is. And, yes, Pemberton IS between Wigan and St.Helens.

  • Pemberton is also in between Grimsby and Dublin, why don't you put that down while you're at it.

82.33.171.111 22:41, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

  • Now Pem is 'in between' Wigan and St Helens even though St Helens is south of Wigan and Pem is west. Well it appears not only are you the eminent expert on the Wigan and St Helens areas, you also appear to have found a way to change the centuries old thinking and practices in geography. Well done.
    • The direct link road from St.Helens to Wigan (A571) passes through Pemberton. I must say, I appear to have, considerably, more knowledge about the areas than you do. No wonder Wiganers are referred to by outsiders as 'backward villagers'!

PS. unregistered user 111 requires me to state that Pemberton, which is in between Wigan and St.Helens, is also in between Grimsby and Dublin.

Pointless dispute

The entire dispute could probably be solved by describing these people as from the Wigan area (or suburbs or whatever). The current flame war on this looks, to an outsider, pretty silly. Guy (Help!) 12:59, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

Wigan / Metropolitan Borough of Wigan

A couple of things:

  • Billinge & Orrell are both disambiguation pages and should not be linked to. Please can you link it to the correct article.
  • Wigan (the town) is a sub division of Metropolitan Borough of Wigan. See SD531051. The bold names indicate distinct areas. So, for exmaple Orrell is not in Wigan, the town, but in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan. Whilst this seems archaic to some, it is an important distinction that we need to make to maintain the accuracy of the encylopedic.

If anyone has any comments, please leave them below and remember to sign you comment with (~~~~) so that it makes it easier to follow the conversation. Thanks. Regan123 00:52, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

  • Your previous chapter is very true. Wigan is a subdivision of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and Orrell is not in Wigan, but is also a subdivision of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan. Correct. It also follows that Wigan is not 'in' Manchester, notwithstanding the fact that the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is a subdivision of Greater Manchester. I agree that detail needs to be shown in order to make the articles encyclopaedic. Generalisation will not 'do' ! ... (80.192.242.187 13:39, 7 December 2006 (UTC)) alias JemmyH.

Wigan MBC themselves acknowledge Orrell 'lying to the west of Wigan', clearly separating it from Wigan itself.

http://www.wiganmbc.gov.uk/pub/partnership/township/orrell/index.htm —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs).

Man2, I noticed from your comment below, you think it is better to remove all references. Can I suggest that if we know where they were born down to the correct district then that should be on the article. All we need to do is sort out the Wigna/Metropolitan Brough distinction. No one is doubting that you contacted the council (see my talk) and so on, but Wikipedia looks for Reliable sources that can be cited. Generally these are official or neutal thrid party websites. We have one website above that shows Orrell as being distinct from Wigan and the OS map. But that doesn't mean that this is the end of the matter. If you have other sources of information, bring them to the table and between us all we can sort this out. In the end the only thing that matters is getting the entries accurate, whatever that turns out to be. Cheers, Regan123 18:12, 7 December 2006 (UTC)
Another thought for Orrell, which might work: Orrell is a residential area in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Due to its proximity to Wigan town centre it primarily acts a suburb for the town. Now if there are no objections I propose employing this from the weekend. What do you all think? Regan123 00:02, 8 December 2006 (UTC)


  • It's a funny one. As has been said, Orrell is, actually, quite a large place. If you look on Google Maps, and click on 'satellite' you can see for yourself. However, I have owned land and property in Orrell. I purchased it off the Archdiocese of Liverpool and the deeds for the lot were very old. Orrell is a very old place. The original part of Orrell is known, on my deeds, as 'Far Moor'. This seems to be the 'village centre', indeed it is, today, referred to, by the locals, as 'The Village'. It is where the 'shops' are, the post office, doctors, chemist, bank, and parish church. Another part is known as 'Tontine'. A distanced part is known as 'Orrell Post' which leads onto another part called 'Lamberhead Green'. I have owned and built houses in Lamberhead Green and can confirm that this is the 'border' between Orrell and Pemberton. You can clearly see the distinctions on google maps. It is no wonder that arguments occur about places like this. Orrell consists of Orrell Post, Lamberhead Green, Far Moor, and Tontine. It is also home to 'Upholland' high school, 'Winstanley' sixth form college, 'Billinge' hospital, it's parish church is in Wigan deanery, in the Diocese of Liverpool, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester! It is inhabited by St.Helensers, Wiganers, Liverpoolers and Orrellers, so you can imagine what the 'local accent' sounds like! Anyway, it's just as much a 'residential suburb' of all these places, so I suggest it's entered as 'Orrell', 'an area on the outskirts of Wigan, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, within the historic boundaries of Lancashire'. That way, everyones taste is catered for and none of it is wrong. 80.192.242.187 11:24, 8 December 2006 (UTC) JemmyH.


PS. I rang Arnold to ask his opinion and he just said, "Orrell? ... Fok! ... I'll be back"! So I guess we'd better just ask him when he gets here.

  • Just for the record. Orrell is also inhabited by quite a few Mancs and people from Bolton and Preston and a few other places . Orrell is definitely not (and never has been) a residential suburb of Liverpool or St Helens, too say that it must also be a suburb of Manchester and Bolton. The accent in the area, as you would expect, sounds like anywhere else in Wigan (seeing as the majority of people in the area are from the 'Wigan area'). It is also NOT the home of UpHolland High School (West Lancs), Winstanley College (Billinge Higher End) or Billinge Hospital (Billinge Higher End). Tontine is in Up Holland in West Lancs, not Orrell. About 70%of the above post is wrong. Man2


  • The border between Greater Manchester and West Lancashire runs through Orrell. You go from Orrell into Upholland when you go under the M58 near the Delph Tavern. Winstanley College is connected, by development, on one side, to Orrell and it is, along with the high school and the hospital, in Orrell council ward.

The most common 'accent' amongst the Upholland High School pupils is 'Scouse'. I should know, I've dealt with hundreds of 'em over the years. If they put a load of Wiganers in the African jungle, it would still be 'in' Africa, not Wigan!

      • The border between West Lancs and Greater Manchester is just a little further back from the Sandbook pub. All of Orrell is in Greater Manchester (and Wigan Borough). Have you spent any time in Orrell?, the accent sounds like people from Pem and Ince and anywhere else in Wigan. A lot of Up Holland High kids put their accent on to sound like there mates from SKEM and/or live in Up Holland/Skem and what about the fact St Peters High and Abraham Guest are in Orrell. Are you seriously trying to say that the majority accent of Orrell is scouse!! are you on drugs? Orrell ward and Orrell are not the same place.

Above

Let us simply ensure that the phrase 'Metropolitan Borough of Wigan' is included in all the articles making reference to the borough e.g. 'Ince, Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester'(rather than 'Ince, Wigan, Greater Manchester') etc etc. This should easily sort out any misunderstanding's/disagreements. Man2 —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Man2 (talk • contribs) 14:38, 7 December 2006 (UTC).

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger? Proof plz!138.243.228.52 02:22, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Arnold Schwarzenegger stayed for a few nights at Frank Richards house in Wigan, not exactly worthy of putting in the notable people section but definitely worthy of putting in a new section perhaps headed 'Wigan Trivia'. The meaning behind 'Pie Eaters' and an article about 'Wigan Monopoly' could be added in this section too.

82.33.171.111 00:37, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

  • Don't be thinking that Wigan was the 'only' town to have a Monopoly Game made for it. It was done, in limited numbers, for loads of towns all over the British Isles. Get real.
  • Yes, I know that idiot!! I was on about the history on how it came into being and how Wigan beat Preston & Bolton to have a Monopoly game about it.

It was an easy choice. Wigan is easier to poke fun at than Preston or Bolton and the people are gullible enough to part with their money on such trivia as Monopoly!

Above

Hi Regan, I completely agree that we need to stick to verifiable evidence regarding sources. My mention of my contact with the council was not intended to be used as a citation regarding the Orrell area, as, short of sending all of wikipedia the email my claim cannot be verified. I do feel that the current introduction to the Orrell area does accurately describe the area however, the mention of its status as being in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan (as opposed to the town itself) is included along with its role as a suburb of the town. I feel that the statement: "Orrell is a residential suburb of Wigan in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. is accurate in all of the sentence's component parts. In order to support this it is necessary to break down the sentence and analyse each statement within it, the first statement "Orrell is a residential suburb of Wigan" is accurate, the area is almost exclusively residential, unquestionably it acts as a suburb of the town centre and includes the word 'of' Wigan as opposed to 'in' Wigan. I also feel it uncessary to add "due to the areas proximity to Wigan town centre....it acts as a suburb", as a) an areas proximity to a CBD is a key part of what defines a suburb, therefore the reader will take as given that the area is close to Wigan town centre given the statement 'suburb' in the intro and b) a very similar statement already appears further down the article. The second part of the sentence goes on to say, "in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester", note the significance of the phrase 'in the', this shows that the area is a component part of the Metropolitan Borough, as opposed to a component part of the town centre e.g. Swinley. To promote the idea that the Orrell area has an identity akin to areas such as Leigh (i.e completely separate from Wigan) would be misleading, the accuracy of the articles content has not been compromised by the introduction or any other part of the article. I feel we need to leave the article as it is now, given that all the information is accurate and any further alterations (by either myself or other parties) may again result in the type of disagreement's we are currently embroiled in. To conclude Im sure the encyclopedic accuracy of the articles is foremost in all of our thinking, therefore I believe we should leave the current factually accurate article as it is. Cheers. Man2 —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Man2 (talk • contribs) 14:38, 8 December 2006 (UTC).

Which would leave them in exactly the form you have edited them to - which has been but a part of the circular editing here. Take a look at the map that can be linked off here SD531051. Orrell is given large letter titles, unlike Pemberton. This means it is not just a suburb, but the ordnance survery are defining it a distinct area. We also have this Wigan council link which refers to Orrell has being West of Wigan. To call it a suburb first is incorrect. Pemberton, for example, is a different matter is of Wigan.
We now have three wording suggestions so far, all with a slightly different emphasis. How about this forth one:
Orrell is a district within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester. Lying on the western outskirts of Wigan, approximately, 3 miles from Wigan town centre it is a primarily residential area and commuter suburb of Wigan and Skelmersdale. It was formerly part of the historic county of Lancashire.
Now I have guessed at Skelmersdale due its proximity, but that can be corrected. This covers every base and is citeable whihc every article is supposed to be. If WP:FACT ever came along they could mark this unciteable and therefore unencyclopedic. Mull this one over and lets see if we can agree to this. Regan123 18:18, 8 December 2006 (UTC)


  • I feel that a 'suburb' is a place developed purely to house 'overspill' of a certain town or city. The 'suburbs' of Wigan are called Beech Hill, Swinley, Scholes, Poolstock, Whelley, Worsley Mesnes, Hawkley Hall. Other places, such as Orrell, Hindley, Standish, Shevington, are actually 'Villages' in their own right and are sited quite a distance from Wigan. Places developed without reliance on the local town of Wigan, with their own small infrastructure. I have owned a business in Orrell for 13 years and feel I am in a position to comment on where the residents base themselves and would point out that a great number of them originate from, and currently work in, St.Helens, at the Pilkington Glass company. Several travel to the Ford factory in Halewood for their work. A number to Warrington and Haydock Industrial Estate. Some to Heinz in Kitt Green. So, as you can see, Wigan plays a smaller part, in the life of Orrell residents, than some of you think. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs).


  • And, for those who don't know (but think they do), Skelmersdale is a 'suburb' of Liverpool. It was developed, purely, to house Liverpool overspill. The residents of Skelmersdale all regard Liverpool as their hometown and, when thay refer to Liverpool they always call it 'Home' or 'Town'. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs).


  • Orrell, and certainly Skelmersdale, are NOT suburbs of Wigan!—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs).

Orrell, if a 'commuter suburb' of Wigan, should also include a 'commuter suburb' of St.Helens. St.Helens, for God's sake, has the world's leading Glass Processing Company sited there and a lot of Orrell residents have worked there for their whole working life ! Clue yourselves up before making comment. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs).

First of all, please be careful with comments like "Clue yourselves up" as they can upset people and this has already been heated enough. Thanks. Now, putitng that to one side, this is from the Wikipedia Suburb article:
Suburbs are inhabited districts located either inside a town or city's outer rim or just outside its official limits (the term varies from country to country), or the outer elements of a conurbation.
By this definition calling Orrell not only a district, but a suburb is perfectly acceptable. Now I am trying to find a way through all the disagreements on here to get a consesus and the argument has got quite heated before. If the word commuter was removed you get this:
Orrell is a district within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester. Lying on the western outskirts of Wigan, approximately, 3 miles from Wigan town centre it is a primarily residential area and also a suburb of Wigan. It was formerly part of the historic county of Lancashire.
Is this more acceptable? Regan123 19:31, 8 December 2006 (UTC)


  • The comment 'clue yourselves up' is, in my opinion, perfectly acceptable. It would not cause me any offence if addressed to me. In fact, it is much less insulting than wiping my comments off this discussion page! I agree with the main body of that article, however, I disagree, strongly, that Orrell is a 'suburb' of Wigan. It is a 'standalone' area. I see no difference between Orrell and Standish, yet Wigan MBC have stated themselves that Standish is not a suburb of Wigan.

Also, I disagree with ...'Lying on the western outskirts of Wigan'. My reason is that Orrell does not lie on the outskirts of 'Wigan', it lies on the western outskirts of the 'Metropolitan Borough of Wigan'. Indeed, if you view the OS map, you will see that a boundary line runs through Orrell, showing part of Orrell being in West Lancashire, Wigan itself being several miles to the east of the centre of Orrell. Why not inform readers of the article that Orrell consists of more than one part, the main village being Far Moor, which is the active 'centre'.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs).

I took no offence, but tone is very important on Talk pages - it is easy to offend. As to your comments being removed - if they have been wiped then they need to be restored. If you look through the history tab, then you can copy them back out. Please could you sign them if you do. Anyway, lets not get diverted. I don't personally think it is a suburb in my personal defintion but in the Wikipedia definition it does fall into that category. Can we go with the proposed version I have done above and then hopefully end these ciruclar edits? Then we can get on with expanding the information and improving the Wikipedia coverage of Wian in general. Cheers, Regan123 22:51, 8 December 2006 (UTC)
Sorry but we both added at the same time, so that is a bit of date. What would you propose as wording? Regan123 22:53, 8 December 2006 (UTC)


  • Orrell is a district in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester and in the historic county of Lancashire. ..... Simple as. Detail (historic and geographical) can be added to that opener. But it should be true detail and not opinion. I know a lot about this area and know a lot of the residents, and it's history so to tell me that agricultural greenbelt doesn't exist around Orrell, when I can be standing looking at it, is a bit rich! Did you look at British History Online at the history of Orrell townships? Hmmmmmm. ... Why are we talking about Orrell in the Wigan discussion? Orrell has it's own article and discussion page.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs).


  • Hi, I by no means intended my previous comments to mean that my edits should remain as 'last word' on the subject, I simply genuinely felt that the description accurately describes Orrell today. I can ensure you that my edits are free from any 'agenda' and the accuracy of the articles is my paramount concern(as im sure it is yours). I apologise if this is how it appeared. I am happy to concede any points for which I may be wrong. My correspondence with Wigan MBC did indeed confirm that Orrell acts as a suburb of Wigan (however I do realise that this may be a mute point given the difficulty of verification ). I again by no means intend to appear as a stubbon advocate of my definition, but in all definitions of 'suburb' including academic and governmental , Orrell meets all the criteria. I too know a lot about this area (given the fact I lived here all my life)and have seen the development from village to suburb. Wigan is clearly the dominant influence in the area. It dominants govermentally, economically and socially. I think we may need documentation (if any exists) showing where the majority of Orrell area residents work/socialise. In the mean time I would ask you to look at the following and determine its usefullness to the debate : www.statistics.gov.uk/pbc/review_areas/Greater_Manchester_Boroughs/downloads/TR_Manchester_Day9.doc

You will see that although the opinon of 'Mr Grundy' regarding the Orrell area is just that, opinion, the debate regarding Orrell's relationship to Wigan was discussed at a public inquiry. I think we need to be careful of 'ranking' opinion within the article. Both Regan123 and the unregisted user disagree with my assessment of Orrell as a suburb, however it is clear from the above that Mr Grundy would support my claim and in town planning terms so too would Mr. Nick Clarke at Wigan MBC. With the greatest of respect to Regan123 I feel that your personal opinion of what determin a suburb is irrelevant as you concede that Wikipedia's own definition of a suburb suppots my claim. I hope we are all able to find consensus eventually. Thanks. Man2

I have cited the Wikipedia reference to suburbs because that is the format we need to take, which I have said above. I read the link from Man2 and both sides of the position are discussed there. Using parliamentary constituencies is always difficult. If that was the case, my current home in the London Borough of Bromley would be in Lewisham if you looked at the new boundaries, Penge if you think of the post code and so on and so forth. The aerial photograph at Google Local shows a continuous ribbon development. Whilst it connects it to Wigan, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent form one connurbation yet are two distinct areas. The reason I started the discussion here was because the edit debate had spilled out onto multiple articles. Everyone involved was congregating here so I thought it a useful place to deal with it. How about this:
1. Go with the basic introudction suggested by 80.192.242.187 for the outlying areas outside of the Wigan town
2. Add a demography section to Orrell discussing the different make up of the population and that some people consider it part of / a suburb of Wigan, citing the document Man2 linked to. We could also reference that town planning at Wigan MBC plan it as part of a wider connurbation.
3. Expand the history section with the link from 80.192.242.187
Would love to hear your thoughts. Regan123 03:06, 9 December 2006 (UTC)


  • What does everyone think of the current intro:

"Orrell is an area and residential suburb in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Its original name was Orrell-in-Makerfield being part of the historic Makerfield Districts. The area is situated 3 miles to the west of Wigan town centre. Its northen edge surround's junction 26 of the M6 motorway. Orrell and it's neighbouring district of Pemberton are essentialy one continuous residential area. The Orrell area postal code begins with WN5."

I included the phrase 'residential suburb in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan', but ommited the reference to it being a suburb of Wigan (for the benefit of the unregisted user). I simply said it was a suburb but did not make mention of what it was a suburb of. Does anyone object to the above? Thanks. Man2

That's fine with me. Needs a couple of wikilinks adding, but lets see if anyone objects first. Regan123 15:23, 9 December 2006 (UTC)


  • I can't put my finger on the reason why you wish Orrell to be a 'suburb', but I presume it is because you are Wigan biased, probably living there yourself. Orrell has been in existance, as a village, almost as long as Wigan has. Records date back to 1212, which is before Wigan became a borough. I also think that we all have differing pictures of Orrell. When Orrell is mentioned, my mind goes directly to Orrell village, whereas other people (Wigan biased) might think of Orrell as Orrell Post, Gathurst or Lamberhead Green. My opinion is that Orrell should be taken as it's original village centre and not it's outskirts. Orrell has survived since, at least, 1212 without being a suburb of Wigan, St.Helens or Skelmersdale.
  • I notice 'Platt Bridge' is listed as a 'village' and it is anything but. How can anyone not regard Orrell as a village in it's own right. A 'Historic' village at that, with records to prove it dating back over 800 years. 80.192.242.187 21:35, 9 December 2006 (UTC) JemmyH.
Can there be no more edits until this is resolved. Also, can I suggest consulting the Manual of Style. There is going to have to be some compromise otherwise there will be circular edits until the day we die. Can we not call it a village and suburb? It fits both of the descirptions... Regan123 23:16, 9 December 2006 (UTC)


  • Firstly I live in Orrell (furthermore in the part you refer to as 'Orrell Village' i.e. the southern section of the area) and have done so all my life. I also have no 'Wigan bias' as you put it. I have no desire to 'wish' Orrell to be described as a suburb or anthing else, I simply genuinely want the article to reflect the status of Orrell today. I have in the past provided the user 'Morwen' with several citations for the description of Orrell as a suburb and I consulted Wikipedia's own definition (which the Orrell area meets in every criteria) . The point of the existence of the articles is to give readers an accurate description of the subject within it. If an individual visted the Orrell area for the first time they would find an area inextricably linked to Wigan both geographically and socailly. The presence of urbanisation (both residential and transport infrastructure) linking Orrell to Pemberton cannot be disputed. The area links directly to Pemberton and therefore Wigan town centre. You simply do not travel down country roads at any point to get to the area from the town centre, in fact no distinction can be made in any way from Pemberton. I completely agree that the status of Orrell as a village IN THE PAST cannot be disputed and would be more than happy for that fact to be made more clear in the 'history' section of the article, clearly the area was ONCE a village, however today the area is a residential suburb. With the greatest of respect to the unregisted user I would like to remind you that I sought to accommodate your opinion in the recent article intro edit. I ommited the point about it being a suburb 'of Wigan', given your objection (and did the same in the Pem and Ince articles). I honestly feel that to omit 'suburb' or include 'village' as a description in the intro would be compromising the factual accuracy of the article. I strongly believe that the article should not reflect what either you or I would 'like' the area's status to be, simply what it is and I do feel that the area in 2006 in no way whatsoever can be described as a 'village' in the traditional sense. I found consensus with Regan regarding the above intro and attempted to find consensus with you by ommiting a point you felt strongly about. The article needs to be written about the whole Orrell area (i.e. not simply the southern section), to do so clearly ignores factual accuracy. We cannot pick and choose what parts of the area we write about. I ask you to meet me halfway with this (as I have attempted to do with you). Thanks . Man2


  • (....that I 'sort' to accommodate your opinion in......). Surely, you mean 'sought' ? 80.192.242.187 12:54, 10 December 2006 (UTC) JemmyH.


  • Lol yeah you're quite right. Man2


Seriously, though, the only 'link' between Orrell and Pemberton is the bridge over the motorway M6. Where do you get your 'country lane' idea from? This is fact, ... In Astley, residents have complained that their houses, on one side of a road, have been put in Wigan Borough and their council tax has been increased, to a higher level than their neighbours', because of this. That, in itself, shows that you don't have to go 'down a country lane' in order to cross a border from one place to the next. And you say you live in Orrell? You, then, should be aware of the 'agricultural greenbelt' land that separates Orrell from Pemberton. Anyone disputing this fact, only needs to look at Google Satellite image to see for themselves. Can you explain why Shevington and Standish are regarded as separate villages from Wigan, by the council themselves, as well as the residents, and are not regarded as 'suburbs' of Wigan, even though a much greater number of their residents are Wigan connected than Orrell's residents are?


  • The point about the 'country lane' was intended to show to readers not from the area that Orrell is in no way similar to the rural settlements they may have in mind when one refers to a place as a 'village'. I don't SAY I live in Orrell, I do live in Orrell (would you like my address) and the point you are missing is that Orrell does not start where you think it starts. The area DIRECTLY adjoins Pemberton (i.e. near the Fishergate pub in Pem), that area is in Orrell. The green belt you speak of is around the M6 which runs THROUGH Orrell, it does NOT separate it from the Pemberton area. I very much disagree that Standish and Shevington residents are in some way 'more connected' to Wigan than Orrell residents, im afraid that is simply a false statement. I was not familiar with the siuation in Astley and I agree that scenario is ridiculous, the use of two sides of the same road being used as a borough boundary is bound to cause problems. Im unsure as your reasons for objecting with the history section of the article more clearly describing Orrell's historical status as a village (perhaps mentioning that some still see the area in its historical context), or any other historical points that you feel are important to mention. Thanks Man2
  • You say ... 'The area DIRECTLY adjoins Pemberton (i.e. near the Fishergate pub in Pem), that area is in Orrell....'. Does Wales not DIRECTLY adjoin England? Is Chester in England or Wales? Or both?

The reason about Standish and Shevington residents being more 'Wigan' than Orrell's is that Orrell has a large influx of St.Helens, Skelmersdale and Liverpool people, whereas Standish and Shevington have very few. I currently own houses in Loch Street and Cross Street, both in Orrell, although many would argue against it. They are in Lamberhead Green. The 'Land Registry' is the place that tells you where everywhere is, not a local council, the Royal Mail or British Telecom. 80.192.242.187 19:04, 10 December 2006 (UTC) JemmyH.


  • Look mate, this debate is really getting boring now, im sure you agree. Orrell also has quite a number of Manchester people that a I know and my neighbour is from Bolton, quite what these points have to do with Orrell's connection to Wigan I will never know. The majority of people in Orrell are from the Wigan area (and I include Orrell itself it that description) originally.

The point about Wales is totally irrelevent. Orrell includes all of Orrell, not just the places you would only 'like' to be classified as Orrell. Im not sure what I would gain by continuously contributing to this debate if I did not believe the accuracy of my points. Im getting tired of repeatedly trying to get you to understand that the article refers to Orrell, not a selection of Orrell around Church Street or anywhere else. The area in which the Stag is, is Orrell, the area down near the Fishergate is Orrell, the area around the train station is Orrell and the area at the start of Winstanley Road is Orrell. The article concerns Orrell. Will you please stop disputing these facts. Thank you Man2

As you say, 'mate', it's Orrell, not Wigan. If you cannot see the connection of the comparison I tried to give, using Wales and England as examples, you must be quite blind to logical reason. Chester is split by the England/Wales boundary and you can jump from one place to the next. As is, and as you can, Orrell from Pemberton. You are telling me nothing that I don't know, in sheds. I possess title deeds with the boundaries drawn on. The original argument was, Orrell is not 'in' Wigan. It's not a 'suburb' of Wigan either. 80.192.242.187 21:20, 10 December 2006 (UTC) JemmyH.


PS .... Man2, I notice that you have removed the word 'suburb' from the Ince in Makerfield article. Ince, as we both know, is located next to Wigan and is full of residential housing for Wigan people. If you consider Ince 'not' to be a suburb of Wigan, how can you possibly call Orrell 'a suburb of Wigan'? Man2, you are, indeed, a hypocritical scoundrel sir! 80.192.242.187 21:06, 10 December 2006 (UTC) JemmyH.


  • Not really seeing as the phrase 'residential suburb' is clearly on the Ince article. I informed you of the removel of the word residential suburb OF WIGAN from the Ince, Orrell and Pem articles in another post on this talk page (look above), because YOU protested to the phrase OF WIGAN. The 'suburb' part is still there on the articles. Please gather your facts before making personal comments. After reviewing your talk page I would ask that you no longer refer to any more Wigan people as 'clowns'. I will be contacting Regan to ask him to assess your suitability to continue contributing to these articles given your attack on Wigan people and the fact other users appear to be of the opinion that you have an agenda in your editing. I have informed you a thousand times that the article refers to the Orrell area, which again includes all of Orrell, which is a residential suburb, which is directly connected to Pemberton which is also a residential suburb. You do appear intelligent enough to grasp the concept and why we need to be argue this point back and forth time and again is really beyond me. If you own property in the area then you are well aware of the extent of the Orrell area and how it connects to Pemberton directly. I ommited a point from the article I was conviced was correct to accommodate your opinion, why the hell you cannot do the same I really do not know. How much more accommodating do you want me to be? Man2


  • Your right Orrell is in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, not Wigan town centre. However you could not be more wrong about it not being a suburb. Contact 'Morwen' and ask for the citations I provided using the word 'suburb'. Man2


  • Why, oh Why, do you think that I don't like Wigan? Where have I 'attacked' Wigan people? What is implied by 'I' have informed you several times, (as if 'you' are an authority on the subject)? You repeatedly say the same thing, over and over, which I already know. I know EXACTLY where Orrell is. I know EXACTLY where Wigan is too. Not 'Wigan town centre'. Wigan. I, and my family before me, have owned a large part of both places. I live there myself. Now, get down off your high horse, look through the big window, then put 'true facts' on Wikipedia, not your own 'personal preferences'


  • I most certainly am not putting personal preferences on the article. Again as I stated before i have no 'wish' for Orrell to be described as a suburb, but seeing as I am only interested in producing an accurate article, this is what I must do. You dont think calling another user on your talk page a 'Wigan Clown' is not an attack? and saying "Wigan clowns. Live in Wigan, no life, no wife, no money, stuck in a timewarp. I feel for you all" is somehow acceptable?. Another user shared my opinion that your are working to some sort of 'agenda' and have an unfathomable hostility to all things Wigan, (even calling Wigan MBC 'liars' and 'frauds' and saying the 'history shop' is also full of lies'). Can you explain to me how you interpret my use of the letter 'I' as being my attempt to be the authority on the subject? The points I make are clear FACTS which anyone can clearly see and yet you continue to deny, they only thing i am informing you of is your misheld belief that Orrell is not directly adjoining Pem, that is not to say that you have not informed me of certain things of which I was misled. If you would care to provide me with your any publicly available information regarding the property you own in both areas I will be happy to look into the situation and corroborate any information about the area that you have provided that either myself or anyone else has said was not correct . Do you find that fair?. I am trying to get this as accurate as possible and have said frequently that I most certainly do not hold my evidence as the last word on the subject. I must say that it seems to me that accusing a lifelong resident of being on a 'high horse' when commenting on the area in which they live, seems slightly ridiculous, wouldnt you agree?. I believe you reside in Ashton, if this is the case notice how I have not contested any of the points on the Ashton page, why?, well because I do not live there and cannot comment on FACTS regarding the area with the same level of accuracy in which I comment on the FACTS regarding Orrell. This is really going to have to be one of my final comments on the subject as its driving me mad. Man2


  • Just looked at Wikipedia's definition of a 'village' again. It includes a)"should be a clear green belt or open fields around the borders". How does one explain the direct joining of Orrell to Pembeton (without any green belt whatsoever) at the EAST side of the M6?. Surley clear green belt or open field means you cannot have a join IN ANY WAY to an urban area. Surely the green belt must encircle the WHOLE AREA. Surley it means you must leave a distint urban area drive through clear green belt on both sides and then enter a village ,tell me, where near the Fishergate Pube (on the EAST side of the M6, where Orrell actually starts, not on the WEST side) is the clear green belt/open field/country road you drive down before the sign says 'Orrell'?, all I see is houses and shops. If the sign was not there would you know you had changed districts?, I think not. REMEMBER (and this is important), the M6 passes THROUGH Orrell it DOES NOT separate it from Pemberton. Also b) "should not be under the the administrative control of an adjacent town or city. Well Orrell is under the administrative control of Wigan MBC (the Orrell area does not have its own council)with decisions about the area taken in Wigan.

Now Wikipedia's own definition of a suburb, "Suburbs are inhabited districts located either inside a town or city's outer rim or just outside its official limits (the term varies from country to country), or the outer elements of a conurbation.". Sounds very much like Orrell to me. It goes on to say "The presence of certain elements (whose definition varies amongst urbanists, but usually refers to some basic services and to the territorial contiguity) identifies a suburb as a peripheral populated area with a certain autonomy, where the density of habitation is usually lower than in an inner city area". Again what part of that does not describe Orrell?. The article includes the phrase, "The suburbs and more distinct settlements around a town or city may look towards the urban area for goods, services and employment opportunities".Guess what the Orrell area does that with Wigan.

To conclude Orrell meets the definition of a suburb and does not meet the definition of a village, yet we need to include the word 'village' in the article intro?. I realise this post may appear rather farcical but even by Wikipedia's own defintion Orrell is a residential suburb, not a village. I can ensure Regan that I have no agenda with this (im not sure what having one would help me accomplish) and ive posted this to help clarify that when writing about Orrell we simply cannot just ignore the area at the east of the M6 and talk only of the area at the west. Had the M6 been the physical boundary to the area, conditions for an nontraditional village could well be argued to exist and I would most definitely have supported it. The joining of Orrell to Pemberton unfortunately completely voids any argument about the use of 'village' and I wholeheartedly cannot see how any other definition but suburb can stand. Thank you. Man2

Famous residents

I would like to make a proposal on this list. Unless we know that they were actually brought up or have lived a while in Wigan, then we probably should move them to either the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan article or the appropriate suburb/district/village article. See Stoke-on-Trent for an example. What do people think? Regan123 19:59, 16 December 2006 (UTC)

  • I agree with Regan, even though I am a advocate of The Verve being described as a 'Wigan' band, I believe the moving of the 'famous natives' from areas such as Pem/Orrell/Hindley/Ince/Billinge etc etc to the 'Metropolitan Borough of Wigan' article and their specific borough district articles, would prevent any future disagreements . Man2
  • I have to disagree, I think it's getting too stupid and too complicated. You have to understand that most people outside Wigan don't know what the Wigan borough is and whether it's press reports or through word of mouth, these people are seen as coming from Wigan. If I want to know things about 'Wigan', I will type in Wigan not 'Metropolitan Borough of Wigan'. As for preventing disagreements, this suggestion is just starting one now.

82.33.171.111 12:47, 17 December 2006 (UTC)

  • Yeah that is a good point. I agree with you most people outside of the area assume all the above districts are 'Wigan' and almost all in these districts say 'from Wigan' (as opposed to 'from Ince/Pem/Hindley' etc), but I think Regans point is that we need to be accurate down to the last detail, hence including them in the Borough article as opposed to the town itself. Man2
  • I think 'famous residents' who 'were actually brought up or have lived a while in Wigan', should be included in the 'Wigan' article. However, anyone 'brought up or lived a while' in any other part of the 'Metropolitan Borough of Wigan' should be included in 'that' article, as well as their 'hometown' article. ie. Someone 'brought up or lived a while' in Upholland or Skelmersdale should be included in Upholland or Skelmersdale articles as well as 'West Lancashire' article, simply because they're not from Wigan. JemmyH.
My idea is based on the fact that Wigan is not the Metropolitan Borough and vice-versa. If we can cite a source so that we can accurately place them within one of the appropriate articles. If we can't, then the Met article would be a good holding place. The problem is (like Stoke-on-Trent, sources don't necessairliy define it properly. If the majority is against, then we won't proceed. Regan123 23:56, 17 December 2006 (UTC)


  • I have to agree with JemmyH and Regan, I believe to move them to the Metropolian Borough article would prevent any future confusion. Man2


  • Well that's a vote of 3 for and 1 against amongst the four most active users on the Wigan page for the last month or so. If this be the case then go ahead. Just remember the fact in the sub header that 'having some significant connection with the town' may not neccessarily constitute living in or being born in Wigan.

82.33.171.111 00:52, 18 December 2006 (UTC)


  • Another good point!, I had forgotten to consider 'significant connection'. We need to remove 'significant connection' from the 'famous natives' to make in workable (i.e. born or lived in Swinley, Newtown etc etc only). This should solve the problem. What do people think?. Man2


  • No, not Newtown. That's in Pemberton and Pemberton has it's own article!


        • Come to think of it, what does it matter? No-one looks at Wigan, only Wiganers. I recently bought an engine off a lad in Southend, Essex and when he asked "where are you coming from"?, and I said "near Wigan", he said "Where's that"? If people from Essex haven't heard of Wigan, I can't imagine people the world over having heard of it either! Anyway, I rang Arnold Schwartzenegger and asked him how long had he lived in Pemberton. He said, "Pem-ber-ton ... Four Days ... Bye". Then he hung up.


      • You cant be serious, now your saying Wigan Athletic/Warriors dont play in Wigan. They are going to have to be renamed 'Pemberton Athletic'. This guy is beyond a joke and clearly he is doing this in a attempt to antagonise. I have figued out his bias against Wigan though, he is from Haydock and probably a St Helens fan, yet lives in the Wigan Borough. As the American's say "go figure". You are aware the Douglas is not the boundary to Wigan aren't you? I take it Marsh Green/ Kit Green/Worsley are not 'Wigan' now either. Lets take a vote on this, how many agree that Wigan Atheltic and the JJB are in Wigan?. I am disgusted with myself for lowering myself to the position of making personal commmet (after denouncing it the other night) but taking into account what this guy gets away with (i.e. "Wigan Clowns... etc etc") its nothing! Any other Wigan editors who agree please get in touch on my talk page. Man2
  • Read the Pemberton article. I thought it was YOU who put the jjb stadium in the PEMBERTON article? If it was, you're right, it IS in PEMBERTON and not Wigan. The border IS the River Douglas. Anyway, football? rugby? naaaaa, I never mentioned that, it doesn't interest me in the slightest. Wouldn't stoop so low. Non territorial, non biased, not small-town minded, that's me. In fact, I have made a good living out of Wigan, which I have owned quite a bit of. I don't mind what town they are 'from', as long as they pay their rent!
  • Still upsetting people with your poor attitude I see Jemmy. Self-absorbed, ignorant, arrogant, conceited, that's you. As for the 'non-biased' quote from yourself? you might as well add contradictive as you are completely biased towards Wigan & Wiganers.

82.33.171.111 15:36, 19 December 2006 (UTC)


  • Most of my friends are Wiganers. My wife is a Wiganer. My business has been 90% in the Wigan area. I just know where Wigan actually IS and where it ISN'T, that's all. I can see the difference between 'Wigan' (the place called), 'Wigan Borough' (the places in it) and the 'Metropolitan Borough of Wigan' (which has people living in it who don't know where Wigan is). I can't understand why anyone should get upset about gaining knowledge about the place they live and I can't believe that you didn't know the JJB football ground was in Pemberton. You should have listened at school, instead of writing 'Wigan is Ace' on the covers of your books!


  • I hope your friends and wife are from Swinley, because according to you they cant be 'Wiganer's' if they are not. You should just have gone to school full stop, maybe then we wouldnt have to put up with comments like "Orrell is 'in between' Wigan and St Helens"


  • Drive down Pemberton Road, guess what you see miles before the River Douglas?, a sign saying 'Wigan', as I explained the Douglas is not the boundary at all.

You will see a sign marking the start of 'Wigan Borough' as you enter Pemberton. You will see a sign marking the start of the 'Metropolitan Borough of Wigan' when you enter Ashton in Makerfield. Wigan starts at the River Douglas and has done for centuries. You, or any other Wiganer, cannot alter that.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.192.242.187 (talk • contribs).

  • No not a sign saying 'Metropolitan Borough of Wigan', 'Wigan Borough' or anything else, it just is a small road sign with the word 'Wigan', nothing else.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Man2 (talk • contribs).