Museum of Wigan Life

Museum of Wigan Life and its collection

Discover the people and places of Wigan borough at the Museum of Wigan Life. Designed by Alfred Waterhouse (who also designed Manchester Town Hall), the building opened in 1878 as Wigan’s first public library. Whilst the display on Roman Wigan, Egyptology and early local trade remain on show at the Museum of Wigan Life, the gallery’s main exhibition is currently ‘Gerrumonside!: The passion of rugby league, past, present & future’, on display until 19 November 2022. You can also delve into your family history and find out more about the area upstairs in Local Studies, the same place George Orwell researched his book ‘The Road to Wigan Pier’ in 1936. With historic documents, maps and photographs, there’s plenty to explore. Or simply sit back and enjoy the fabulous architecture of this Grade II listed building.