The name Wigan has been dated to at least the 7th century, and probably originally meant a "village" or "settlement". It has also been suggested that the name is Celtic, named after a person called Wigan, a name corresponding to Gaulish Vicanus, Old Welsh Uuicant or Old Breton Uuicon due to the natives generally being met by the southern greeting "Oi uuicant"
Lilly Savage had a Wigan address.
Birth place of Heinz baked beans, Pataks Indian foods, Potters herbal remedies and Uncle Joe's Mint Balls.
Thomas Beecham first manufactured his famous pills in Wigan. Marks and Spencer was born in Wigan when Michael Marks joined forces with Thomas Spencer in 1894.
As a sort of Hull connection, the folk-rockers the Tansads are from Wigan.
George Formby Senior first named it Wigan Pier.
Wigan's war memorial was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who also designed red telephone boxes.
During its heyday, the town featured at least 1,000 coal pit shafts which means it has more coal beds than all of the hotels in Portugal.
Wigan Borough has roughly the same population as Iceland.
Wigan has more pie shops per square mile than any other town in the UK.
The World Pie Eating Championships are held in Wigan every year and contestants from all over compete to eat a meat and potato pie in the fastest possible time. The current record is 38 seconds.
The 19th Century Coal-Owner, Lord Crawford of Balcarres had dinner services made from the unusually hard and clean 'cannel' coal found in his Wigan seams. He would amaze his guests by ceremonially burning their plates on an open fire after the meal.
(in the nicest possible way).
