Forward, Together @ Wigan & Leigh Archives, Leigh Town Hall
23 March - 28 September 2024
A new exhibition telling the story of the last 50 years of Wigan Borough opened in Leigh. Forward, Together is hosted at the Archives: Wigan & Leigh in Leigh Town Hall to celebrate the people, places and communities that have shaped the character of the borough since its formation in 1974.
The exhibition, which will be in place until September, has been curated alongside students from Wigan and Leigh College, using the extensive photographic archive stored at the archives. The students spent worked with Archives staff to select images, assisted with the exhibition installation and created a slideshow of both archival images and students’ work to be shown in the space. Open Eye Hub Fellow Mia Joyce, exhibition Curatorial Assistant, selected images by photographer Frank Orrell for the exhibition.
Councillor Chris Ready, cabinet member for communities at Wigan Council, said: “It’s really special to be able to mark the history of the whole borough, and the unique identities of its towns and districts.
“The exhibition is a really important part of our year of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the formation of Wigan Borough, since the Local Government Act brought together a host of local government districts.
“The thing I’m most excited for in the exhibition is the fact it will shine a light on the voices and experiences of real people.”
Alongside the photographs on display, visitors to the exhibition will have the chance to share their memories and stories in an oral history project which will be shared and also go on to make up part of the Archives’ collection.
Councillor Ready added: “Wigan & Leigh Archives is home to over 100,000 images and holds over 800 years of local history.
“We’re proud that our team of conservationists work all year round and that this exhibition will really bring to the fore the journey we’ve been on, and help us to progress with unity in the next 50 years.”
Following the work with the Archives, students from Wigan & Leigh college will be undertaking a Mass Observation project.
The project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Open Eye Hub.
The exhibition will be open Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 2pm (4pm on weekdays).
Photo: Michelle Adamson
A new exhibition telling the story of the last 50 years of Wigan Borough opened in Leigh. Forward, Together is hosted at the Archives: Wigan & Leigh in Leigh Town Hall to celebrate the people, places and communities that have shaped the character of the borough since its formation in 1974.
The exhibition, which will be in place until September, has been curated alongside students from Wigan and Leigh College, using the extensive photographic archive stored at the archives. The students spent worked with Archives staff to select images, assisted with the exhibition installation and created a slideshow of both archival images and students’ work to be shown in the space. Open Eye Hub Fellow Mia Joyce, exhibition Curatorial Assistant, selected images by photographer Frank Orrell for the exhibition.
Councillor Chris Ready, cabinet member for communities at Wigan Council, said: “It’s really special to be able to mark the history of the whole borough, and the unique identities of its towns and districts.
“The exhibition is a really important part of our year of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the formation of Wigan Borough, since the Local Government Act brought together a host of local government districts.
“The thing I’m most excited for in the exhibition is the fact it will shine a light on the voices and experiences of real people.”
Alongside the photographs on display, visitors to the exhibition will have the chance to share their memories and stories in an oral history project which will be shared and also go on to make up part of the Archives’ collection.
Councillor Ready added: “Wigan & Leigh Archives is home to over 100,000 images and holds over 800 years of local history.
“We’re proud that our team of conservationists work all year round and that this exhibition will really bring to the fore the journey we’ve been on, and help us to progress with unity in the next 50 years.”
Following the work with the Archives, students from Wigan & Leigh college will be undertaking a Mass Observation project.
The project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Open Eye Hub.
The exhibition will be open Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 2pm (4pm on weekdays).
Photo: Michelle Adamson
