Restoration
With a multi-million-pound restoration programme well underway at Haigh, we couldn’t be more excited to see how things are moving on. Milestones are coming thick and fast at the site as master plans to transform Haigh Hall into a nationally significant arts, culture and heritage destination are realised. Lovingly described as the ‘Jewel in Wigan’s Crown’, Haigh Hall is close to the hearts of many local people, and we share their pride and passion for the site.
For more than a year, the hall has been hidden underneath scaffolding while its transformation and vital works to the roof and external façade take place. Soon, the scaffolding will come down as the project moves into its next phase where plans for inside the hall will be developed alongside our partner, AtkinsRealis. Our dedicated multi-disciplinary teams continue to work hard to make the ambitions at Haigh a reality.
Amphitheatre for a Tree
You might have noticed some changes by the hall already. Multi-award-winning landscape architect and local resident, Michael John McGarr, has provided the vision for a new formal garden called Amphitheatre for a Tree (pictured above). Rooted in symbolism, nature and community, with layered seating surrounding a tree set to amplify breathtaking views across the town, the focal point of the garden is a Handkerchief Tree which was kindly funded by Wigan Rotary Club as part of its centenary year celebrations. The inspiration behind the garden was an 18th century painting of Sir Roger and Lady Bradshaigh at Haigh Hall which illustrated formal gardens and beautiful landscaped stepped lawns with amazing views
Restoring the walled gardens
Head of horticulture, Dr Sylvia Travers, is working hard with a team of gardeners, volunteers and students to breathe new life into the estate’s Victorian gardens, bringing them back to their former use. The inspirational horticultural vision will see the kitchen garden grow to feed local people once more through the hall’s future hospitality offer. In the walled garden, and pending planning permission, new glasshouses (pictured below) will become home to community events including horticultural, social, learning and commercial opportunities.
Plantation Gates
Plans to restore the Grade II* Plantation Gates and Lodge works are expected to be underway by the end of 2024, offering a focal point for visitors entering the grounds of the estate from the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary side of Haigh Hall.
Mowpin Lodge Gates
The design was in your hands, and you chose one which reflected Haigh’s 900-years of rich mining heritage. The gates, featuring a miner’s shovel and pickaxe, were cast at the end of 2023 at the local Haigh Foundry – quite a remarkable sight. The new gates will be installed at Mowpin Lodge entrance in the coming months.
Play trail will be out of this world…
Children and adults alike will be sure to enjoy a brand new play trail inspired by Haigh’s strong links to astronomy as it opens at the end of 2025. With the help of more than 80 local school children, the play trail has been developed by artist David Bethell. It will feature giant comets that can be climbed on and explored. Also due to open in 2025, a Woodland Hub offering outdoor adventure activities – plus a coffee kiosk for your caffeine hit – will bring a currently underused part of the estate back into use by encouraging visitors
Bothy yard and cottages
Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the old Bothy cottages will be restored to create a multi-use community space. The outdoor area will support horticultural activities and a revamped pavilion will offer more opportunities in this section of the grounds that was once the Haigh zoo. Repairs to the ornamental pond and priority upgrades to the footpath network will also form an important part of this project.
All aboard the Woodland Railway
In September, Wigan Council announced plans to invest £380k to get the popular woodland railway back on track since its temporary closure in 2020. The railway first opened back in 1986 and takes a 1.6k route through the upper plantation woodlands at Haigh. When it was last open in 2019/20, it carried more than 20,000 passengers – so we know it’s a much-loved attraction. Thanks to the hard work of the volunteers in the Haigh Woodland Railway Supporters Association, work has been ongoing in the background to ensure that the investment can have an immediate impact to bring the railway back to life.
Haigh updates
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You can find out more about the Haigh restoration project