Changes

It is referred to in the title of [[George Orwell|George Orwell's]] 1930s polemic on Lancashire working class life, 'The Road To Wigan Pier'.

It is referred to in the title of [[George Orwell|George Orwell's]] 1930s polemic on Lancashire working class life, 'The Road To Wigan Pier'.

==Geography==

==Geography==

Wigan is in south-central Lancashire and a part of the West Derby Hundred. It sits approximately 16 miles west of central [[Manchester]] and a similar distance east of central Liverpool. Nearby towns include [[Standish]] to the north, and [[Ashton-in-Makerfield]], [[Golborne]] and [[Newton-le-Willows]] to the south. To the south of the town centre is the nature reserve Wigan Flashes ("flash" is a word for a body of water, related to [[French]] ''flaque''). It consists of an area of wetlands, lakes and ponds which are the result of early 20th century mining subsidence. The largest of these lakes is Scotsman's Flash. It is known for its bird population, supporting around 2% of the UK's total willow tits. There is also a nature reserve at Amberswood, just south-west of the town centre near Platt Bridge,

Wigan is in south-central Lancashire and a part of the West Derby Hundred. It sits approximately 16 miles west of central [[Manchester]] and a similar distance east of central Liverpool. Nearby towns include [[Standish]] to the north, and [[Ashton-in-Makerfield]], [[Golborne]] and [[Newton-le-Willows]] to the south. The town sits on the [[River Douglas, Lancashire|River Douglas]], which rises on Winter Hill between [[Bolton]] and [[Chorley]] and ends its 35 mile course at a confluence with the Ribble near its estuary. Through Wigan, the Douglas has been canalised since around 1740. To the south of the town centre is the nature reserve Wigan Flashes ("flash" is a word for a body of water, related to [[French]] ''flaque''). It consists of an area of wetlands, lakes and ponds which are the result of early 20th century mining subsidence. The largest of these lakes is Scotsman's Flash. It is known for its bird population, supporting around 2% of the UK's total willow tits. There is also a nature reserve at Amberswood, just south-west of the town centre near Platt Bridge,

==History==

==History==