Wigan Album
Dower House Farm
6 Comments
Photo: Rev David Long
Item #: 20468
I returned with my camera to record the end of the last corner of the building - this fireplace, which had obviously been reduced in size, perhaps to accommodate a more modern range as seen in the old pics, and the revealing of a bricked-up door to the left.
I also returned with a trailer to cart away a ton or so of stone blocks which I used in the landscaping project I was undertaking in the back garden of the Vicarage - so at least part of Dower House Farm is still about in the area.
Such a sad sight. I made enquiries in the early 80's about purchasing Dower house farm with a view to renovate, I was told it was in under ownership and the owners were looking in the region of £40,000. That was a lot of money to me then for a full renovate as well. Not long after it was set on fire....insurance scam, possibly!
I was also saddened by this act of destruction. When I was a girl we often passed the farm when going to catch the bus into Wigan. A teacher at my primary school said there was a rumour that a tunnel from Wigan Parish church came out there. This dated from the civil war to enable people to escape from a siege. I think that was fanciful romancing but I suppose we'll never know!Sneakiness does go on, a developer near where I live now, thwarted with a planning application, got up early one Sunday morning and cut down 6 trees with protection orders on them as he could easily afford the paltry fines for doing so."You don't know what you've got 'til its gone"
It would have a been quite wet in such a tunnel - as it would have to go under the Douglas, the Clarington, and the Ince Brook on its way!
I don't understand why this building was sacrificed as it was. We lost quite a few old buildings nationwide in the 70s (The Hall of Ince, for one), but by the 90s we were more appreciative of them, and money from new sources, such as the Lottery were available. I've always thought the Farm would have made an excellent Club House for the Cricket Club it stood next to. A failure of regulation and imagination from the Borough, sadly.
i got the farm in the 70s for the owner peter gannon time passed and the visiting cricket clubs abused going into his garden by not using the gate all he asked was if getting the ball use the gate but he got abuse.also the cricket club used a vibrating roller within 5 yds of the house and shook its foundations after that he got placed in hospital and did not return their is more that is it till it was broken into and fired.
From 1940 to 1958 I used to go for Sunday lunch to the farm;Jim Pollit and his wife Nurse Pollit owned the farm there son Harry and his wife Millie lived next door to the farm' There was no underground tunnel however Oliver Cromwell slept there on his way to a battle near to St Georges at Wigan He also stayed at the Bird Ith Hand in Hindley which is a listed building as was Dower House Farm rm
Need some information..... Does anyone know if there was a guy who ran a plant hire business from here and if so what gapped to him and the business . Cheers