Wigan High School, Standishgate, 1906.
Photo: Carol Coates (nee Brown)

Wigan High School, Standishgate 1906. Wigan High School for Girls opened on 27 September 1887 at 19 New Market Street. In 1892 a Kindergarten opened in the nearby Grammar School building. In 1906 under Wigan Education Authority the school moved to Standishgate, former home of Mr Henry Brierley. Early in 1907 the school moved into the 'Tin Tabernacle', a temporary building behind the School House. On 23 September 1916 the new High School building opened at Mab's Cross in Standishgate. More pupils meant the transfer of younger ones to Woodfield in Wigan Lane, which opened in 1920. In 1919 Mab's Cross was erected inside the school boundary, opposite its former site, as Wigan Lane was widened. In 1938 and 1939 the North and South Pavilions opened, providing four more classrooms. Three air raid shelters were built in 1939. Sports were played at Ashfield, Standish. The Elms in Wigan Lane was used as the Domestic Science Department and by 1945 160 girls moved to accommodation in St Paul's school rooms. In 1945 the new Education Act saw the end of Woodfield as a Preparatory School and fees at the High School. In 1958 the Bluecoat School premises in New Market Street were used for the post-war 'bulge' first year pupils, who lunched at All Saints Secondary Modern School. In the 1960s Wigan Girls High School moved to its new site at Whitley.