Wigan Album

Nice picture, probably the only one of age i've seen of the house. You cannot get near it now. The Gill's i'm told actually only purchased the house in 1970 (Standish lease had finished?) and had it rented for a long long time.

I'm doing some family research and there are supposedly some links to Giants Hall. Does anyone know of any historical information available about the house?

To correct the first comment... The gills purchased giants hall in 1920. It was lot 96 in the disposal sales of Standish Hall. It was purchased by Alfred Gill, my grandfather, before that it was rented along with 3 other farms by his father, Joseph Henry and by his father, Robert Gill. All these farms were part of the then Standish Hall estate.
In response to the second question... what do you want to know.

Are you the same Roger who worked in Oliver Somers with John and myself?
If so then, nice to know your still around and nice to hear from you.

hi all, just passing through Crooke village on our boat and been looking at the history, saw giants hall rd and found this pic but can you tell us why it is called Giants Hall please

Hi Roger - sorry for the incredibly late response! I thought I'd be notified if there was a comment on this ..... oh well!
I'm interested if there are any connections to any of the various branches of the Rigby family. The reason being that there is another Giants Hall in Newburgh - built by 'my' branch of the Rigbys in 1678. It's such an unusual name for a house and with the build dates being so close it seems like almost too much of a coincidence to be such.
Any thoughts or information relating to that or where the name came from would be really interesting. Thank you.

Roger, my grandmother was a Gill and visited Giants Hall and the surrounding area many years ago. Her father John Marks Gill and grandfather Alfred Thomas Gill immigrated to the U.S. around 1882 and she grew up hearing stories about the area. She was thrilled to have had the opportunity to visit some Gill relations while vacationing in England around 1882. I wonder if you might remember her...Virginia Knowles Gill - Summerall? I am interested in family history and would be very pleased to hear from you.

Late reply to Philip Somers. The answer is yea. I remember those time s with great fondness. Great to hear from you. My daughter now lives next door to the house that Gladys Somers retired to after Walter's death. All the best

reply to lois hf... these are 2 Giants Halls in the area... 1 other in Parbold.
This area is scattered with large boulders.. deposited by the retreating ice sheet. They were so big that it was said that they could only have been put there by Giants. We still have some on the site here. The largest weighing about 5 tonnes was buried by my grandfather becasue "It was in the ####### way!"

belated reply to Noeline. The answer I think is "yes".... but I am unsure about the actual connection.
The house was built by 2 brothers who married into the Standish family.. William and Peter Lathom. Perhaps you have a connection with the Lathom family. All my Grandparent generation are now dead, so I cannot ask them, but the Rigby name is familiar.

Hello Randy.. late reply again. The Marks family and the Gills were intermarried. We have a wedding photo of the marriage of Daniel Farrimond and Ellen Gill in 1898.. some of the Marks are present there. Virginia KG is not known to me . Ithink your best bet is to contact my cousin Andrew at Worthington Hall Farm... his wife Sylvia may be able to help.
Note Worthington Hall (1577) is even older than Giants(1675),
but it has been chopped about a lot.

The font in the foreground is still here. It was salvaged by Alf Gill(my Grandfather) from St Elisabeth's Church in Aspull, and brought to Giants on a horse and cart. It is now full of flowers in the Spring. Must be Holy tulips!

My great-great grandfather was Joseph Henry Gill whom I presume, Roger, is the same one you refer to as he seems to have lived in Wigan. He was married to Jane Marks about whom I'm trying to find out more information. My great grandmother was his daughter Mary Ellen Gill. Am I on the right track?

belated reply to steven hough. yes you are right on track. I have the wedding photo and marriage cert of the marriage of mary ellen gill to daniel farrimond in 1898. Can send a copy if you wish

Hello, I am currently researching my family history in respect of the Rigby family. I appear to be a descendant of the Rigby family who lived and resided in Lathom, Ormskirk. Research has also given me a connection with Giants Hall. Can anybody advise or assist how I can conclude that my Rigby's and the Rigby's that owned Giant Hall are connected. I am in the middle 1742 +. No idea when it was sold or when the Rigby's left but any historians out there who are familiar with this beautiful house who can give me some details would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Eileen

Hi Eileen - a very belated reply!
I am descended from the Rigbys of Lathom, Ormskirk and I believe it was my 8x Gt Grandfather who may have built that Giants Hall. I think I know the family inside out (barring any skeletons!) and know some history of the house. If you're anywhere near Preston records office take a look at DDK 247/4/26 - or order a copy. If not, can you provide a little more information - a few names and dates should be enough. Alternatively, if you know how to send a private message here I'm happy to do that - I just don't know how!

I was born in giants hall StAndish .My parents Brian and Liz Smith rented it back the 6"s .I was born in1966 .

MY GRANDMOTHER WAS ANNIE GILL BORN IN THE RISING SUN PUB IN HALLGATE WIGAN SHE HAD BROTHERS ROBERT JOHN AND JOSEPH THERE FATHERS NAME WAS ROBERT AND THERE MOTHERS NAME WAS MARY