Wigan Album

I remember going there with Hindley and Abram Grammar School. I can't recall why we went but there was music and singing from the choir. We always went to St. Peter's in Hindley for our annual Carol Service, and All Saints in Hindley for our Founders' Day Service , so I imagine The Queens Hall visit must have been some kind of music festival. I imagine Elizabeth or other Wigan World members who attended HAGS might remember the reason. It was a very impressive place.

Did they rebuild it to some extent or did it become part of the bus station?

I went to some wonderful concerts there in the 1970's, they also used to have marvelous Saturday morning Charity Shops once a month, like a jumble sale.

Yes I remember being there Irene but...as you say I too can't recall what occasion it was but..there seemed to be hundreds of us and I do remember singing 'Land of hope and Glory'its one of those occasions that I'll never forget...and as I've commented on before my friend Elizabeth and myself go there every now and then.
The last time we were there was my Birthday and to cut a long story short a man stood on the stage with his guitar and played and sang Happy Birthdsy to me..it made my day.

Yes the church is still there, the front is the only original bit, but the rest of the building was demolished. The old main hall all of what you see on the photo is where the bus station is now, what was the corridors for the old hall is roughly where the new hall is now. The back of the new building is a complete rebuild.

The Speech Day for Notre Dame High School (the Convent) was held here,usually in October.

It’s nice to go for a coffee in there sometimes the volunteers couldn’t be more helpful. A very welcoming place to go. Not been for a few weeks though. Lovely handmade cards sold there as well.

https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/showalbum.php?opt=5&gallery=Queen%27s+Hall%2C+Market+Street%2C+Wigan

I agree Veronica,they go out of their way to be helpful..it was due to one of their helpers that I had Happy Birthday sung to me.

Very nice people Maureen. It was before Christmas when I went in for a coffee. I must go again soon.

Many years ago I was in two plays at Wigan Little Theatre. They didn't have a Rehearsal Room back then, so during the run of a play, the actors had to find separate premises to rehearse. I remember we used a room in The Queen's Hall once, and I wandered around looking at what I thought were children's writings on the wall; after a while, I realised they were the work of adults who had been unable to read and write, and were in the process of learning. I was so impressed that these facilities were available and so much admired the people who were brave enough to admit they couldn't read and write and were willing to learn. I hope so much that they can now do both, and that something that is taken for granted by most of us will hopefully have made such a difference to their lives.

I remember rhe Wigan Grammar School speech day cum prize giving day being given every year.

Yes Irene,it was Speech Day that was held at Queen's Hall,and they were sooooo boring !As you and Maureen both mention it was a very impressive building.x

A very nice cup of coffee in here, and the volunteers are so welcoming. It's a place of salvation for a lot of people.