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Wigan Magistrates Court

Started by: CanalAli (6)

Hello,
Does anyone know, please, who made the relief-y type decorations on the 'new' Wigan Magistrates Court ('new' as in the one near Lidl built in the 1980s/90s, not the one/s near the bus station). I'm not sure how many people visiting the court actually notice them (they'll probably have other things on their mind/s!) but if you study them a bit they're actually rather lovely, and really clever too, seeing as they're almost like 3D jigsaws or something. I'd love to know who made them.
One of the bricklayers who put them in place posted some pictures on here and I left a message under one of the pictures but I didn't get any response, from him or anybody else. (The pics had been posted nearly a decade earlier, though, so I suppose that's not that surprising.)
Could anybody help this time, please?
Thanks,
Alison

Started: 3rd Oct 2022 at 16:17

Posted by: jo anne (34726) 

Hello CanalAli, they were created by artist Maggie Humphrey: www.maggie-humphry.co.uk

‘Justice’ features on Wigan Public Art Trail: Link (p.11) and WW P-a-D: 8th July 2017



The Royal Coat of Arms is captured on this WW P-a-D: 30th Oct 2021 and there’s more info given in the comments below it, including this by Cyril:

“In the book Public Sculpture of Greater Manchester by Terry Wyke ISBN: 9780853235675: 'Wigan Magistrates Courts. Two brick sculptures on the exterior, the Royal Coat of Arms directly above the main entrance and the figure of Justice on the side wall, both sculpted from Baggeridge Brick and stated to be by artist and potter Maggie Humphrey. The sculptures are set into the walls and the outer bricks have been striated, adding extra depth to the figures. The courts were designed by Wigan Metro and opened by the Princess of Wales in 1991'.”

Replied: 6th Oct 2022 at 17:16

Posted by: CanalAli (6)

Oh my goodness! Thank you so much, @jo anne! you have no idea how many places I've looked and how many hours I've put into trying (but failing) to get this info - I posted my original request in 2020 but I'd been looking well before that, including doing searches on his site without finding the 2008 pic of the day.
Just one question, though: is the ANYthing about Wigan that someone on this site doesn't know at least something about???

Replied: 6th Oct 2022 at 21:13

Posted by: jo anne (34726) 

You’re welcome, CanalAli.

Not sure if WW members can answer every question, but there’s usually someone who’ll have a good try. Some of it is knowing where to look, if it’s info online - I often remember things from previous WW threads which can help, as I’ve been here 15 years - a ridiculously long time! Unfortunately, some great resources have gone; there was a WW Forum section once with more information but that went in the site’s recent redesign. Sadly over the years we’ve lost a lot of knowledgeable local people as well.

Replied: 7th Oct 2022 at 10:35

Posted by: fossil (7728)

Wigan world at it's best.
Well done Jo anne.

Replied: 8th Oct 2022 at 10:22

 

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