History of Wigan   (Help with ancient and recent history.)

Tonker change the record you are wrong and know you are. Coal couldn't be taken today but more due to the fact Wigan is now so built up, but was in the past. There are a total of 22 feet of mines that outcrop in the town centre portion of Wigan being the 3 Wigan seams. Not to mention the outer areas of the township such as Ince 7 feet mine, Ince furness mine. Within the town centre King Mine, Ravine and Yard lie at approximately 200, 400 and 600 feet below the Wigan Seams all easily accessible and were accessed by collieries within the township of Wigan. Alliance Colliery accessed the yard seam at a depth of 618 feet from shafts on crompton street.

Under Mesnes park the Arley Mine lies at a depth of just over 800 feet. Under Swan Meadow Road Pemberton 5 feet lies at a depth of 390 feet.

I could carry on. So is 800 feet to deep to mine? given the depths of workings at some of the collieries outside of Wigan I would suggest not.

By the way I haven't just made the figures up they are off the 1934 Geological Survey Map sheet 93NE if you wish to have a look.

I think it could be said that Wigan was primarily a coal and commercial town which gradually turned into a mill town in the mid to late 1800's.