WIGAN, market town ; municipal, county and parliamentary borough of Lancashire, England, 194 m. N.W. by N. from London by the L.M.S. railway. It is also served by the L.N.E. railway. Pop. (1931) 85,357. It is probable that the town covers the site of a Roman post or fort, Coccium. Wigan, otherwise Wygan and Wigham, is not mentioned in Domesday Book, but three town ships, Upholland, Dalton and Orrel are named. After the Con quest Wigan was part of the barony of Newton, and the church was endowed with a carucate of land, the origin of the manor. Before Henry M.'s reign the baron of Newton granted to the rector of Wigan the manorial privileges. In 1246 Henry III. granted a charter to John Mansel, parson of the church, by which Wigan was constituted a free borough and the burgesses per mitted to have a gild merchant. In 168o Ogilby observes that the town was "noted for its iron works." Pottery, pewter and bell f ounding were important trades. Manufacture of woollens, espe cially of blankets, was carried on in the 18th century. The cotton trade developed rapidly after the introduction of the cylindrical carding machine. During the Civil War the town, from its vicinity to Lathom House and the influence of Lord Derby, adhered staunchly to the king. On April 1, 1643 the Parliamentarians cap tured Wigan (see Lancashire). The following month Lord Derby
regained it for the Royalists, but Colonel Ashton soon retook it. In 1651 Lord Derby landed from the Isle of Man and marched through Preston to Wigan and at Wigan Lane, on Aug. 25, the Royalist forces were defeated and Lord Derby wounded. During the rebellion of 1745 Prince Charles Edward spent one night (Dec. io) here. In 1295 Wigan returned two members to parliament and again in 1307; the right then remained in abeyance till 1547, but from that time till 1885, except during the Commonwealth, the borough returned two members, and since 1885 one member. The list of rectors is complete from '199; the list of mayors goes back to 1370, town clerks to 1350, and recorders to 160o.
Wigan lies on the small river Douglas, which flows into the estuary of the Ribble. There is connection by canal with Liver pool, Manchester, etc. The town has coal mines which are famous for cannel coal, and which employ a large proportion of the inhabitants and supply the factory furnaces. The chief manu factures are cotton fabrics and linen fabrics; the town also pos sesses iron forges, iron and brass foundries, oil, grease and chem ical works, railway waggon factories, and bolt, screw and nail works. The borough includes the important district of Pemberton.