2 min readAn article and photographic account of Wigan's Civic Centre by Steve Marland, originally posted on his Modern Mooch website here and reblogged below with Steve's kind permission.
Over the coming weeks, Haunt will share a number of Steve’s articles, which often encounter hidden histories of place, under-celebrated architecture – particularly Modernist features, and local curiosities around Greater Manchester. Steve is a retired photography lecturer at Manchester School of Art (Manchester Metropolitan University), has worked as a photographer for many years and has also been closely involved with The Modernist Society (read the Haunt article about The Modernist Society here). For more of Steve's articles, visit https://modernmooch.com/
This article was originally posted on by modernmoocher:
Some time ago, over a year ago or so I went to Wigan.
I found a pub, a launderette, several interesting groups of housing and –
A large concrete Civic Centre, built in the early 1970s under the auspices of the Mayor JT Farrimond, the foundation stone laid by Alderman Ernest Ball on 22nd April 1970 – a man who seems to have collected letters after his name just for fun.
A tight grid structure is broken up with chamfered window fames and a mix of concrete finishes, surfaces and textures, slipping neatly into the inclined topography.
A rather distinguished cantilevered canopy or two sit centrally over the entrance porch.
The building no longer offers public access, services having been transferred to the nearby Life Centre.
The Manchester Modernists have highlighted the centre in its new Top Ten Twentieth Century Buildings project.
Why not bob along, see what you think and remember – vote, vote, vote!
Article text and photographs by Steve Marland
