Wigan Archive
Development Control Project Report for 2007-8
Development Control Project Report for 2006-7
A major programme of archaeological trial trenching for the Grand Arcade shopping development off Millgate, resulted in two open areas of archaeological excavation. One, at Ship Yard produced the first possible evidence for the remains of a Roman fort at Wigan, as well as many medieval and early post-medieval features, the second and larger one at Stairgate yielded a massive, stone walled Roman building containing three hypocaust chambers (for underfloor heating) with stacks of tiles to support the floor and a broken column base still intact. This may have been a mansio (an overnight resting place for senior Imperial officials) which included bathing facilities. Certainly this has radically changed our understanding of Roman Wigan and Romanisation of the North-West. The remains were destroyed by a new multi-storey car park but it is proposed to present them in a public open space in the new shopping centre.
Elsewhere there was a building survey and excavation at 120-30 Standishgate, on the medieval route to Preston, examining the site of an early post-medieval town house and stone barn, with some medieval pits being discovered. Following a building survey and evaluation trenching there was a targeted excavation at Standish Bleachworks which located the power features of this long lived and complex industrial site, with an 18th century water wheel pit and early 19th century steam engine beds being recorded. Building surveys have included two weaving sheds at Response Mill and Bedford New Mill, a type of monument that is rapidly disappearing.