Where are we?

Wigan Pier!

Well I could not go to Wigan and not blip the ‘Pier’, especially as I have never actually been there before. I’ve been to Wigan, but never made it to the pier. We did today.
 
So here it is. A tippler used to tip coal onto barges on the Leeds Liverpool Canal. (see extra)
 
“It’s used to unload tubs intae barges waitin’ ont’ cut. Tubs full o’ coal, that we will uv sorted, and reet ard work it is!”
 
(Anyone who doesn’t know the story behind the joke  - it is said that in the 1890s a train from Southport was delayed outside Wigan, someone shouted ‘where are we?’ and was answered ‘Wigan Pier’ – comparing it to Southport’s pleasure pier.) George Formby sang about it in the music halls.
 
George Orwell went in search of Wigan Pier – he didn’t find it because it was sold as scrap for £34 in 1929. The ‘pier’ today was made by students of Wigan and Leigh College in 1986.
  
A day spent mainly in Archives Centres in Wigan and Leigh, sorting through ancient books and boxes of dusty books and documents. I met some very helpful people and made some surprising discoveries. And found Wigan Pier!!