Wigan Pier Museums

At the heart of The Wigan Pier Experience is The Way We Were, an authentic recreation of life in the 1900s for the people of Wigan and surrounding Lancashire. Witness the Victorian way of life from schooldays through to work and play. You can experience life below ground at the coalface; see how the famous Lancashire pit brow lasses lived and feel the horrors of the Maypole Colliery disaster. In the ever-popular Victorian schoolroom you can also experience the rigours of a strict Victorian education.

The relaunch of Wigan Pier's massive Trencherfield Mill Engine, has been a long time in the making. Considered to be one of 'the world's marvels of engineering', it has now been given a new lease of life, roaring back into action in September 2004.

Reputedly the world's largest, original working, mill steam engine, the four-cylinder 2,500 hp giant was built and installed in its specially designed engine house at Trencherfield Mill in 1907. It's 70 tonne flywheel enabled power to be sent throughout the vast Mill on all five floors, powering thousands of cotton spinning machines.

The Wigan Pier Experience is open all year round except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Wigan Pier is closed on Fridays (except Good Friday) through to 3rd April, 2005, then Fridays and Saturdays after 11th April, 2005. .