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HERITAGE: historic pictures from Wigan's great cotton mills

By Charles Graham

Published 29th Aug 2023, 15:45 BST

Along with coal, cotton was the lifeblood of Wigan for generations, employing tens of thousands of people (mainly women) right up to the 1970s. We take a look here at some vintage pictures stretching back many decades and mainly featuring those working at Trencherfield and Eckersley’s Mills.

Wigan cotton mills.

1. Mill girl working at Eckersley's the biggest cotton mill in England.

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2. Tom Penman and Maureen Downing in the Doubling Room at Trencherfield Mill.

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An early view of the inside of a cotton mill in Wigan borough

3. An early view of the inside of a cotton mill in Wigan Borough. old wigan

An early view of the inside of a cotton mill in Wigan borough Photo: Send in

4. Trencherfield Mill workers taking a breather on the fire escape from the spinning room

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