Restoration specialist brings history to life

MANCHESTER-based building and restoration specialist William Anelay has helped bring a new lease of life to one of Wigan’s most historic landmarks.

The company has completed a £1.4m refurbishment scheme to restore the Grade-II listed former History Shop, now known as the Museum of Wigan Life.

William Anelay carried out external fabric repairs and internal renovation on the building – the location where George Orwell researched his famous novel ‘The Road to Wigan Pier’ – on behalf of Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust.

Improved access to the site, study and research areas, a shop and information facilities have transformed the building into an exhibition dedicated to the rich industrial history of the town.

William Anelay’s managing director Vernon Carter said: “The building originally opened its doors as a library in 1878 and there’s a lot of history here so we are delighted to be able to give it a new lease of life as a ‘heritage hub’.

“It’s been a major and challenging project for William Anelay that has drawn on many of our in-house skills and project management expertise but the end result is a resource that will provide something for everyone in Wigan and the wider borough.”