Apparently George Orwell said in his famous book that nobody knew where Wigan Pier actually is/was (but they seem to have found it since.)

We thought we’d missed it but on the way out of Wigan we saw a sign for Wigan Pier and stopped for a look.

It’s a pretty nondescript ex-industrial canal area.

Someone had opened a bar/restaurant by the pier and called it the Orwell. We would have had lunch there but the premises have closed down.

The Orwell (as was) – by Wigan Pier:-

The Orwell and Wigan Pier:-

The reverse angle from the other end of the building shows the “pier” to be merely a canalside jetty:-

There’s still some life on the canal. We saw these two boats and people pottering about on them:-

We made one of our trips down south in August and had a look at Wigan as our nearly daughter-in-law (the wedding will be in July) had had to break a train journey there and said she found it nice. It is.

Specsavers:-

Marks & Spencer’s (stitch of two photos):-

Game:-

A former cinema now a nightclub called Pure:-

Pure’s side alley:-

A newsagent’s (good stained glass windows):-

A clock tower, from a distance:-