Wigan's Plantation Gates and lodges are officially removed from Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register
The Grade II* Plantation Gates at Haigh Hall have been removed from the Heritage at Risk Register following investment and work as part of the multi-million pound Haigh Hall transformation project.
Wigan’s historic Plantation Gates and lodges have been removed from Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, after improvement work helped to secure their future.
The much-loved local landmarks were restored as part of the multi-million pound transformation of Haigh Hall and the surrounding park.
And the lodges were opened to the public in July for the first time in their history, after a £1.7m investment by National Lottery Heritage and Wigan Council to create an art installation and visitors’ centre.
Now, it has been announced that their condition has improved so much that they no longer need to be on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, which aims to protect and manage historic sites.
Coun Chris Ready, Wigan Council's cabinet portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “This is really welcome news, and it is fantastic to know that the work and investment that has taken place has safeguarded these listed buildings for the future.
“I am really proud of this; to be the only place in the region to have a site removed from the at-risk register, while also opening these beautiful buildings to the public again is a real accomplishment.
“Haigh Woodland Park means so much more to me than a project. I have lived locally all my life, made countless memories there and even got married there. It is part of my past, an important part of my present, and something I want to see thrive for future generations. Every improvement matters because Haigh is part of who I am.
“This has been a great year for Haigh, with the return of the land train, record visitor numbers and the internal work on the hall due to start imminently, and now this news from the Plantation Gates. I am really looking forward to what 2027 brings.”
Built around 1840 in the Classical style, this sandstone ashlar archway and pair of lodges - with their cast iron railings and gates - form a striking entrance to the Haigh Hall estate and surrounding woodland.
They were allegedly built to impress royalty on a visit to Haigh Hall and for many years were the double-sited home of the gatekeeper and his family.
More recently they were a private home but, due to the cramped conditions and lack of indoor toilet, the premises shut altogether in the 1970s until its renaissance became part of the £50m park upgrade.
An extensive programme has restored the site, with specialists carrying out work including new slate roofing, careful cleaning of exterior stonework, bespoke sash windows, and repair of the pedestrian gates and wing walls.
The lodges have been converted into a visitor information space in the South Lodge with an immersive art installation in the North Lodge, created by artists Leo Mercer and James Hooton, and inspired by Haigh's history and nature.
The lodges are free to explore and are open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm.
Work continues on other parts of the transformation project, with the grade II-listed Haigh Hall set to become a “mixed-use cultural venue”, with art galleries, an education suite, event spaces, a restaurant and café, retail space, office, rooftop bar and 10 bedrooms, which will be used for weddings and events.