A varied collection of photographs showing life in Wigan in the early 1980s

Published 9th Sep 2026, 04:55 GMT

A retrospective gallery of photographs showing life in Wigan in 1982 and 1983.

A visit by a politician, a pigeon show and Commonwealth Games competitors feature in this varied collection of photographs.

We opened up our archives and found these great black and white pictures taken across Wigan in 1982 and 1983.

You might spot some familiar faces in this collection.

NUPE health workers strike at Wigan Infirmary with MP Les Huckfield, centre, in 1983

Bonfire sparklers on Lessingham Avenue, Wigan in 1982

Michael Heseltine at Wigan Pier in 1983

Wigan Wasps swimmers gain honours in the 1982 Commonwealth Games

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