Send flowers to Wigan, Greater Manchester

Flower Delivery to Wigan with Clare Florist

Wigan is a town of about 98,000 sitting on the River Douglas in Greater Manchester, England. The town has existed since before the Romans conquered Britain. The Brigantes built the original town, which served time as a Roman settlement. It was given a Royal charter by King Henry III in 1246 and by the end of the Middle Ages was one of four boroughs in Lancashire with a Royal charter.

During the Industrial Revolution coal mining boomed in Wigan with 1,000 pit shafts within five miles of the town. When the English Civil War broke out, Wigan's inhabitants were mostly Royalists. On April 1, 1643 the town was captured by Parliamentarian forces who pillaged it before they retreated.

On August 25, 1651 the Battle of Wigan Lane broke out as James Stanley, Earl of Derby, led 1,500 Royalist troops to join the King at Worcester. The Royalist forces failed to break the Parliamentarian line and had to retreat. There is a monument on Wigan Lane honoring Sir Thomas Tyldesley, who was a Royalist Major General that died during the fight.

In addition to its place in English history, Wigan holds a special place in music history. It is the birthplace of the Eight Lancashire Lads, the dance troupe that launched Charlie Chaplin's career. Another member of the troop was John Willie Jackson, whom George Formby often refers to in his songs. There are quite a few local bands that went on to much wider repute, most notably the Verve, one of the most popular British rock groups of the 1990s.

Since 1986 Wigan has hosted an international festival, as well as playing host for the North by North Western festival which celebrates art, music and literature. Starting in 1992, Wigan has held the World Pie Eating Competition . Supposedly this is connected to the General Strike of 1926 when miners were starved back to work.

Mesnes Park lies northwest of the town center and was opened in 1878. It recently underwent a massive renovation, returning it to its former Victorian glory. Formal gardens with a waterfall encompass a pavilion with concessions and a play area. There are events hosted in the park throughout the year. Haigh Hall was built from 1827 to 1840 to replace the manor house that was destroyed in 1820 and is surrounded by a 240 acre park which features woodland and parkland.

If you'd like to send flowers to Wigan for any occasion, we have a wide range of arrangements available. Whether you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, mother's day or just saying thank you, we have the perfect thing. And when you find yourself scrambling for that last minute gift, you can count on our next day delivery.