Please note: That David Lindsay, 28th Earl of Crawford and 11th Earl of Balcarres sold the hall and grounds in 1947 not the 1970's to Wigan Corporation, now Wigan Council for £18,000 and the story that I relate at the beginning of this video is a mixture of local legend and fact.
I went to a meeting at the start of the development and the council said they had contributed a large amount to the cost of the renovations and retained rights for the public. The hotel company lost their contract because of breaches but are now back in, in November 2020. They never really wanted the public to have access to the whole range, in my opinion. Watchdogs such as the Friends help to keep any eye on things.
Great video as always. I remember decades ago with my family and it was a real day out. We used to walk from Beech Hill to the plantation gates, through the plantation (or on the Tractor train that used to run) to the hall. You had the zoo, model village, the butterfly houses, the childrens rides, the lakeside railway, fishing for tadpoles etc. Before eating picnic on lawn in front of the house, then making the whole journey back. There's definitely a touch of rose tinted spectacle wearing when I think back. But I do think a lot could have been saved. Maybe not the zoo, especially given the quite right regulations these days. But then again 30-35 years ago Children didn't have all the new entertainment they have access to now so times change. Anyway thanks for good video mate 👍
Hi Chris, glad that you enjoyed the video. I'm planning on doing a video at some point about the lost original attractions of Haigh Hall which you might find interesting and will jog a few memories. Regarding children of today they are no different than any of us were at that age and given the choice would rather have a thrilling ride on the new zip wire, or entertain themselves on the new playground that has been built than spend an hour trudging behind their parents around something that to them is boring like the old model village or zoo that used to be there. Whilst the deal that Wigan Council struck with Contessa Hotels will always be a contentious one due to it's nature no one can deny that Contessa's investment has breathed new life into Haigh Hall and that it has never been busier as Mick Byrne points out. Hopefully this is a trend that will continue in the future.
In the 8os a burger van fell over the edge of the wall, where in your video a man is walking down the steps. There was also a path to the top of the hill, where there was a watch tower. The watch tower burned down, but nearby there was a dogs grave marked with a headstone.
Let's not forget how a lot of these places were built, they should all be given to the people and looked after as parks, you could get quite a few houses on some of that land as well. good vid H
Hard to please everyone here Mr H . Valid comments i'd say . Picking up on another video made recently with 2 Wigan Councillors and an old sparring partner of yours - the hall itself is somewhat falling into a sorry state . We visited Haigh Hall a couple of years back for a cycling event held there , aswell as a food fair aswell on the same day . If done properly it could be a real money maker , however this clashes with previous owners wishes in that it remain free to Wiganers to use and enjoy . Alas nothing's really free these days is it . The path itself , i have to agree looks very much like an after thought . Strikes me in conclusion , the current owners seeing £ signs overrides all else . Time will tell . Great upload as ever . Young Toby , in a few years will be a font of all local knowledge at this rate . All the best . Neil .
I haven't seen the video Neil T, so I can't comment on it. 🤐 I agree that Haigh Hall could be a real money maker without turing to the private sector but for that to happen local people would first need to support the events put on by Haigh Hall and secondly get real about pricing instead of cribbing over £1.50 for a game of Crazy Golf or a ride on the Minature Railway. I think Contessa Hotels have probably bitten off more than they can chew cost wise with Haigh Hall and I heard rumours from a good authority that the owner wanted out of the lease but Wigan Council wouldn't release him without incurring a huge finacial penalty so he now has no choice but to plough on and try and claw back some of the money that he's already invested. If true he will naturally be resentful and this leads to petty acts such as restricting public access by locking gates etc. Anyway glad that you enjoyed the video. Toby enjoyed his day out and listening to his Dad ramble on so it wasn't all bad despite being a bit hard going in places on that path.
I've pushed a wheelchair up and down a higher incline than in the video at Primrose Valley there is a very steep incline and it really takes it out of you coming up but you have to be careful on the way down as you can sweat in a hot summer month and your grip slips off the handles.
Like I said in the video Dean, it is doable but after using it I can see why some people have claimed that this footpath besides contradicting the terms of the lease wasn't practical as a permanent alternative route around the hall. In the end the footpath although used is a bit of a white elephant as there was a perfectly good road way past Haigh Hall that visitors had been using for decades before they tried to block it off and this footpath now stands as Contessa's folly. Actually that doesn't sound like a bad name for it.... Lol.
Great to see you today! I didn't want to mither you whilst you were eating, but I wanted to say keep up with the videos and I can't wait for the next upload!! (The family is looking great)
Hi Dave 508d, glad to hear that you enjoy the videos and apologies for only just replying to you but I've been busy editing some long videos over the past few days. Likewise it was a pleasure meeting you the other day albeit briefly and I've given you a shoutout on my latest video which is currently uploading as I type this.
Yes I think Contessa Hotels have bitten off more than they can chew with the cost of developing Haigh Hall, a lot of companys do this then they hope someone bigger will buy them out> But having said that since the development Haigh Hall as never been busier and thats from somebody who is up there a couple of times a week. the new crazy golf and the swinging like a lunatic in the tree adventure thingy are fantastic and have only come because of Contessa I agree the path is a bit dangerous for people with prams and wheelchair users and bike riders, if you are not watching out. but the best thing to do is to park at the front of the hall its self, you can drive right up to it by going down Higher lane and turning left at the cottage you can also park up at the model railway if you want.
This is why I say that I'm torn with what has been done at Haigh Hall towards the end of the video Mick, on one hand Haigh Hall like you say has never been busier and it is good to see the grounds being visited and enjoyed by so many people once again. But on the other hand the grounds around Haigh Hall have now lost their rustic charm and gone are the days when you could just enjoy a relaxing walk lost in your own thoughts up the main drive to Haigh Hall without having to look over your shoulder for vehicles whizzing past. I suppose everything has it's price. Reference parking not sure about the spaces outside of Haigh Hall as they were all empty when we visited but I would have thought that they are only meant to be used by visitors if they are staying at the hall. Visitors to Haigh Hall are not supposed to use the little car park outside the Minature Railway as it is only meant to be used by the staff (great set of guys) who maintain the Model and Minature Railways and they have had countless arguments with visitors. No doubt signs and a locked barrier will go up at some point if people continue to abuse this facilty to avoid paying for parking on the main car park, .
@@MrHsHotPot Wigan people stared to complain about them chopping down the rhododendrons ( like they also did when they chopped them down on rivington pike) this is called forest management and looks so much better for it, and the pigs are doing a great job in eating up all the roots and fertilizing the ground. There was also lots of complaints from Wigan people when they painted white lines on the approach road to the hall, this is now a proper road and needs proper road markings, even warning and give way signs for the little train> If you want a peaceful traffic free walk you can still do this by walking from the plantation gates to about 300yrds before the hall, but you will have to watch out for lots of dogs that are allowed to run wild by there owners
Yes I've done the walk from the plantation gates up to where the the new road past the lodge meets the old approach road up to the hall. Sadly I found the old road and former driveway isn't as well maintained as it had been when it was Haigh Country Park. Admittedly there are a lot of irresponsible dog owners in Haigh Hall allowing their dogs to run wild off the leash at the moment which is why we stopped taking ours up there as it isn't worth getting into arguments with these type of dog owners. But another thing walkers need to be aware of in this part of Haigh Hall woodland is irresponsible cyclists who fancy themselves as Chris Boardman and come whizzing silently up behind and pulling round walkers without warning. I've had a few near misses myself and a few choice words to say after these idiots on occassions as they disappear off into the distance.
@@MrHsHotPot I cant understand why some of these bikers pay loads of money for a bike but dont buy a £4.99 bell. What get me with some of these dog walkers is how they talk in English to there dogs as though they understand them, they tell them to come here but they never do and some of them even jump up and put there mucky paws all over my clean pants.and the owner will just say sorry about that.
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Please note: That David Lindsay, 28th Earl of Crawford and 11th Earl of Balcarres sold the hall and grounds in 1947 not the 1970's to Wigan Corporation, now Wigan Council for £18,000 and the story that I relate at the beginning of this video is a mixture of local legend and fact.
I went to a meeting at the start of the development and the council said they had contributed a large amount to the cost of the renovations and retained rights for the public. The hotel company lost their contract because of breaches but are now back in, in November 2020. They never really wanted the public to have access to the whole range, in my opinion. Watchdogs such as the Friends help to keep any eye on things.
Great video as always. I remember decades ago with my family and it was a real day out. We used to walk from Beech Hill to the plantation gates, through the plantation (or on the Tractor train that used to run) to the hall. You had the zoo, model village, the butterfly houses, the childrens rides, the lakeside railway, fishing for tadpoles etc. Before eating picnic on lawn in front of the house, then making the whole journey back. There's definitely a touch of rose tinted spectacle wearing when I think back. But I do think a lot could have been saved. Maybe not the zoo, especially given the quite right regulations these days. But then again 30-35 years ago Children didn't have all the new entertainment they have access to now so times change. Anyway thanks for good video mate 👍
Hi Chris, glad that you enjoyed the video. I'm planning on doing a video at some point about the lost original attractions of Haigh Hall which you might find interesting and will jog a few memories.
Regarding children of today they are no different than any of us were at that age and given the choice would rather have a thrilling ride on the new zip wire, or entertain themselves on the new playground that has been built than spend an hour trudging behind their parents around something that to them is boring like the old model village or zoo that used to be there.
Whilst the deal that Wigan Council struck with Contessa Hotels will always be a contentious one due to it's nature no one can deny that Contessa's investment has breathed new life into Haigh Hall and that it has never been busier as Mick Byrne points out. Hopefully this is a trend that will continue in the future.
Typical of councils to make sure it's only fit for the fit.
In the 8os a burger van fell over the edge of the wall, where in your video a man is walking down the steps. There was also a path to the top of the hill, where there was a watch tower. The watch tower burned down, but nearby there was a dogs grave marked with a headstone.
Let's not forget how a lot of these places were built, they should all be given to the people and looked after as parks, you could get quite a few houses on some of that land as well. good vid H
I always really enjoy your videos . . . . so big thanks to all three of you! 🤗
Hard to please everyone here Mr H . Valid comments i'd say . Picking up on another video made recently with 2 Wigan Councillors and an old sparring partner of yours - the hall itself is somewhat falling into a sorry state . We visited Haigh Hall a couple of years back for a cycling event held there , aswell as a food fair aswell on the same day . If done properly it could be a real money maker , however this clashes with previous owners wishes in that it remain free to Wiganers to use and enjoy . Alas nothing's really free these days is it . The path itself , i have to agree looks very much like an after thought . Strikes me in conclusion , the current owners seeing £ signs overrides all else . Time will tell . Great upload as ever . Young Toby , in a few years will be a font of all local knowledge at this rate . All the best . Neil .
I haven't seen the video Neil T, so I can't comment on it. 🤐
I agree that Haigh Hall could be a real money maker without turing to the private sector but for that to happen local people would first need to support the events put on by Haigh Hall and secondly get real about pricing instead of cribbing over £1.50 for a game of Crazy Golf or a ride on the Minature Railway.
I think Contessa Hotels have probably bitten off more than they can chew cost wise with Haigh Hall and I heard rumours from a good authority that the owner wanted out of the lease but Wigan Council wouldn't release him without incurring a huge finacial penalty so he now has no choice but to plough on and try and claw back some of the money that he's already invested. If true he will naturally be resentful and this leads to petty acts such as restricting public access by locking gates etc.
Anyway glad that you enjoyed the video. Toby enjoyed his day out and listening to his Dad ramble on so it wasn't all bad despite being a bit hard going in places on that path.
I've pushed a wheelchair up and down a higher incline than in the video at Primrose Valley there is a very steep incline and it really takes it out of you coming up but you have to be careful on the way down as you can sweat in a hot summer month and your grip slips off the handles.
Like I said in the video Dean, it is doable but after using it I can see why some people have claimed that this footpath besides contradicting the terms of the lease wasn't practical as a permanent alternative route around the hall.
In the end the footpath although used is a bit of a white elephant as there was a perfectly good road way past Haigh Hall that visitors had been using for decades before they tried to block it off and this footpath now stands as Contessa's folly.
Actually that doesn't sound like a bad name for it.... Lol.
Another great video, thanks Mr. H
Great to see you today! I didn't want to mither you whilst you were eating, but I wanted to say keep up with the videos and I can't wait for the next upload!! (The family is looking great)
Hi Dave 508d, glad to hear that you enjoy the videos and apologies for only just replying to you but I've been busy editing some long videos over the past few days. Likewise it was a pleasure meeting you the other day albeit briefly and I've given you a shoutout on my latest video which is currently uploading as I type this.
Good vid
Your baby is so beautiful.
Yes I think Contessa Hotels have bitten off more than they can chew with the cost of developing Haigh Hall, a lot of companys do this then they hope someone bigger will buy them out>
But having said that since the development Haigh Hall as never been busier and thats from somebody who is up there a couple of times a week. the new crazy golf and the swinging like a lunatic in the tree adventure thingy are fantastic and have only come because of Contessa
I agree the path is a bit dangerous for people with prams and wheelchair users and bike riders, if you are not watching out. but the best thing to do is to park at the front of the hall its self, you can drive right up to it by going down Higher lane and turning left at the cottage you can also park up at the model railway if you want.
This is why I say that I'm torn with what has been done at Haigh Hall towards the end of the video Mick, on one hand Haigh Hall like you say has never been busier and it is good to see the grounds being visited and enjoyed by so many people once again. But on the other hand the grounds around Haigh Hall have now lost their rustic charm and gone are the days when you could just enjoy a relaxing walk lost in your own thoughts up the main drive to Haigh Hall without having to look over your shoulder for vehicles whizzing past. I suppose everything has it's price.
Reference parking not sure about the spaces outside of Haigh Hall as they were all empty when we visited but I would have thought that they are only meant to be used by visitors if they are staying at the hall. Visitors to Haigh Hall are not supposed to use the little car park outside the Minature Railway as it is only meant to be used by the staff (great set of guys) who maintain the Model and Minature Railways and they have had countless arguments with visitors. No doubt signs and a locked barrier will go up at some point if people continue to abuse this facilty to avoid paying for parking on the main car park, .
@@MrHsHotPot Wigan people stared to complain about them chopping down the rhododendrons ( like they also did when they chopped them down on rivington pike) this is called forest management and looks so much better for it, and the pigs are doing a great job in eating up all the roots and fertilizing the ground.
There was also lots of complaints from Wigan people when they painted white lines on the approach road to the hall, this is now a proper road and needs proper road markings, even warning and give way signs for the little train>
If you want a peaceful traffic free walk you can still do this by walking from the plantation gates to about 300yrds before the hall, but you will have to watch out for lots of dogs that are allowed to run wild by there owners
Yes I've done the walk from the plantation gates up to where the the new road past the lodge meets the old approach road up to the hall. Sadly I found the old road and former driveway isn't as well maintained as it had been when it was Haigh Country Park.
Admittedly there are a lot of irresponsible dog owners in Haigh Hall allowing their dogs to run wild off the leash at the moment which is why we stopped taking ours up there as it isn't worth getting into arguments with these type of dog owners. But another thing walkers need to be aware of in this part of Haigh Hall woodland is irresponsible cyclists who fancy themselves as Chris Boardman and come whizzing silently up behind and pulling round walkers without warning. I've had a few near misses myself and a few choice words to say after these idiots on occassions as they disappear off into the distance.
@@MrHsHotPot I cant understand why some of these bikers pay loads of money for a bike but dont buy a £4.99 bell.
What get me with some of these dog walkers is how they talk in English to there dogs as though they understand them, they tell them to come here but they never do and some of them even jump up and put there mucky paws all over my clean pants.and the owner will just say sorry about that.
😁👍👏👏👏
What a beautiful little boy and so well behaved has a father of two boys I have done some miles with a pram myself
Mrs H sounds just like Megan off Emmerdale.
Mrs H is originally from Yorkshire Singing Crafter, and still has a trace of the accent every now and then.