queen visits wigan

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Royal Visits to Lancashire, UK

Glimpse history through old images of royal visits to Lancashire, in North West England, UK.

King George VI 1939

In 1939, King George VI headed north on the train, to the Duchy of Lancaster, and was received by the Lord Lieutenant of the county, Lord Derby.

The King first visited the Ivy Mill at Failsworth, where the workers were making component parts for bombers. Then he went to a factory at Newton Heath, where the parts were assembled. At another factory in Heaton Chapel, the royal visitor was shown staff working on a long row of bombers.

Royal Tour Of Lancashire (1939)- British Pathé on YouTube

King George VI 1945

In 1945, King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth made a two day tour of Lancashire.

First, they stopped at Liverpool , where the streets were packed with well wishers.

Historically, Liverpool was part of Lancashire. Today it is part of the ceremonial county of Merseyside .

Next they visited Preston , where they met wounded service men undergoing rehabilitation.

Then the royals went to a large ironworks at Wigan, meeting the men and women working there in an industry critical to the war effort. Nearby was a large rectory, converted to a nursery for the young children of the essential workers.

Until 1 April 1889, Wigan belonged to the English county of Lancashire. Then it became an independent county borough. After a number of changes, in April 2011, it became part of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

At Warrington , thousands of people came out to cheer the King and Queen, who stood at a balcony with the Mayor. Then they met with more men wounded in conflict.

Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire and more recently Cheshire, Warrington had had a number of borough changes over the years, but has been a unitary authority within Cheshire for ceremonial purposes since 1998.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visit Lancashire (1945) – British Pathé on YouTube

Queen Elizabeth II 1954

On 21st October 1954, crowds lined the streets of Wigan, St Helens and Liverpool to cheer the royal visit of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

This visit in 1954 was Queen Elizabth II’s first trip to Lancashire.

21st October 1954 was day one of the Queen’s first trip to Lancashire as the British Monarch. Just two years previously, on 6 February 1952, her father King George VI passed away during her stay at the Treetops Hotel in Kenya.

Overnight she became head of the Commonwealth and queen regnant of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

At the time of her visit to Lancashire in 1954, Queen Elizabeth II was 28 years old. Already married for seven years, she was mother to Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Prince Andrew and Prince Edward would arrive in the 1960s.

Day one of the trip took in Wigan, St Helen’s & Liverpool. British Pathé recorded the events and released a newsreel called ‘For Lancashire Only – Queen And Duke In Lancashire (1954)’.

The next day she was due to visit the Lancashire communities of  Bolton, Bury, Salford, Manchester, Oldham, Shaw and Rochdale.

Lancashire Only – Queen Continues Lancashire Tour (1954)

Queen Elizabeth II Visits Wigan in October 1954

The royal party travelled by train from Euston London, arriving at Wigan North Western station at 10am. It took ten minutes to travel to the first venue of the day, ready for the 20th royal visit to Wigan since 1873.

Until 1 April 1889, Wigan belonged to the English county of Lancashire. Then it became an independent county borough. In 1974, long after the royal visit, Wigan was moved into the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan. Finally, in April 2011, it became part of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The British Pathé audience was not generally concerned about the intricacies of Local Government life, hence the acceptance of Wigan in Lancashire for the film title.

Queen Elizabeth II began the Lancashire tour by officially opening the John McCurdy Hall of the Wigan Mining and Technical College. 

The building, designed for up to 3,000 staff and students, cost £200,000 to complete.

Councillor Thomas Signey Merry (known as Tom Merry), was the 707th Mayor of Wigan. He was on hand to assist Her Majesty the Queen in her royal duties.

John McCurdy Hall was named after John McCurdy (1870-1963). He was a well known, widely liked and highly respected figure in Wigan. Born of Irish descent, he set up a pawnbrokers shop in the Scholes district of Wigan. Later, he opened a furniture emporium which is still fondly remembered today by Wigan’s older generation.

Wigan Mining and Technical College later became the Wigan College of Technology. Merged with Leigh College in April 1992, the institution is now Wigan & Leigh College.

The building is now The Parsons Walk annexe for the Wigan & Leigh College. The colliery shaft winding wheel once located here now sits in New Market Street.

Queen Elizabeth II Visits St Helens in 1954

After leaving Wigan at 10.30am that day, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh headed to St Helens by car. 

In 1954 St Helens was in Lancashire. However, on 1 April 1974 Merseyside was created in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972, taking its name from the River Mersey. Since then, St Helens has been part of Merseyside.

British Pathé was there in 1954 to record the Queen and her husband leaving the Town Hall, accompanied by the dignitaries of St Helens. 

Inside the Town Hall, the royal couple had signed the visitors book. The Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Hignett, told their majesties that their signatures would be placed on the illuminated scroll which held the signatures of the Queen parents and grandparents, obtained on previous royal visits to St Helens.

Councillor Hignett could possibly be the T Hignett who became a Freeman of the City in 1972. However, Local History Videos haven’t yet confirmed this. If you know the answer, please do get in touch.

The film briefly shows a glimpse of the policemen linking arms to hold back the crowds of supporters. It’s nice to see it in the footage because this practice disappeared several decades ago.

Today most council business in St Helens occurs in bland modern buildings, particularly Wesley House on Corporation Street. Luckily the beautiful Victorian building that the Queen visited in 1954 is still standing and is now a popular wedding venue.

The Royal Visit to Liverpool in 1954

On her last stop for the day, Queen Elizabeth visited the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Opened in 1898, it remains an important research facility today. 

The second world war ended nine years before this royal visit, in 1945. Hundreds of thousands of men had served or suffered imprisonment in countries such as Burma, India, Singapore and Egypt. Tropical diseases were a real and serious threat.

It was an age when malaria, yellow fever and sleeping sickness would kill the victim or cause suffering for the rest of their lives.  Many thousands of British men watching this newsreel in 1954 had personally suffered or watched their wartime comrades succumb to these cruel illnesses.

In a world of easily obtained vaccinations and antibiotics, we sometimes forget how recently institutions such as the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine were fighting to save lives from common and deadly diseases. Research continues even today, because the battle is not yet won.

The Queen met both students and staff during the visit. Modern viewers will notice that only one young woman appears in the crowd of young men.

Liverpool residents turned out in force to greet the royal visitors, who waved from a balcony at the Liverpool Town Hall. We see streets crowded with happy and cheering men, women and children. 

The beautiful Georgian buildings of Liverpool Town Hall thankfully still remain standing and used today. In addition to council business, the premises are available for hire as a wedding and cultural event venue. 

The Second Day 1954

This next newsreel shows the Queen visiting the new Town Hall at Bury, a very rainy Albert Square in Manchester , the Lilac Mill at Shaw in Oldham , and then on to Rochdale as the light faded and the Lancashire tour came to an end.

Lancashire Only – Queen Continues Lancashire Tour (1954) – British Pathé on YouTube

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Queen Elizabeth II's visits to Greater Manchester down the decades

From meeting the crowds in stockport and bolton, to her recent visit to the set of coronation street.

• 19:45, 8 SEP 2022
• Updated 20:04, 8 SEP 2022

As a tribute to her remarkable life, we have put together a selection of remarkable images of Her Majesty The Queen visiting Greater Manchester through the years.

The sad news has been confirmed this evening that Queen Elizabeth II, United Kingdom's longest ruling monarch, has died age 96.

From visiting hospitals to opening ceremonies, The Queen made countless visits to Greater Manchester during her lifetime.

Read More: BREAKING: Queen Elizabeth II, United Kingdom's longest ruling monarch, dies aged 96 - latest updates

Much of the reason for Her Majesty’s enduring popularity could be seen in her willingness to engage with the public as keenly as she did with politicians, dignitaries and other public figures.

From Her Majesty meeting the people of Manchester, Bolton and Stockport, visiting the set of Coronation Street, to talking to patients in the region’s hospitals - these archive photographs offer a poignant trip back in time.

The images span from 1949, before her coronation when Her Majesty was Princess Elizabeth, to her most recent visit in 2021, just months after the death of her beloved husband, The Duke of Edinburgh.

Here are just 29 photos of Her Majesty The Queen’s visits to Greater Manchester through the years.

For beautiful, historic images from the past have a look at memorylane.co.uk/ and see what you can discover

Join our Greater Manchester history, memories and people Facebook group here.

Love Greater Manchester's past? Sign up to our new nostalgia newsletter and never miss a thing.

We have turned comments off on this story but you can share your tribute in our online condolence book.

The Queen visits Manchester. Princess Elizabeth conducts an inspection of the guard in Albert Square Manchester, led by Col R.D Martin Bird. In the background in the Duke of Edinburgh. 30th March 1949

Goodbye Manchester. The Queen and Prince Philip leave the city, February 1965.

The Queen visits Manchester. May 16, 1968

The Queen steps smiling from the Royal Train at Victoria Station, as she arrives in Manchester.

Queen Elizabeth II visits Manchester. The Queen walks through the Manchester Evening News precinct in Spinningfield. June 23, 1971

Queen Elizabeth II visits Manchester. Barriers couldn't keep out two-year-old Tracey Peyton, who was lifted over to get a closer look as the Queen walked through the Manchester Evening News precinct in Spinningfield. June 23, 1971

Queen Elizabeth II visits Manchester. A proud mother, Mrs Stella Foran, of Shaw, near Oldham, meets the Queen, while her baby Rachel sleeps on in a special-care cot at St Mary's Maternity hospital. June 23, 1971

Queen Elizabeth II visits John Rylands Library, Manchester. The process of bookbinding is explained by bindery manager Mr. Arnold May. May 5, 1982

Queen Elizabeth II visits the new set of Coronation Street, Manchester. Prince Philip chats to actor Brian Mosley in the background. May 5, 1982

The Queen visits Manchester University, May 5, 1982

The Queen visits Manchester, 5th May 1982. Nurses give Queen a rapturous welcome as she tours Withington Hospital

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visit the G-Mex Centre, Manchester. 21st March 1986.

Queen Elizabeth II visits Wigan Pier. The Queen waves to the crowd on the Quayside, followed by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Sir William Downward. March 21, 1986

The Queen visits Bolton, Greater Manchester, December 1, 1988

The Queen views synchronised swimmers in Bolton, December 1988

The Queen visits Bolton, Greater Manchester. December 1, 1988

Queen Elizabeth II opens the Oakwood Cheshire Home at Offerton, Stockport. March 22, 1991

Queen Elizabeth II visits St Peters Square, Manchester. The Queen travels on the Metrolink with Cllr Jack Flanagan. July 17, 1992

Queen Elizabeth II visits St Peters Square, Manchester. July 17, 1992

The Queen Prince Philip visit Manchester, December 1, 1994. Her Majesty pressing button to open new bridge

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Windsor open the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester with Kirsty Howard and David Beckham in close attendance

Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with a nurse during a visit to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital on May 25, 2017 in Manchester

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Queen Elizabeth II visits the set of the long running television series Coronation Street, on July 8, 2021 in Manchester, England

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Queen Elizabeth II meets actors and members of the production team during a visit to the set of the long running television series Coronation Street, on July 8, 2021 in Manchester, England

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Queen Elizabeth II meets actors William Roache, fourth right, Barbara Knox, third right, Sue Nicholls and Helen Worth, right, during a visit to the set of the long running television series Coronation Street, on July 8, 2021 in Manchester, England

Queen Elizabeth II meets actors and members of the production team during a visit to the set of Coronation Street at the ITV Studios, Media City UK, Manchester. Picture date: Thursday July 8, 2021

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Queen Elizabeth II meets guests during a visit to Manchester Cathedral on July 8, 2021 in Manchester, England

Queen Elizabeth II visits Manchester Cathedral on July 8, 2021 in Manchester, England

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Royal visits.

I remember walking from St Pat's school with others in my class in the early fifties to see The Queen. We were led down the side of the River Douglas to come onto Wallgate and walked just past where she is stood. We seemed to be stood waiting ages only to get a glance at her and the Duke as they sped past! From excitement to disappointment in seconds. The crowds then were far larger than in '77.

Ho! My goodness, thank you Rev David for this lovely memory. We were there, stood just near Queen st.I remember it well.

The Queen came to Wigan again in March 1986 to officially open the new Wigan Pier complex. There was a plaque outside the entrance to the Orwell for many years to commemorate the occasion. Sadly the site fell into complete disrepair (again!) during the 2010s and is now undergoing another multi-million pound face-lift. Off the top of my head, I cannot think of any more recent official visits to Wigan by her Majesty. Anyone on here got any further knowledge of this?

She visited the HJ Heinz food plant on 21st May 2009. She was there along with Prince Phillip to comemorate the factory's 50th birthday and 50 years after the Queen Mother had visited the site, 24th June 1959, shortly after it's opening.

I was 10/15 feet away from the Queen in 1954 when she and Prince Philip were on a tour of South Lancashire, which included Wigan, when she opened John McCurdy Hall which is now Wigan and Leigh College situated on the corner of Parsons Walk and New Market St, she opened the building via the New Market St entrance. I was then a 13 year old pupil at Thomas Linacre School, which, for the younger WW readers is / was further down Parsons Walk opposite what was Wigan Grammar School, now Thomas Linacre Outpatient Centre.

I was on Springs road Kitt Green when she came out of Heinz in 2009 and she saw me she give me a wave

I bet that made her day Mick

I was in the rear rank near the bridge away from any cameras

The Queen has been four times to Wigan, in 1954 when young to open the new college. In 1977 for her silver jubilee, in 1986 to Wigan Pier, and in 2009 to Heinz.

Graham, I was in front of Bean Filling near the Canteen. We tried to get into the Canteen but we weren't on the guestlist :). Prince Phillip was brilliant with the apprentices who were very nervous

WN1, I did 20 years at KG on maintenance, Bean Filling 8 years then Soup Manufacturing 12 years, i took early retirement in 1992.

Roy, You may have come across my Father in Law Jimmy Shepherd on your travels

WN1, it's an old story, the name rings a bell, but, i was on nights for the 20 years apart from a few courses etc over the years. Where did you do your skiving ?

Roy, I was just into my 36th when the time came. Did 20+ years in Bean Filling then 12 years behind the wall, all on double days. Got inducted onto the Wailing Wall in 2015

In June, 1959, I was on static duty, on Seven Stars Bridge, relating to the Queen Mother’s visit to Heinz Factory.

I was in the middle rank trying to hide Graham Taylor ( Spanners ) from the Queen........

my husband was in the second row.I still have a few of the christmas cards they printed he was on them.All the men looked really smart.His name was Maurice Trevor-Jones sadley no longer with us thanks for the memorie

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