Lancashire Dialect
By Jeff Unsworth
Th'istry of Wiggin
​
Wiggins bin ere a reight good while.
Abeawt 2000 ere or so.
Thowd name of Wiggin wuz Coccium.
A name not mony folk know.
Th'origin of Wiggins a mystery.
Though we know that Romans were ere.
Cos when thiv bin digging a few holes in't road.
Thiv font a few things ere un theer.
Th'istry's a bit muggy arreawn't miggle ages.
Un't writins are not very thorough.
But we do know some time abeawt 1246
King Henry he made it a Borough.
Neaw Wiggin, this new Royal Borough
A Proud Teawn of eawses un farms.
Reflected it's status laahk other big teawns
Un gett'n it's own coat of arms
Dur'in Civil war Teawn wuz royalist.
Support of King Charles a matter of course.
Commander er't forces, the then Earl of Derby
Made Wiggin th'eadquarters er't force
Neaw.. Parliamentry forces of Bowt'n.
Captured Wiggin un looted through't teawn.
Demolish'in fortifications.
Which simply means wars were knocked deawn.
Cromwell hisell headed troops.
In 1648.
Un went into battle at Standish.
Which turned into a nasty greyt feight.
On't banks of't River Douglas.
Shed blood would leave it's stain.
It entered the local folklore.
As the Battle of Wiggin Lane.
The Earl of Derby, James Stanley.
Notoriously known as Lord Strange
Was Arrested and convicted of treason.
An execution was quickly arranged.
His death it occurred in Bowt'n
Eawtside of the pub Man & Scythe
Theres a plaque that still marks the spot where he dee'd.
The place wee'r he ended his life.
Wiggin also witnessed the very last act.
In th'istory of the Stuart cause.
When Bonny Prince Charlie after lois'in at Derby.
In Hallgate he stopped for a pause.
Century after century as time went on.
Wiggin grew some moo'er.
Th'industrial Revolution ,
The teawn an opp'n doo'er.
Canals & Pits and factries
Springin up reawnd here.
A teawn that's full of humour.
Wi it's famous Wiggin Pier.
Many famous folk and things.
Has put Wiggin on the map.
Like Orwell, Formby & Randell.
And of course the owd flat cap.
Rugby League & Footbaw
Barges filled wi coal.
The Verve and Wiggin Casino.
Th' heart of Northern Soul.
Wiggin a thriv'in werk'in teawn.
Yo only af't oppn your eyes.
A teawn thats known for awsoats.
Not just pratuh pies.
The History of Wigan (Translation)
Wigans been here a very long time.
About 2000 years or so.
The old name of Wigan was Coccium.
A name not many folk know.
The origin of Wigans a mystery.
Though we know that Romans were here.
Cos when they have been digging a few holes in the road.
They have found a few things here un there ( theer ).
The history's a bit muggy around middle ages.
And the writings are not very thourough.
But we do know some time around 1246
King Henry he made it a Bourough.
Now Wigan, this new Royal Bourough
A Proud Town of houses and farms.
Reflected it's status like other big towns
And got it's own coat of arms
During the Civil war the town was royalist.
Support of King Charles a matter of course.
Commander of the forces, the then Earl of Derby
Made Wigan the headquarters of the force
Now.. Parliamentry forces of Bolton.
Captured Wigan and looted through the town.
Demolishing the fortifications.
Which simply means walls were knocked down.
Cromwell himelf headed troops.
In 1648.
And went into battle at Standish.
Which turned into a nasty great fight ( feight ).
On the banks of the River Douglas.
Shed blood would leave it's stain.
It entered the local folklore.
As the Battle of Wigan Lane.
The Earl of Derby, James Stanley.
Notoriously known as Lord Strange
Was Arrested and convicted of treason.
An execution was quickly arranged.
His death it occurred in Bolton
Outside of the pub Man & Scythe
Theres a plaque that still marks the spot where he died.
The place where he ended his life.
Wigan also witnessed the very last act.
In the history of the Stuart cause.
When Bonny Prince Charlie after losing at Derby.
In Hallgate he stopped for a pause.
Century after century as time went on.
Wigan grew some more.
The industrial Revolution ,
The town an open door.
Canals & Pits and factories
Springing up round here.
A town that's full of humour.
With it's famous Wigan Pier.
Many famous folk and things.
Has put Wigan on the map.
Like Orwell, Formby & Randell.
And of course the old flat cap.
Rugby League & Football
Barges filled with coal.
The Verve and Wigan Casino.
The heart of Northern Soul.
Wigan a thriving working town.
You only have to open your eyes.
A town thats known for all sorts.
Not just potato pies.