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The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is the longest canal in Northern England at 127 miles long. The first of the trans-Pennine canals it took 46 years to build at a cost of five times the original budget, mainly because of the length and complexity of the route. It passes through 91 locks with a summit level of 487 feet at Foulridge near Nelson and Colne. It was originally conceived in the 18th century to carry woollen goods from Leeds and Bradford and limestone from Skipton but in its 19th century heyday it carried stone, coal and many other goods. The impact of the railways was not as great as with other canals and commercial traffic continued along the main canal until 1964. Regular work stopped in 1972 when the movement of coal to Wigan Power Station ceased. In the latter part of the 20th century the leisure potential of the canal was developed and it is now a popular destination for cruising, fishing, walking and cycling. See Link for detailed information.

The present Haigh Hall, a Grade II* Listed building (Historic England List Entry Number: 1228292 Link ), was built between 1827 and 1840 by James Lindsay, 7th Earl of Balcarres, on the site of the ancient manor house which had been home to the Bradshaigh family from 1298 until 1780 when Elizabeth Dalrymple, the great-niece of Sir Roger Bradhaigh, inherited the estate. In 1787, she married Alexander Lindsay, 6th Earl of Balcarres and Haigh Hall became the seat of the Earls of Balcarres. The Bradshaigh and Lindsay fortunes were made from seams of cannel coal under the estate which were mined from before 1536.

The extensive Plantations consist primarily of Beech trees with a proportion of Oak, Horse Chestnut, Sycamore, Ash and Lime and Scots Pine. These plantations were laid out in the 1860s to hide the condition of the landscape after being damaged by the mining activity.

The 250 acres of park and woodland surrounding Haigh Hall now forms the Haigh Country Park and the Haigh Hall Golf Club. The estate is bounded to the west by the River Douglas and to the east, the boundary is New Road; it was transferred to Wigan Corporation in 1947. Haigh Hall Park is included in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens at grade II.


Haigh is pronounced locally as “Hay”.