How important do you think it is to revitalise and refurbish the historic buildings in the Heritage Action Zone?

Negative

How important do you think it is to revitalise and refurbish the historic buildings in the Heritage Action Zone?

Positive

Please tell us your stories of the Street

I don't remember the exact building (I've been told it became wither walkabout or springbok) but in the mid 90s there was a shop called Zoo that I've been trying to research to no avail. It was similar to Manchester's Afflecks or Liverpool's Quiggins, the corridors were painted purple and with patterns and there was a specialist condom shop in there. It felt like a vital part of youth culture in Wigan and was so captivating to a teenager but it seemed to vanish quite soon. I'd love to trace who ran this or find photos and it feels like an important part of the street that's not received any celebration.

How important do you think it is to revitalise and refurbish the historic buildings in the Heritage Action Zone?

Positive

Which listed buildings do you like the most in the Heritage Action Zone? Check them out at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/

• Museum of Wigan Life

• Grimes Arcade 22- 24 king St

• Platt And Fishwick Solicitors 47 king St

• 2-6 King Street (The Berkley)

• 1-3 king st Former Nat West Bank (PopWorld)

• Royal Court Theatre 58 (known as The Hub)

• 7-15 King Street (Bentleys Bar Building)

Why do you like these buildings?

They are heritage buildings, rich history , architecturally valuable and pleasing to the eye. They are such a part of Wigan's history. Why wouldn't we want to preserve them? they are built much more soundly and decoratively than the cheap square boxes we design nowadays. They will still be standing long after the awful flats proposed for the town centre have fallen into disuse and disrepair. Cant mess about with history! all the north west towns and villages that thrive have retained their unique historic high streets, unlike Wigan which has had the heart ripped out of it on more than one ill thought out revamp.

Please tell us your stories of the Street

Fond memories of nights on the town down a very different, more vibrant, less violent place in the early 1980s , where everyone knew each other and it was a safe place to socialise. Also had a good mix of businesses during the day time, I remember delivering post from Yorkshire Bank on Wallgate to all the solicitor's buildings along King Street, I don't recall, litter, vomit and excrement as we experience today and no closed and boarded up buildings either, TSB and Natwest had their buildings on this street too. It was less generic 'chain' pubs and clubs and more privately owned nightclubs by local business people. Remember the Turnkey, Chaplin's, the Playhouse , King of Clubs. My mother remembers all the theatres and cinemas, her family owned some of the theatres and cinemas in the town centre. Will ask her for any memories of the 1950s and 60s - i know that Berkely Square (now called the Berkely) was the Menorca.

How important do you think it is to revitalise and refurbish the historic buildings in the Heritage Action Zone?

Positive

Which listed buildings do you like the most in the Heritage Action Zone? Check them out at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/

• 1-3 king st Former Nat West Bank (PopWorld)

• Museum of Wigan Life

• Platt And Fishwick Solicitors 47 king St

• 2-6 King Street (The Berkley)

• Royal Court Theatre 58 (known as The Hub)

• Grimes Arcade 22- 24 king St

• 7-15 King Street (Bentleys Bar Building)

How important do you think it is to revitalise and refurbish the historic buildings in the Heritage Action Zone?

Positive

Which listed buildings do you like the most in the Heritage Action Zone? Check them out at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/

• Grimes Arcade 22- 24 king St

• Royal Court Theatre 58 (known as The Hub)

• 1-3 king st Former Nat West Bank (PopWorld)