Roman Wigan

2000 years ago the Romans set up camp in Wigan. The River Douglas provided water and basic materials such as iron, stone and coal were in great supply. The first Romans were probably soldiers and army officials living in modest leather tents. The early camp was protected by large banks, ditches and wooden fences. As the town grew in size and importance, wooden buildings and a bath house were built. Three roads linked it to settlements across the North West. The occupation lasted approximately 250 years.

Roman artefacts have been found locally including a rare gold coin, cremation urns and the Boar's Head Hoard (Standish 1926). Excavations on the Wiend (1982) and Millgate (2005) revealed a large bath-house on the site of the Grand Arcade and evidence of iron work near Believe Square. Wigan is thought to be the Roman settlement of Coccium, though no inscriptions have been found.