Wigan grew rapidly during the nineteenth century as a major cotton mill town and centre for coal mining, aided by the construction of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal which passed through the town. These industries continued well into twentieth century, although in recent decades the mills and coal mines in the area have closed and many of the old buildings have been repurposed and are now part of new commercial and leisure industries.

In Wigan and Around: The Postcard Collection author Roy Pennington has drawn on a remarkable selection of old postcards to give a pictorial record of life in Wigan and the surrounding areas in the past, from the Victorian and Edwardian era onwards. Although some of the historical Wigan seen in these views has been lost, many landmarks have remained and will be familiar today. The postcards show the changes in Wigan's fabric and its community adapting over the course of this period. This fascinating collection of images will be of interest to those who have lived in Wigan or know it well.