Save Winstanley Hall: History vs Homes

0:00On April 2nd, Winston Lee Hall, a 500-year-old Tudor Manor in Wigan is falling apart with its roof collapse from years of neglect and fandalism. A developer called King's Wood Homes bought it last year and wants to restore it into 36 apartments and houses, complete with parking, walks, and a heritage center. To pay for that, they'd built 396 new homes on nearby Greenbelt Land, but hundreds of locals have objected, saying it would destroy precious countryside. The Hall's been on historic England's at-risk list for years, listed as an immediate danger of more decay. It was home to the Banks family for four centuries, who got rich from coal mining and built extras like a stable block in 1834. Last lived in during the 1980s, it sat empty, got stripped of roof slates, and turned into an overgrown wreck. Locals are fired up about the traffic nightmare on Busy Pemberton Road, with all those extra cars from 400-plus homes pouring out one spot. Campaigners from Save Winston Lee Greenbelt call the land a rare green space full of old trees, something once lost stays gone forever.

1:08Some worry the fix-up would gut the inside, keeping just a facade like bad taxidermy on a historic gym. King's Wood Homes insists this is the last shot to save what's left, like chimneys, gargoyles, and fireplaces, planning to scaffold it first for a full. Check, historic England backs the idea, saying viable uses rescue old buildings while adding needed homes. Critics fear losing original bits like staircases and roof timbers. We can counsel has a rule yet, promising a full review of public input before deciding. This clash between saving history and building homes keeps everyone watching close, weighing what matters most for the future.