There is not, and never was, a pier in Wigan, unless one uses the term with a great deal of irony. When The Road to Wigan Pier (Gollancz, 1937) was published, Wigan Pier was an almost forgotten demolished wharf on Wigan’s lifeline, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Orwell was asked in a radio program in December 1943 if Wigan Pier existed. He replied: “Well, I am afraid I must tell you that Wigan Pier doesn’t exist. I made a journey specially to see it in 1936 and I couldn’…
