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31<br />
The Generous<br />
Gidlows<br />
by Nicola Gray<br />
From The 7th Earl of Balcarres to Margaret Park to<br />
GH Bankes to Martin Ainscough, <strong>Wigan</strong> has been<br />
blessed with its fair share of philanthropists over<br />
the years. Pre-empting that worthy quartet though<br />
were two sisters, born over 200 years ago, whose<br />
philanthropy made, and continues to make, a huge<br />
difference in improving the health of <strong>Wigan</strong> people.<br />
Margaret Eleanor and Amelia Gidlow were born at<br />
Derbyshire House, Amberswood, Ince. Their father,<br />
William, was descended from Robert Gidlow of Gidlow<br />
Hall in Aspull. It seems there was always wealth within<br />
the family, but William also owned several collieries in<br />
the town, including a three-storey cotton mill, he also<br />
invested extensively in railway shares.<br />
As a family they were understandably wealthy, the sisters<br />
lived a life of education and refinery befitting of the<br />
era. On his death in January 1851, William passed down<br />
his portfolio of railway shares to the sisters, inevitably<br />
securing them for life. The shares provided large sums<br />
of annual income and gave Margaret and Amelia the<br />
opportunity to donate to charitable institutions.<br />
They later moved to Arley Hall, known today as the home<br />
of <strong>Wigan</strong> Golf Club, with their brother William in 1856.<br />
The focus, it seems, for Margaret and Amelia was always<br />
their hometown. They ploughed money into various<br />
institutions and services to better the lives of those who<br />
lived around them.<br />
Arley Hall
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