Step inside the Museum of Wigan Life after dark
DeadLive held a controlled, team-led paranormal investigation inside one of Wigan’s most important historic buildings on Saturday 17 October 2026.
Past event: Saturday 17 October 2026.
The Museum of Wigan Life is much more than a museum. The Alfred Waterhouse building opened in 1878 as Wigan’s first public library. It later became closely connected with George Orwell, who used the upstairs reference library while researching The Road to Wigan Pier in 1936.
A building made for stories
Libraries, archives and museums hold generations of local memory. This building has welcomed readers, researchers, families and visitors for almost 150 years. Today, its collections preserve the social and industrial history of Wigan and the people who shaped it.
The museum is entering another chapter, with its ground-floor displays being transformed ahead of a planned summer 2027 reopening. Our event offers guests an unusual opportunity to explore approved areas of the historic building during this period of change.
What happens on the night?
This is not a theatre show. DeadLive does not use actors and nothing is staged. Our experienced team will divide guests into small groups and lead a series of controlled vigils and experiments using paranormal investigation equipment.
- Guest arrival and registration from 8.30pm
- Welcome, safety briefing and group allocation
- Team-led investigation from approximately 9.00pm
- Final session and close by 12.45am
- Building vacated by 1.00am
Paranormal activity can never be guaranteed. The purpose is to investigate the building carefully, respectfully and with an open mind.
Why this event matters
DeadLive looks for locations with genuine history, character and a strong sense of place. The Museum of Wigan Life has all three. Its changing use, long public history and extensive collections make it a compelling place to investigate after dark. Access on the night will be limited to the areas approved by the venue, with guest safety and protection of the building at the centre of the event.
Future Museum of Wigan Life events
The 17 October 2026 investigation has taken place. Join the DeadLive priority list for advance notice if future Wigan dates are released.
Join the priority list