48, Millgate

48 Millgate is a town house that has been converted into a shop. It dates from the late 17th century and was refronted and remodeled in the mid-18th century, with further alterations likely made later, possibly reducing its height from three storeys. It is believed to have been built for Alexander Radcliffe, who served as Mayor of Wigan in 1771, 1776, and 1779. The building is constructed of handmade red brick in Flemish bond, featuring a sandstone plinth and dressings, and has a slate roof with shortened 20th-century brick chimneys. The layout is double-depth and double-fronted, reflecting Georgian architectural style.

The exterior is two storeys high with a cellar, although it was likely originally three storeys. It has five symmetrical windows, a chamfered plinth, rusticated quoins, and a 19th-century gutter supported by brackets. The central doorway is notable for its pedimented doorcase, which is flanked by engaged Ionic columns and topped with a dentilled cornice and modillioned pediment. The ground floor features sashed windows without glazing bars, while the first floor has unhorned 12-pane sashes, all with raised sills and wedge lintels that include raised keystones and voussoirs. The east gable wall shows remnants of brick drip moulds and bands.

Inside, there is a fine 18th-century staircase that features a half-turn with a landing, cut string, scrolled brackets, three slim turned balusters per tread, and a ramped moulded handrail. On the first floor, there are fielded panel doorcases and similarly panelled reveals for the windows in the right-hand front room, which includes window seats. In the rear right-hand room, there is a beam with quarter-round moulding (unstopped) and a fireplace with a shouldered surround. The house is depicted in a watercolour painting by Thomas Whitehouse from 1826, which is now held in the Wigan Local History Library.