AN oil painting by Leigh's greatest artist goes under the hammer at top auction house Christie's this month.

The 18th century work by Leigh vicar's son, Joseph Farington, entitled "The Gatehouse on the Bridge over the River Severn at Bridgnorth" is expected to bring over £30,000.

But because of the current financial situation Wigan Council will not be bidding for the painting on behalf of the town.

A spokesman said: "It would be nice to have this work by a distinguished Leigh artist, but regrettably financial constraints make it unjustifiable.

Public services

"The public would find it hard to understand us spending £30,000 on a work of art in the light of threats to public services."

Farington was born in 1747. His father, the Rev William Farington, was Rector of Warrington and Vicar of Leigh 1753-67. The maestro is the only Leigh-born artist to win election to the Royal Academy.

The work on offer, which was exhibited in the Academy, has rocketed in value over the past 62 years. It was sold in May 1939 at the same auction house for just 48 guineas (£50.40) and again in 1997 for £26,450.

Measuring 44 inches by 27 inches it was painted in 1791 when Farington was in his mid 40s during George lll's reign and at the time the French Revolution was in full force.

Farington received international recognition for his landscapes and was elected to the RA in 1785 where he exhibited until 1813.

His reputation was such that that in 1798 a talented young artist named John Constable sought a meeting.

From the age of 44 Farington worked on a diary until his death in 1821, and this has been compared to the writings of Pepys. The 16 volumes were unearthed and sold for 10 guineas in 1921

Society life

A prominent figure in society life he writes of meetings with George lll, Pitt, Burke and Napoleon and buying a pair of Gainsborough pictures for five and a half guineas. He married one of PM Horace Walpole's relatives, Susan Hammond, who died childless six years later in 1800.

Much of his work survives today and the Victoria and Albert Museum still exhibits his landscapes. Leigh Library is home to several diary volumes and a book of aquatints.

The picture with an estimate of £20,000 to £30,000 is lot 36 in the British Pictures 1500-1850 auction on November 30. rTHE novels of Leigh's best known writer, James Hilton, will be discussed in his home town next year.

The James Hilton Society, launched on September 9 2000, the exact centenary of his birth, are arranging a conference in Leigh on May 18.

Best known for 'Goodbye Mr Chips' Wilkinson Street-born Hilton attended Leys School in Cambridge which was the inspiration for the work.

The aim of the meeting is to discuss the novels set in Lancashire, especially "So Well Remembered" and "And Now Goodbye", and Hilton's fictional town of Browdley, presumably based on Leigh.

Hilton, wrote 13 books, a murder under the pseudonym of Glen Trevor, and was also a prolific scriptwriter. He is buried in Abingdon, Virginia, USA.

Leigh archivist Tony Ashcroft is planning a guided tour of Leigh for delegates, including a trip to the Wilkinson Street home which bears a blue plaque in his honour.