Salford Tourist Information

Salford,lying just across the River Irwell, is much older than its more famous neighbour.

In 1974 Salford became one of the ten boroughs of Great Manchester but its inhabitants strongly object to being called 'Mancunians'. Salford was granted a charter by the Earl of Chester in 1230 making it a free borough.

In 1399 the manor of Salford was inherited by Henry Bolingbroke (later Henry IV) and after this time the land came directly under the Crown as part of the Duchy of Lancaster. Her Majesty the Queen still holds the title Duke of Lancaster and Lord of the Manor of Salford.

Until the early 18th century Salford was largely rural but by 1750 a huge concentration of spinning, weaving, bleaching and dyeing factories began taking over the fields.

Transport was improved by the end of the 18th century with the completion of the the Bridgewater Canal from Worsley and Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The iver Irwell was also made naviagable as far as Liverpool.

In the 19th century the population of Salford rose dramatically. This was reflected in the construction of vast areas of poor-quality housing, resulting in overcrowding and serious social problems.

The construction of the Manchester Ship Canal and the docks at Salford meant that the city became the meeting point for all the major routes. The city received raw materials for the whole north west of England and was the main distribution point for goods being shipped out. However, by the 1950's the textile industry had been devastated by foreign imports and much of the area became an industrial wasteland.

The squalour and poverty of Salford was immortalised by the celebrated local artist LS Lowry.

Since the 1960's Salford has been part of one of the largest regeneration projects in the country and has now been transformed beyond recognition.

Many acres of abandoned docks have been redeveloped as the Salford Quays project - Greater Manchester's Waterfront. This attractive waterside area now boasts shops, cafés, bars, restaurants and new cultural developments such as the famous Lowry art gallery, connected to the Imperial War Museum North on the Trafford side by the spectacular Lowry Lifting Footbridge.

Salford has a Tourist Information Centre