City of Salford

Salford is one of the 2 cities, along with Manchester, and the 8 metropolitan boroughs, that make up Greater Manchester. Salford's history is one of many low points and relatively few high ones and the city has been dogged by misfortune and poverty. It was once a city of far greater importance than neighbouring Manchester. The Manor of Salford was important in Anglo Saxon times and included a number of large parishes between the Rivers Ribble and Mersey. After The Norman Conquest the Salford Hundreds became part of the Barony held by Roger de Poitou. The town grew up around the only point at which the River Irwell could be crossed with relative ease. This River was, for centuries, the boundary between Salford and Manchester. In the early 13th centruy Henry lll granted the busy little town the right to hold a weekly market and a 3 day annual fair to take place in September. When Henry Bolingbroke came to the throne as Henry lV, Salford, which was amogst his possessions, became a Royal Manor, a status which is still held by the city.

The years of industrial revolution and change dealt harshly with Salford leaving their legacy of poverty and economic problems that have taken their toll. Although one of the earliest industrial towns to achieve city status in the early years of the Industrial Revolution, it wasn't able to capitalise on this and deal successfully with the problems of economic recession that it had to face in the 20th century. Salford relied heavily on the industry based on and around the extensive dock areas of the Ship Canal and was powerless as the international traffic through the canal and the docks dwindled away. One of the other problems seems to be that the city has no real 'centre' to which visitors are drawn and from which they can start to explore Salford. Today, though, in these early years of the 21st century, Salford is re-inventing itself and promoting itself more vigorously.

One of the more notable successes of the city has to be the re-development of the Quays and the surroundings. The neglected canal and basins have been extensively restored and create an attractive backdrop for the new and radical architectural designs to be seen in the many housing and office developments, in the Lowry Centre Art Gallery and Theatre, the shopping malls, and so on. Just over the bridge, itself a marvellous piece of art and engineering, and across the canal is the prestigious new Imperial War Museum of the North with its spectacular design by ....... and its innovative approach to presenting our history.

Famous names associated with Salford are legion, including Albert Finney and Alistair Cooke but one of the most famous names must be that of the artist L.S. Lowry who spent much of his working life around the streets of the city as he went about his work of collecting rents. These were the streets immortalised in many of his paintings that are now so familiar.

Salford is entering the 21st century on a note of optimism and pride.

Salford Council Wards are Barton, Boothstown and Ellenbrook, Broughton, Cadishead, Claremont, Eccles, Irlam, Irwell Riverside, Kersal, Langworthy, Little Hulton, Ordsall, Pendlebury, Swinton North, Swinton South, Walkden North, Walkden South, Weaste and Seedley, Winton, and finally, Worsley