Eccles, Greater Manchester
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| Eccles | |
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  Eccles shown within Greater Manchester |
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| Population | 36,000 (2001 census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| - London | 165 miles (267 km) SE |
| Metropolitan borough | City of Salford |
| Metropolitan county | Greater Manchester |
| Region | North West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MANCHESTER |
| Postcode district | M30 |
| Dial code | 0161 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | Eccles |
| European Parliament | North West England |
| List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester | |
Eccles is a town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England.[1] It is around four miles (6 km) to the west of the City of Manchester and around three miles (4.4 km) west of Salford.
Historically part of Lancashire, it was an important industrial centre along the route of the Manchester Ship Canal. Eccles is perhaps best known though for being credited as the birthplace of the Eccles Cake
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[edit] Geography and administration
Eccles was incorporated as a municipal borough of Lancashire in 1892. In 1974 the municipal borough was abolished and its former area was transferred to Greater Manchester to form part of the City of Salford.
There are several different areas that make up Eccles. These are Peel Green, Patricroft, Barton/Barton-upon-Irwell, Winton, Monton and Ellesmere Park plus Eccles itself which partly forms the town centre.
[edit] History
[edit] Etymology
c.600 AD - The name "Eccles" derives ultimately from the Latin word "ecclesia" or church. This Latin word was adopted by the Celtic people who lived in Roman Britain and appears in modern Welsh as "eglwys".[2]
[edit] Early history
c.1086 AD - the Domesday Book. This refers to two churches in Manchester and its neighbourhoods, one of which may have been the parish church of Eccles, St Mary the Virgin. The earliest parts of the church date from the 13th century though most of the building was constructed from the 15th century onwards.
1761 - Opening of the aqueduct of the Bridgewater Canal over the River Irwell. The part of the canal from Worsley to Manchester passes through Eccles. The construction of the canal was undertaken by the third Duke of Bridgewater (1736-1803) and was so successful that it inspired the building of others throughout the country in the "Canal Age". One local benefit of the canal was that coal was brought cheaply to Manchester. Once, when the Duke's coach bringing him from Hertfordshire arrived in Manchester, the horses were so tired from the journey that the people are said to have removed them from the coach and pulled it to Worsley themselves.
South of Eccles the canal crossed the River Irwell by an aqueduct designed by the engineer James Brindley (1716-1772). It was the first time in England that water had been made to pass over water and became a wonder of the age.
1796 - Eccles Cakes. First reference to the business of William Birch, a confectioner in Eccles, which became known for making Eccles Cakes, a pastry with raisins. They became so popular that in the 19th century they were being exported all over the world.
1817 - Reference to "Eccles Wakes". This annual celebration included contests for ladies with a wooden leg and for eating apple dumplings. It was abolished by order of the Home Secretary in 1877.
1830 - Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. This was the first railway in the world built to carry passengers and to use locomotives along its whole length. Eccles was the site of one of the original stations on the line. The first fatality in a railway accident was William Huskisson M.P. (1770-1830), who was brought to the Old Vicarage, Eccles, for treatment but died there.
1836 - The engineer James Nasmyth (1808-1890) established the Bridgewater Foundry. This was named after the third Duke. Its most famous product was the Steam Hammer, which made possible building projects and metalworking on a far larger scale than ever before, but later the foundry was adapted to making railway locomotives which were exported all over the world.
1861 - Cricket. A match in Eccles is said to have started a cricket tradition. A batsman complained that he could not see the flight of the ball because the light was bad. An umpire borrowed a white coat to wear to help the batsman to see the ball.
1892 - Eccles received a charter from Queen Victoria to become the Borough of Eccles.
1894 - Opening of the Manchester Ship Canal. Earlier an ox had been roasted in Eccles to celebrate the passing of the Act for the building of the canal. For this ship canal, Brindley's aqueduct was replaced by a metal aqueduct which could be swung to allow ships to pass along the canal; it weighs 1450 tons including 800 tons of water.
1901 - First motorised fire engine to be supplied to a municipal corporation in England. This was supplied to Eccles Corporation by a local firm, the Protector Lamp and Lighting Co., also known for manufacturing Miners' Safety Lamps.
1933 - Barton Moss became part of the Borough of Eccles. Here, Barton Aerodrome was opened in 1930. Owned by Manchester Corporation, it was the first municipal airport in the country.
[edit] Present day
Over the recent years, Eccles has succumbed to social deprivation, particularly in: the Brookhouse Estate in Peel Green; Westwood Park in Winton; and in the Patricroft area. Crime in the area is higher than the national average.[citation needed]}
Since 2000, Eccles has been served by a branch of the Manchester Metrolink tram system. It is hoped the recently built Metrolink station will help bring investment to the town.[3]
[edit] Rail
Eccles is served by two railway stations which are both on the main Manchester to Liverpool line. These are Eccles railway station, in the town centre, and Patricroft .
[edit] Eccles Cakes
A well known British pastry, the Eccles Cake is believed to have been first made here. Eccles Cakes are now made in Ardwick, an inner-city area of Manchester.
[edit] References
- ^ "Official British Place Name Archives - Eccles", Greater Manchester County Records Office. URL accessed April 1, 2007.
- ^ Local place names explained (HTTP). Eyewitness in Manchester. Retrieved on March 26, 2007.
- ^ Light Rail Transit Association
