Urmston
Urmston maps (2 available)
Map of Lancashire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of Lancashire
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Urmston books (3 available)
Did You Know? Bury - A Miscellany
Hardback
Manchester Photographic Memories
Paperback
Urmston memories
Read and share memories of Urmston and Lancashire inspired by Frith photos
Top place
I have lived in Urmston all my life, the only better places are Benllech and the Lakes.
Contributed by chris bushell
Crofts Bank Road Shops Circa 1956
I lived in Urmston between 1951 and 1974 with my parents and twin brother, Michael. We knew most of these shops and business premises very well indeed.
On the left side the premises were as follows, The corner shop was Burgons (grocers), then Cuthberts Chemists, a butchers, the Conservative Club, The Bon Bon Sweetshop (run by Mr Evans - a very kindly old gentleman), a building society, Gafans Chemist & Photographics, Stanleys Sweets & Cigarettes/very small teashop, a building society (?), Tomlinsons Ironmongers, Stan Silcox Fruit & Veg and Mr Lomas's Food Store (another delightful man - and his generously proportioned but big hearted wife). A small road separated Lomas's shop from the 'Green Willow' cafe which seemed to always ...read more here
Contributed by John Owen
bank
The bank on the corner is now RBS, lovely place. I used it all the time, always overdrawn, always getting charged 38 quid, oh well its only money glad I'm out of it.
Contributed by chris bushell
Lancashire memories
Crofts Bank Road Shops Circa 1956
I lived in Urmston between 1951 and 1974 with my parents and twin brother, Michael. We knew most of these shops and business premises very well indeed.
On the left side the premises were as follows, The corner shop was Burgons (grocers), then Cuthberts Chemists, a butchers, the Conservative Club, The Bon Bon Sweetshop (run by Mr Evans - a very kindly old gentleman), a building society, Gafans Chemist & Photographics, Stanleys Sweets & Cigarettes/very small teashop, a building society (?), Tomlinsons Ironmongers, Stan Silcox Fruit & Veg and Mr Lomas's Food Store (another delightful man - and his generously proportioned but big hearted wife). A small road separated Lomas's shop from the 'Green Willow' cafe which seemed to always ...read more here
A memory of Urmston contributed by John Owen
Extracts From Urmston & Lancashire books
This aerial view of the swing bridges at Barton again shows them swung to let a large cargo ship through. Note that the cargo ship has tugs fore and aft to guide it through this section of the canal. Barton Monastery stands just to the right of the swing bridges; it was formerly All Saints RC Church, Barton. The area at the top of the picture was the wood seasoning area for one of the large timber firms using the canal, and is now a housing estate.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".
This view shows the two bridges at Barton upon Irwell both swung to let the paddle steamer ‘Ivanhoe’ pass. When the Ship Canal first opened (our view is only twelve months after that opening on 1 January 1894), many people wanted to travel, and see the wonders of this new waterway. A Ship Canal Pleasure Steamer Company was formed, and weekends and Bank Holidays would see two or three of these paddle steamers taking passengers on sight-seeing trips up and down the canal.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".
When the Duke of Bridgewater planned his canal into Manchester in 1760, the original plan was to stay on the Salford side of the Irwell. Because he could not purchase the land he wanted, he was forced to cross the River Irwell and go into Manchester via Stretford. He was given permission to skirt the Trafford Park Estate, but his big problem was crossing the Irwell, which he did with a beautiful stone aqueduct designed by James Brindley. This aqueduct lasted over one hundred and twenty years, until the emerging Ship Canal needed it out of the way for the large vessels to pass. This swing aqueduct that carries the Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal was the answer to their problem.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".
When the docks first opened, it took a while for them to reach their potential, but by 1900 they had started to show that they could be successful and profitable. Moves were then made to enlarge the dock, and the land belonging to the Manchester Racecourse Co was purchased ready to build No 9 dock. This dock, the largest of all the docks, was officially opened by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on a royal visit on 13 July 1905.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".
When the Ship Canal opened in 1894, traffic really was a mixed bag of sailing ships, steam ships and motor vessels. Here we see the docks with a mixed array of vessels just a year after opening. Our photographer is looking from the very spot where the Lowry Centre on Salford Quay is today.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".