Arts, History and Culture

While Salford has all eyes on the future, one foot remains squarely in the past in celebration of our fascinating history. With five grade I listed and fourteen grade II* buildings there's a story lurking behind every ancient monument and sparkling new development.

Arts and History in Salford

We've got lots to tickle that creative bone in your body. Music, arts and museums, we've got it.

Salford Museum and Art Gallery

Salford Museum and Art Gallery was the UK’s ‘first free public library’, opening in January 1850, followed in November by a museum and art gallery. The building was a mansion house known as Lark Hill, which had been built in the 1790s and has given its name to our famous Lark Hill Place; a Victorian street within the museum.

Salford Lads Club

Salford Lads Club, described by visitors as like a “ Tardis” where you enter into an Edwardian world of concert halls, billiards rooms and sports gyms. A century on and the club continues to provide opportunities for local young people.

Salford Arts Theatre

Salford Arts Theatre is a charming 112 seater theatre in the heart of the Salford Community. The theatre aims to make theatre accessible giving opportunity to the community and those who want to work with in the industry.

Heritage

If you've picked up the heritage bug and want to explore Salford's history further for yourself, why not take the next step and go on one of our range of fascinating self-guided walks. There are a number to chose from, with each one encompassing a different area of the city.

The Quays Heritage Trail

The Lowry, historic waterways, post modern architecture, Canadian connections, moving bridges...oh! and a certain Mr Lowry. There's more to Salford than its favourite son and those matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs. A three mile self guided walk discovering Salford Quays past and present.

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Chapel Street Heritage Trail

Queen Victoria, free parks, the Beano, Marxism, street lighting, Vimto... oh! and a certain Mr Lowry. There's more to Salford than its favourite son and those matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs. A self-guided walk along Chapel Street from Blackfriars Bridge to Peel Park.

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Worsley Heritage Trail

A clock that strikes 13, revolutions, 52 miles of underground canals, steam boats and early Victorian architecture... oh! and a certain Mr Lowry. There's more to Salford than its favourite son and those matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs. A one mile self-guided walk taking in places of historic interest in Worsley village.

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Monton and Roe Green Loopline Heritage Trail

Railways, coal, physics, lighthouses and barges. You'll find all these and more on this self-guided walk around Monton, the Roe Green Loopline and the Bridgewater canal.

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Swinton Heritage Trail

Take a self-guided walk around Swinton, looking out for plaques in the pavement and learn something about the town's history.

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Listed buildings

With a history as extensive as Salford's there's a fascinating building with a fascinating story in almost every corner of the city. Check out the full list of listed buildings to see the scale of our history, browse a few of the highlights below or simply walk around our city and admire the landscape for yourself.

Barton Road Aqueduct and Swing Bridge

Regarded as one of the wonders of the waterway world, the swing aqueduct was built alongside the swing bridge in 1893 to replace the original 1761 aqueduct and is still in use today.

Wardley Hall

Home to both the Bishop of Salford and the famous screaming skull, Wardley Hall was built circa 1500 and restored and altered in the 10th century. It is one of the few buildings in the Northwest to be mentioned in the Domesday Book.

Cathedral of St John the Evangelist

Opened in 1844 and formally consecrated in 1890, Salford Cathedral now stands as one of the most impressive buildings in the Chapel Street area.

St Augustines

St Augustines was designed by George Frederick Bodley and Thomas Garner and was built between 1871 and 1874. The grade 1 listed church is a lavish brick and stone building in Bodley's individual Gothic style and is the focus of a conservation area.

Ordsall Hall

Historic Ordsall Hall has witnessed many things throughout its long and illustrious history and plans are now in place to refurbish the hall for the future and open up more rooms to the public than ever before.

Visit the Ordsall Hall website

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