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Barton upon Irwell
Barton Swing Aqueduct.jpg
The Barton Swing Aqueduct carries the Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal.
Barton upon Irwell is located in Greater Manchester
Barton upon Irwell
Barton upon Irwell
Population 12,462 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference SJ762978
Metropolitan borough
Metropolitan county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MANCHESTER
Postcode district M30
Dialling code 0161
Police Greater Manchester
Fire Greater Manchester
Ambulance North West
EU Parliament North West England
UK Parliament
  • Worsley and Eccles South
Councillors
  • David Jolley (Labour)
  • Michele Barnes (Labour)
  • John Mullen (Labour)
List of places
UK
England
Greater Manchester
53°28′34″N 2°21′36″W / 53.476°N 2.360°W / 53.476; -2.360

Barton upon Irwell (also known as Barton-on-Irwell or just Barton) is a busy area in the City of Salford, Greater Manchester, England. In 2014, about 12,462 people lived here. It's known for its important waterways and interesting history.

History of Barton

Barton has a long history. An old brick house called Barton Old Hall was once home to important families like the Bartons and Booths.

A church called St Catherine was built in 1843. It had a tall, pointed spire. Sadly, this church was taken down in the 1970s because of damage. Its parish, or church area, joined with a nearby church.

How Barton is Governed

Barton (Salford City Council ward)
The Barton electoral ward inside Salford City Council.

Barton upon Irwell is part of the historic county of Lancashire. It was once a small area within the larger Eccles parish.

In 1933, Barton joined with the town of Eccles. Then, in 1974, Eccles became part of the City of Salford in Greater Manchester.

Today, Barton upon Irwell is represented in the UK Parliament by Barbara Keeley. She is a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area called Worsley and Eccles South. An MP is a person elected to speak for their local area in the government.

Local Councillors

Local areas like Barton are also looked after by councillors. These people are elected to the Salford City Council. They help make decisions about local services, like parks and rubbish collection.

From 2004 to 2021, Barton had three councillors who looked after the "Barton ward." A ward is a small area that elects its own representatives.

The names of the councillors for Barton were David Jolley, Michele Barnes, and John Mullen. They were all from the Labour Party.

In 2021, the Barton ward changed. A new ward called Barton and Winton was created instead.

Barton's Geography

Barton is about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) west of Manchester. It sits on both sides of the River Irwell. This area stretches from Trafford Park to Davyhulme. It also includes a small area called Dumplington, which is now where the huge Trafford Centre shopping mall is located.

The River Irwell used to be a boundary for Barton. Other rivers, like the River Mersey and the Glazebrook, also formed boundaries.

Religion in Barton

The de Trafford family, who were important landowners, were Roman Catholic. They paid for the beautiful All Saints' Church, built between 1865 and 1868. This church is still a very important building today.

The de Traffords believed in religious freedom. They also helped pay for churches and chapels for other Christian groups. For example, they helped build the Church of England's St Catherine's Church. This church was built near All Saints' Church but was later taken down in the late 1970s.

Barton upon Irwell Methodist Chapel was built in 1796. Its buildings were later used by another church group. In 2001, the chapel was demolished to make way for new houses.

Transport Links

Barton is on the north side of the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Irwell. There are large locks on the canal here, which are like water lifts for ships.

Barton is also home to the amazing Barton Swing Aqueduct. This is a special bridge that carries the Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal. It's unique because it can swing open to let ships pass underneath!

Before the Manchester Ship Canal was built, the Bridgewater Canal crossed the Irwell using a stone aqueduct. This was a bridge that carried water over a river. It was the first of its kind in England over a river that ships could use.

The Liverpool and Manchester Railway, one of the world's first passenger railways, opened in 1830 and passes through Barton.

Barton Aerodrome

Barton Aerodrome opened on January 1, 1930. It was the first airport in the United Kingdom built by a city. Passenger flights used to take off from here in the 1930s. Later, these flights moved to the bigger Manchester Airport.

During the Second World War, over 700 aircraft were built at Barton. More than 1,000 military planes were also repaired here.

Today, Barton is a busy airfield for private planes and flying clubs. It is home to over 150 aircraft. The Lancashire Aero Club, the oldest flying club in the UK, has been based here since 1946.

Sport in Barton

Barton is home to the AJ Bell Stadium. This stadium, which can hold 12,000 people, opened in 2012. It is the home ground for two sports teams:

  • Salford Red Devils (Rugby League)
  • Sale Sharks (Rugby Union)
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