Barton-upon-Irwell

infobox UK place
latitude= 53.47638
longitude= -2.36006
official_name= Barton-upon-Irwell
map_type= Greater Manchester
population=
os_grid_reference= SJ762978
metropolitan_borough= Salford
metropolitan_county= Greater Manchester
region= North West England
country = England
post_town= MANCHESTER
postcode_area= M
postcode_district = M30
dial_code= 0161
constituency_westminster=
static_image_caption=The Barton Swing Aqueduct carries the Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal
static_
Barton-upon-Irwell (or Barton) is an area of Eccles, within the metropolitan borough of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England.

History

The district is the proposed location of the 20,000-capacity City of Salford Stadium. If built, the stadium will be the new home ground for the Salford City Reds Rugby League Club, which is currently based at Weaste in Salford itself.

Governance

Historically a part of Lancashire, Barton was joined with the municipal borough of Eccles in 1933 which was at the time part of the Lancashire administrative county. Eccles joined the City of Salford, Greater Manchester in 1974.

Transport

Waterways

Barton is situated on the north bank of the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Irwell. It is also home to Barton Swing Aqueduct, which carries the Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal.

Aviation

Barton Aerodrome was opened on 1 January 1930. Scheduled internal passenger flights operated in 1930 and again from 1934 to 1938, when the services were transferred to the new larger Ringway Airport (now Manchester Airport). During the Second World War, over 700 aircraft were built here by F.Hills & Son and over a thousand military aircraft were repaired by several firms. In 1946, the Lancashire Aero Club, founded in 1924 and the oldest flying club in the UK, moved here from Woodford. Barton is now a thriving general aviation airfield owned by Peel Holdings and the base for over 150 aircraft.

Culture and cultural references

Featured in the last scene of the 1961 film "A Taste of Honey", the Barton Aqueduct and Swing Bridge are seen as the character of Tom sails away. In the film's opening scenes of street life in Salford, two young children are seen playing. One of them, the 5-year-old Hazel Blears, grew up to become the Member of Parliament for Salford and a Cabinet Minister. [citation |last=Grice |first=Andrew|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2296845.ece |title='Street socialist' Blears joins battle to replace Prescott |date=23 February 2007|publisher=The Independent |accessdate=16 September 2008]

References

;Notes

External links

* [http://www.webbaviation.flyer.co.uk/tour_of_barton/tour_of_barton.htm History on Barton Aerodrome]