Swinton, Greater Manchester

infobox UK place
map_type= Greater Manchester
country = England
latitude= 53.5122
longitude= -2.3412
official_name= Swinton
population= 41,347 (2001 Census)
metropolitan_borough= Salford
metropolitan_county= Greater Manchester
region= North West England
constituency_westminster= Salford
post_town= MANCHESTER
postcode_area= M
postcode_district=M27
dial_code= 0161
os_grid_reference= SD775015
static_

static_image_caption=Salford Civic Centre, in Swinton
london_distance= convert|167|mi|km|0|abbr=on SE

Swinton is a town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England.cite web |url=http://www.gmcro.co.uk/guides/gazette/gazframe.htm |title=A select gazetteer of local government areas, Greater Manchester County|author=Anon|publisher=Greater Manchester County Records Office|accessdate=2007-10-08|date=2003-07-31] It stands on flat ground on the west side of the River Irwell, convert|3.4|mi|km|1|lk=on west-northwest of Salford, and convert|4.2|mi|km|1 west-northwest of Manchester. Swinton has a total population of 41,347 and is the seat of Salford City Council.

Historically a part of Lancashire, the name Swinton is said to derive from pig-rearing.

History

The name Swinton is said to derive from pig-rearing - an early form was Swynton (Swine Town). [cite web | title=Swinton & Pendlebury - Local History, Salford City Council" | url=http://www.salford.gov.uk/living/yourcom/salfordlife/aboutsalford/salfordlocalhistory/localhistory-swintpendle.htm | accessdate= 2003-08-06]

During the Middle Ages, Swinton belonged to Whalley Abbey. Later, lands at Swinton were granted to Thurston Tyldesley, then of [http://www.wardleyhall.co.uk Wardley Hall] . Documents record that certain areas belonged to the Knights Hospitaller.

In 1817 some Swinton weavers joined in the 'Blanketeer' demonstration and marched to London to put their grievances to the Prince Regent. In 1842 some Swinton people took part in Chartist agitations and tried to destroy a local colliery.

Sunday schools and libraries were established in Swinton at quite an early period. An Industrial School was visited by Charles Dickens. The school opened in 1843 and survived until the 1920s. During demolition of the school buildings in the early thirties, the foundations proved particularly difficult. Finally explosives were used, which resulted in a huge number of rats being disturbed. It was a number of weeks before council workers were able to remove the rats from the surrounding streets and houses. Huge nests of baby rats were carried out of the rafters of many buildings. The site was used for the present Town Hall.

Governance

Anciently, Swinton was a chapelry, in the township of Worsley, parish of Eccles, and hundred of Salford.

From 1894 the civil parish of Swinton formed part of the urban district of Swinton and Pendlebury in the administrative county of Lancashire. The district received its Charter of Incorporation as a municipal borough from the 18th Earl of Derby at a ceremony in Victoria Park on 29 September 1934 [cite web | title="Lifetimes Link: Issue 11 (July-December 2002) page 11", "Magazine of Salford Museums & Heritage Service" | url=http://www.salford.gov.uk/lifetimes-issue11.pdf | accessdate= 2008-03-23] . The borough came under the administration of the metropolitan borough of the City of Salford in 1974 when the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester was created by the Local Government Act 1972.

Demography

In 1901 the population of Swinton was 18,512. [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=41442]

Landmarks

The architectural centre-piece of the town is the neo-classical Salford Civic Centre, which features a 38m high clock tower. [http://www.salford.gov.uk/council/councillors/mayor/civichistory/civiccentre.htm] It was originally established as Swinton Town Hall, when Swinton and Pendlebury received its Charter of Incorporation. Prior to its construction, council meetings were held in Victoria House in Victoria Park and the newly created Borough Council required larger premises. A competition was launched to design a new town hall, the winners being Welsh architect Sir Percy Thomas and Ernest Prestwich with a design that closely resembled their creation at Swansea Guildhall.

The land of the former industrial school on Chorley Road was purchased for £12,500 and the foundation stone of the new town hall laid there on 17 October 1936. The main builders were J Gerrards and Son of Pendlebury. The new town hall opened for business on 17 September 1938 and had extensions added to its rear aspect when it became the administrative headquarters of the City of Salford in 1974.

It was once reported that Swinton had the greatest number of chip shops per capita in Britain. [cite web | title=Simon Spence: "Chips With Everything", "Independent, The (London)" | url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000507/ai_n14311597 | accessdate= 2000-07-04]

A further architectural highlight is the nearby Tudor styled [http://www.wardleyhall.org.uk Wardley Hall] , which is the base for the Bishop of Salford and [http://www.salforddiocese.org.uk Salford Diocese] .

ports

Rugby League

Swinton Lions RLFC has an impressive record in rugby league considering the size of the town. The club's six Championships and three Challenge Cup wins betters that of their local rivals Salford City Reds. The club was based in the town until 1992, when financial mis-management necessitated a relocation from the Station Road ground to play at Gigg Lane in Bury. The financial failure of main creditor and de facto owner Hugh Eaves in 2002 put the future of the club in jeopardy and it spent a short time regrouping at Moor Lane in Kersal, as tenants of Salford City FC. Since 2003 the Lions have played their home games in nearby Whitefield, at [http://www.sedgleytigers.com - Sedgley Park RUFC] . In 2006, the return of the club to Swinton and Pendlebury was taken one step further when club chairman John Kidd announced on the 9th August in a meeting held at the Masonic Halls, Hospital Road, Pendlebury, that on the 7th August the club acquired land to build a 6,000 capacity stadium with training facilities and community use in Agecroft, Pendlebury.

Association Football

Swinton based junior football side Deans FC was the starting point in the career of Ryan Giggs, who grew up in neighbouring Pendlebury and went on to become a Manchester United player.

Notable people

Tony Warren, a television scriptwriter best known as the creator of Coronation Street, was born in Swinton in 1936.

References

External links

* [http://www.salford.gov.uk/localhistory-swintpendle Salford City Council's history for Swinton]
* [http://www.salford.gov.uk/swinton Salford City Council's local information for Swinton]
* [http://www.swintonandpendlebury.co.uk Swinton and Pendlebury dedicated website]
* [http://www.swintonlionsrlc.co.uk Swinton Lions RLFC]
* [http://www.swintonhigh.co.uk The Swinton High School]
* [http://www.stambrosebarlow.co.uk St Ambrose Barlow High School]
* [http://www.moorsidehigh.com Moorside High School]
* [http://www.swintonleisure.co.uk Swinton Leisure]