Greater Manchester's Past Revealed 18 - Exchange Station

Exchange Station, Greengate, Salford: The history and archaeology of a transformed urban landscape. Number 18 in the series Greater Manchester's Past Revealed. 

The historic core of Salford, centred upon the ancient thoroughfares of Greengate and Chapel Street has a long and complex history. An important agricultural market town during medieval times, the settlement would gradually transform itself into a vital manufacturing and trading hub with a focus on textile production. The area's importance to textile trade would grow as the centuries passed however it was the technological innovations that characterised the Industrial Revolution that would provide new impetus. The 18th and 19th centuries were therefore characterised by an explosion of factories, mills and foundries as pre-existing industries were mechanised and new ones moved in. It was also an era of profound social change as increased employment opportunities led to rapid population increase and a boom in the construction of low-grade housing. However these developments were dwarfed by the coming of Exchange Station in the early 1880's, which forever changed the topography and function of Salford's historic centre.

An extensive redevelopment in the Greengate and the Chapel Street area provided Pre-Construct Archaeology (PCA) with a unique opportunity to investigate these developments via archaeological and historical study. This booklet presents and interprets the results whilst placing them in context within Salford's wider history and cityscape.

Foreword Norman Redhead

Text Prepared by Rebecca Haslam, Jennifer Proctor and Victoria Ridgeway

Produced by Pre-Construct Archaeology and Funded by Carillion Construction

Published by Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd