Eccles

Eccles is a Town in the county of Greater Manchester.

Eccles, situated in the borough of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, is a town with a rich historical and industrial heritage. Its history stretches back over a millennium, with the first recorded mention in 1200, although there is evidence of earlier settlements in the area. The town’s name is derived from the Celtic word “Egles,” meaning “church,” pointing to its early religious significance.

During the Industrial Revolution, Eccles grew significantly in importance due to its proximity to Manchester, one of the epicenters of industrial activities in the UK. This period saw the town expanding rapidly, with the development of textile mills and other industries, including the famous Eccles Cake, which became a well-known delicacy far beyond the town’s boundaries. These small, round cakes filled with currants and topped with sugar have been associated with Eccles since the late 18th century.

The transportation infrastructure played a vital role in Eccles’ development. The Bridgewater Canal, completed in the 18th century, was one of the first canals in England and ran through the town, significantly boosting the transport of goods. Later, the arrival of the railway further enhanced Eccles’ connectivity and economic growth, making it an essential hub in the region.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, Eccles has continued to evolve. It experienced some industrial decline, like many towns in the region, but has seen regeneration and development in recent years. Modern Eccles benefits from its position within the Greater Manchester conurbation, with excellent transport links to central Manchester and other parts of the region, making it an attractive place for both residents and businesses.

Culturally, Eccles maintains a strong community spirit, with various local festivals and events, including the annual Eccles Festival. The town also boasts several historical landmarks, such as the Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin, which dates back to the 13th century and is a testament to the town’s long-standing historical significance.

Overall, Eccles represents a blend of historical charm and modern development, embodying the changes that have swept through the Greater Manchester area over the past centuries while maintaining its unique identity and cultural heritage.

Eccles postcode: M30 0PW

Retail in Eccles

There are great places to visit near Eccles including some great towns, hills, hiking areas, old mines, ancient sites, round cairns, ruins, historic sites, lakes, historic monuments, rivers and streams, woodlands, geological features, nature reserves, villages, historic buildings, country parks, waterfalls, events, bluebell woods, sssis, parks, shopping centres, gardens, canals, cities, museums, disused railway lines, moated sites and airports.

The area around Eccles boasts some of the best towns including Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough.

Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and Burnt Edge are some of Eccles best hills to visit near Eccles.

Hiking Areas to visit near Eccles include Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Summit, Hole Bottom, Hole Bottom Mining Area, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, and Burnt Edge.

Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Mines, Winter Hill Tunnel, Rivington Moor Colliery (ruin), Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Hole Bottom Mining Area, and Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin) are great places to visit near Eccles if you like old mines.

Eccles's best nearby ancient sites can be found at Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp.

Eccles's best nearby round cairns can be found at Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill.

Eccles's best nearby ruins can be found at Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, Ouzel Hall (site of), Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), Prospect (ruin), Rivington Moor Bell Pits (ruin), and Burnt Edge Colliery (ruin).

Historic Sites to visit near Eccles include Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area.

The area around Eccles features a number of interesting lakes including Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.

There are a several good historic monuments in the Eccles area like Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial.

Eccles has some unmissable rivers and streams nearby like Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook.

There are a number of woodlands near Eccles including Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood.

The area around Eccles features a number of interesting geological features including Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough.

There are a several good nature reserves in the Eccles area like Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Aspull Sough, Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve, and Pennington Flash.

Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Whelley, and Standish are great places to visit near Eccles if you like villages.

Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, Sheephouse Farm, and Dean Gate are some of Eccles best historic buildings to visit near Eccles.

Eccles has some unmissable country parks nearby like Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, Pennington Flash, and Burrs Country Park.

Roscow Clough Waterfall, Smithills Hall Park Waterfall, Langshaw Ford Weir, Raveden Clough Waterfall, Raveden Plantation Waterfall, Yarrow Reservoir Overflow Cascade, and Upper Rivington Reservoir Yarrow Outflow are some of Eccles best waterfalls to visit near Eccles.

Rivington Pike Easter is one of Eccles's best, nearby events to visit in Eccles.

Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park are great places to visit near Eccles if you like bluebell woods.

Places near Eccles feature a number of interesting sssis including Nob End SSSI.

Eccles's best nearby parks can be found at Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park.

There are a number of shopping centres near Eccles including Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale.

Don't miss The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater's gardens if visiting the area around Eccles.

Don't miss Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal at Prestolee, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Haigh, Top Lock at Wigan, Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Crooke, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Shevington, Rochdale Canal Western Section, and Bridgewater Canal's canals if visiting the area around Eccles.

There are a several good cities in the Eccles area like Salford, and Manchester.

The area around Eccles boasts some of the best museums including Salford Museum and Art Gallery, The Imperial War Museum Salford, and Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley Green.

The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline are some of Eccles best disused railway lines to visit near Eccles.

The area close to Eccles boasts some of the best moated sites including Wigan Golf Club.

Don't miss Manchester Airport's airports if visiting the area around Eccles.

Eccles History

There are some historic monuments around Eccles:

Places to see near Eccles

History of Eccles

The village may have been founded by refugees from Manchester (Mamucium) during the Diocletianic Persecution in the early 4th century, although excavations in 2001-2005 revealed that the civilian settlement at Manchester had probably been abandoned by the mid-3rd century. Throughout the Dark Ages the parish appears to have been remote enough to be untouched by any local conflicts, while absorbing successive waves of immigrants from nearby towns. The Manor of Barton-upon-Irwell once covered a large area; in 1276 it included townships such as Asphull, Halghton, Halliwelle, Farnword, Eccles, Workedele, Withington (latterly Winton), Irwelham, Hulm, Quicklewicke, Suynhul and Swinton. Before this date it would appear to have been even larger, but by 1320 the manor boundaries were described as “Tordhale Siche descending to Caldebroc, then to the pit near Preste Platteforde and then to another pit, then to the ditch of Roger the Clerk, then to the hedge of Richard the Rimeur, then following the hedge to Caldebroc.” The manor was originally controlled by the Barton family until about 1292 when by marriage it came into the ownership of the Booth family, who retained it for almost 300 years. In 1586 the Trafford family assumed control of the manor, and established themselves in 1632 at Whittleswick, which was renamed Trafford Park. The parish of Eccles contained the townships of Barton-upon-Irwell, Clifton, Pendlebury, Pendleton and Worsley. Toward the end of the Middle Ages the parish had an estimated population of about 4,000 Communicants. Agriculture remained an important local industry, with little change from the Medieval system due to a lack of adequate drainage and fertiliser. No evidence exists to demonstrate the layout of the area, but it would likely have been the same as the surrounding areas of Salford, Urmston and Warrington where oats and barley would have been grown. Local cottage industries included blacksmiths, butchers, thatching, basket weaving, skinning and tanning. Weaving was popular, using linen and wool. Merchants traded in corn and badgers bought and sold local produce.