Salford, Lancashire Poor Law Union

History
A parliamentary report of 1777 recorded a workhouse in operation at Pendleton for up to 28 inmates. It was located on the east side of what is now Broughton Road. After 1834, this became used as a Union school. In 1793, Salford opened a workhouse at the junction of Collier Street and what is now Trinity Way in the Greengate district, just across the Irwell from the centre of Manchester. This establishment, once described as "a very handsome building", continued in use until the new Salford union workhouse was erected in 1853. Salford became a centre of resistance and a Salford Anti Poor Law Movement was formed, led by the Chartist, RJ Richardson. In many northern towns opposition to the Poor Law enactment The Salford Poor Law Union finally received its official declaration from 12th July 1838. Even after the Union was formed, its 18-strong Board of Guardians representing the four constituent parishes of Salford, Broughton, Pendlebury and Pendleton, refused to co-operate with the Poor Law Commissioners and operate the new law as prescribed. The old and inadequate buildings at Greengate and Pendleton continued in use until a new Union workhouse finally opened in 1853. Greengate appears then to have been closed down, and Pendleton used to accommodate the elderly. The workhouse closed after the First World War and the building was demolished soon after the abolition of the Board of Guardians in 1930. It was replaced by the three-storey flats of the Langworthy Estate, a large-scale rehousing project, which were officially opened in 1938. In 1880-2 the Union built an infirmary or 880 patients at the south side of Eccles Old Road at Hope. The Union Infirmary became Hope Hospital and still survives on the same site.

Records
• Salford City Archives, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Peel Park, The Crescent, Salford M5 4WU. Admissions and discharges registers were pulped during WW2. Surviving records include Guardians' minute books (1838-1930); Workhouse visiting committee minutes (1865-1930); etc.