Visit Worsley Places

Welcome to Visit Worsley Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Worsley

  

Worsley Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Worsley

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Worsley history

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Toponymy

Worsley is first mentioned in a Pipe roll of 1195–96 as Werkesleia, in the claim of a Hugh Putrell to a part of the fee of two knights in nearby Barton-upon-Irwell and Worsleys. Ge-Weore, the Old English form of the name, means “the cleared place which was cultivated or settled” The spelling suggests a Saxon origin.

Early history

Two Roman roads run through the area, connecting Mamucium (Manchester) with Coccium (Wigan) The present-day A6 road follows part of the course of another Roman road. Worsley fell under the control of the Anglo-Saxons, who controlled the area around Manchester. Edward the Elder rebuilt the fortifications at Manchester, and in AD 924 captured all the land between the rivers Mersey and Irwell.

Bridgewater estates

Worsley was, originally, the largest manor of the seven ancient manors of the Bridgewater Estates. It was created by William I and held for him by the Barton family in thegnage, and for them by a Norman knight named Elias, who fought in the crusades. On 23 June 1311 a substantial part of the Manor of Hulton was granted to the Worsleys. The family held both manors until the late 14th century, whereon they passed to the Massey family of Tatton, and then in the 16th century to the Brereton family of Malpas. The Egerton family was descended from Sir Richard Egerton of Ridley, Cheshire.

Industrial Revolution

Coal has been mined around Worsley from as long ago as 1376, originally in bell pits. Coal seams in the area tend to be fairly thin, slanting downwards from north to south. With the onset of the Industrial Revolution and the growing use of steam power, there was a rapid increase in the demand for coal. The Duke’s mines were among those supplying the surrounding districts but transport was both inefficient and expensive. His solution to these problems was to build a canal from Salford, and an underground canal into the mines. The canal boats would carry 30 long tons (30 t) at a time, – more than ten times the amount of cargo per horse that was possible with a cart.

Modern history

4,518 new houses were built in the urban district by the Worsley Project. 18,000 people were rehoused under the scheme, which included new facilities, shops and schools. In 1944, during the Second World War, a flying bomb landed on a house near the town.

Worsley landmarks

Worsley Village was in 1969 designated as a conservation area by the former Lancashire County Council. Much of the area around the canal was restored and landscaped for a visit by Elizabeth II on 17 May 1968. The area includes Wardley Hall, a medieval manor house and Grade I listed building in Wardley.

Worsley geography / climate

Worsley lies at the foot of a middle coal measure running northwest and southeast across the area. The area is bordered on the north by the East Lancashire Road, and on the south by the Liverpool and Manchester Railway and part of the Bridgewater Canal. The M60 and M62 motorways cut directly through the area, and the area is largely bordered by Chat Moss, open fields, and forest.

You can visit Worsley places with Walkfo Worsley to hear history at Worsley’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Worsley has 60 places to visit in our interactive Worsley map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Worsley, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Worsley places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Worsley & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 60 audio facts unique to Worsley places in an interactive Worsley map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Worsley Places Map
60 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Worsley historic spots	Worsley tourist destinations	Worsley plaques	Worsley geographic features
Walkfo Worsley tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Worsley

  

Best Worsley places to visit

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Worsley has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Worsley’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Worsley’s information audio spots:

St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Ellenbrook St Mary the Virgin’s Church or Ellenbrook Chapel is an active Anglican church in Ellenbrook, Worsley, Greater Manchester. The church was granted Grade II listed status in 1966. It is in the Eccles deanery, archdeaconry of Salford and diocese of Manchester.

Boothstown and Ellenbrook (ward) The ward was created in 2004 following recommendations made by the Boundary Committee for England. It is represented in Westminster by Barbara Keeley MP for Worsley and Eccles South. The 2011 Census recorded a population of 9,532.

New Manchester New Manchester or The City was an isolated mining community on the Manchester Coalfield. It lies west of a boundary stone at Ellenbrook which marks the ancient boundary of the Hundreds of Salford and West Derby. The Roman road from Manchester to Wigan and the Tyldesley Loopline passed south of the village.

St John’s Church, Mosley Common St John’s Church is an active church built in 1886. It is part of Leigh deanery in the archdeaconry of Salford, diocese of Manchester.

Walkden South Walkden South is an area and electoral ward of Salford, England. It is represented in Westminster by Barbara Keeley MP for Worsley and Eccles South.

Garrett Hall Garrett Hall or The Garrett is a former manor house in Tyldesley, Greater Manchester. The hall was designated a grade II listed building in 1987.

Great Boys Colliery Great Boys Colliery was a coal mine operating on the Manchester Coalfield in the second half of the 19th century. It was sunk on Great Boys farm, which in 1778 was described as a “messuage with eight Cheshire acres of land” The offices and lamproom for the pit occupied the building that is now the Colliers Arms public house, on Sale Lane.

Little Hulton (ward) Little Hulton (ward) is an electoral ward of Salford, England. It is represented in Westminster by Barbara Keeley MP for Worsley and Eccles South.

St Paul’s Church, Peel St Paul’s is an active Anglican parish church in Little Hulton, Greater Manchester. It is part of the Diocese of Manchester and is a Grade II listed building.

Walkden North Walkden North is an area and electoral ward of Salford, England. It is represented in Westminster by Barbara Keeley MP for Worsley and Eccles South.

Visit Worsley plaques