Salford City Council

Cliff conservation area

Designation date	1976
Extension date	August 1994 and 2008
Area	26.03 hectares (64.42 acres)
Listed building entries	11

Background information

The Cliff conservation area is situated to the west of Great Clowes Street and to the north of Great Cheetham Street West, lying on high ground that overlooks the River Irwell and the former Manchester Race course at Castle Irwell.

There is no evidence of the earlier properties that existed at the Cliff due to the area's gradual change from a rural area to a residential suburb. The oldest house that now exists is Cliff House dating from 1817, which was the first of a number of large houses to be erected overlooking the River Irwell.

In the mid-19th century the majority of residents at the Cliff were members of the professional classes but a number of merchants also resided there. The Cliff was one of the earliest residential suburbs for "commuters" into Manchester and Salford. Whilst the layout of the Cliff was not as formal as areas such as Victoria Park in Manchester, it was a prototype for such later developments.

As the 19th century progressed the character of the area changed, due partly to improvements in the transport system which enabled people to live further away from the commercial centre and allowed clerical and similar workers to enter the area of Great Clowes Street and Lower Broughton Road.

In the 20th century the area underwent further change with many of the larger properties converted for multiple-occupation. However, the majority of the twelve listed buildings within the conservation area have remained in single ownership, ensuring that the western boundary which overlooks the River Irwell resembles that which appeared on the 1848 Ordnance Survey map.

Boundary extensions - 1994 and 2008

A number of residents in the area to the south of Hugh Oldham Drive petitioned Salford City Council to include the playing fields. The Polygon, Grecian Street School and the properties in between within the conservation area boundary. After careful consideration these were included and became part of the Cliff conservation area in 1994.

As part of the appraisal of the Cliff conservation area, consideration was given to the review of its boundary. In May 2008 the boundary was extended to the north to include a small part of Kersal Vale wood as far as Bury New Road. This was done to encourage an improved visual link at the head of Lower Broughton Road into the wooded valley.

Listed building entries	Grade
388 and 390, Lower Broughton Road	II
464 Lower Broughton Road	II
466 Lower Broughton Road	II
435 (Scarr Wheel House), Lower Broughton Road	II
461 (Cliff House), Lower Broughton Road	II
437 Lower Broughton Road	II
451 Lower Broughton Road	II
453 Lower Broughton Road	II
455 Lower Broughton Road	II
457 and 459 Lower Broughton Road	II
The Sports Pavilion, Broughton playing fields, Lower Broughton Road	II

Who to contact

Name

Spatial Planning

Address

Salford City Council
Civic Centre
Chorley Road
Swinton
Salford
M27 5BY
Map to this location

Telephone

0161 793 3782

Email

plans.consultation@salford.gov.uk

This page was last updated on 18 March 2013