Eccles brings together architectural history, local food culture and a route that places the town within a wider walking area. The Church of St Mary preserves medieval features; the history of Eccles cake dates back to 1796. There are also Eccles Recreation Ground and the Salford Trail, which passes through Eccles on its return to Salford Quays. You can decide which of these aspects will shape your trip by choosing between local history, a regional trail and park facilities.
Architectural and local history
The Church of St Mary preserves features dating from the 13th century and was extended in the 15th century. Above the nave is a 15th-century coffered roof. The church is a Grade I listed building. Its different medieval building phases can be distinguished. Eccles town centre also has a high concentration of listed and locally listed buildings.
Another detail in the church is the coat of arms from the former Waterloo Gates, now displayed there. The gates were erected shortly after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The Church of St Mary thus brings together architectural history and a tangible reminder of the town’s history.
Eccles Library is housed in a Grade II listed Carnegie library and has an extensive local history collection. Queens Arms marks a different moment in history: the building was constructed in 1828 in the lead-up to the opening of the Liverpool–Manchester Railway; the railway opened in 1830. These two dates provide a clear timeline for the early history of this railway.
Eccles cake: local food culture with a history
In 1796, James Birch began making Eccles cakes in a shop opposite Eccles Parish Church. The shop’s former premises still stand on Church Street; they are now occupied by a dry cleaner. The product, person and place come together in a specific story. At the same time, the former shop premises now serve a different purpose than they did when the cakes were made there.
The traditional Eccles cake is recommended as a local speciality to try. For visitors interested in regional food culture, it offers a different trail from the listed buildings: the focus here is a local product with a named origin story. The historic address and the premises’ current use belong to different chapters of that story.
Salford Trail and Eccles Recreation Ground
The Salford Trail passes through Eccles on its return to Salford Quays. The route is about 50 miles, or 80 kilometres, long and is divided into ten sections, each accessible by public transport. Along the way, it follows rivers and canals and passes through country parks, fields, woods and moorland. Its overall length establishes the trail as a regional route; the section through Eccles is its direct connection to the town.
Eccles Recreation Ground offers a different way to spend time outdoors. Facilities include bowling greens, football pitches, a multi-use games area, French boules and a children’s playground for children aged four to 14. This gives you two clearly different options: the longer Salford Trail, divided into sections, and a park with designated sports and play facilities.
Getting here and choosing where to stay
Eccles has a transport hub, Eccles Interchange, which offers a range of travel options. When looking for a holiday rental, you can first consider which aspect of the town matters for your stay: its architecture and local history, the tradition of Eccles cake or time outdoors. For walking and park facilities, there is a specific choice between the regional route that passes through Eccles and the facilities at the Recreation Ground. This lets you choose where to stay based on the activities you want to include in your trip.
Discover more destinations: Audenshaw, Urmston, Golborne, Cheadle, Kearsley, Bramhall, Wigan, Middleton
For the wider travel overview: Greater Manchester.
