Salford has moved to recognise places tied to the city’s social history after a site connected to the 1930s dole protests was nominated for inclusion on a local heritage list.
Historic protest site among nominations
The location is associated with the mass protest that ended in a violent encounter with police, when mounted officers charged into demonstrators and many people were badly injured. Among those present on the day were writer Walter Greenwood, who later drew on the events in his novel Love On The Dole, and folk singer and activist Ewan MacColl (then known as Jimmy Miller), who went on to write songs including Dirty Old Town.
The nomination is part of a wider round of applications put forward for consideration by the council’s heritage team. Other entries from across the borough include:
- Cosmo Bingo hall on Liverpool Road in Eccles
- a pet groomers at Booth Villa in Worsley
- an old potato warehouse in Boothstown
- a selection of historic post boxes around the borough
What happens next
Residents will be able to read the full proposals and submit their views during a consultation period set to run from 3 August until 14 September. The consultation will inform whether sites are added to the local list, a register used to identify buildings and locations of local historic or communal value that are not covered by national listing.
| Site | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Unspecified dole march site | Salford | Historic protest association |
| Cosmo Bingo | Liverpool Road, Eccles | Community leisure building |
| Booth Villa groomers | Worsley | Small commercial premises |
| Potato warehouse | Boothstown | Industrial historic building |
Local listing does not carry the same statutory protection as national listing but can influence planning decisions, helping conserve places of local meaning and preventing unsympathetic development.
Alongside the cultural significance, several of the nominations underscore Salford’s industrial and social past, reflecting how ordinary buildings and public infrastructure can carry communal value long after their original use has ended.
Residents wishing to comment should look out for formal consultation materials from Salford City Council when the period opens in August.
