About Salford Museum & Art Gallery

Salford Museum and Art Gallery first opened to the public in 1850 and ever since we have been welcoming visitors and adding to our collections.

Find out more about our history, clubs and societies, Friends of Salford Museums and more below.

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The feel of a Salford street in the latter part of the Victorian era.

The main museum collection is now one of social history, although originally the museum had a wider remit when it came to collecting artefacts from all over the world. One of the main ways we display our wonderful objects is through our reconstructed street, Lark Hill Place, which contains thousands of museum objects to recreate the feel of a Salford street in the latter part of the Victorian era.

Our permanent art display in the Victorian Gallery has recently been re-hung and now contains over a hundred works of art exhibited in the style of a Victorian gallery. The entire gallery has been repainted and new interpretation added to help our visitors to enjoy and engage with the pieces on show.

We’re proud to offer a unique cultural experience and hope Salford Museum and Art Gallery will remain one of the top visitor attractions in Greater Manchester for the study and appreciation of art and history.

Entry to the museum is free and with some much to see and do, as well as a popular café, it’s a firm favourite with adults and children alike and ideal for a memorable day out.

See all the collections

The feel of a Salford street in the latter part of the Victorian era.

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Our History Clubs and Societies Museum Membership Pinc College

Our History

The museums curation and opening

In 1849, Salford City Council sanctioned the use of Lark Hill Mansion as an educational site and planned to turn the mansion into a public museum and library
Mr John Plant was appointed as the museum’s curator and librarian in October of 1849
The museum opened as the Royal Museum and Public Library on the 9th January 1850. After being open for 129 days, the museum had an average of 1,240 visitors per day
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were the first patrons of the museum, with royal patronage continuing until 1940

Changes to the building

In its first year of opening (1850), extensive refreshment rooms were opened on the basement floor and two adjoining rooms were added to the library which allowed it to accommodate nearly 12,000 volumes
In 1851, three of the East rooms in the museum were knocked into one and suggestions were made to turn it into an art gallery
Large extension work began in 1852 with a large reading room on the ground floor and a room for museum purposes above. It was added to the back of the building to allow for future extension and a new staircase was also proposed to accommodate the increasing number of visitors
Between 1854 and 1856, the North and South galleries were opened along with the lending library of 2,500 books
By 1857, visitor figures had raised to 888,830 per year which equates to a daily average of 3,508
Edward Langworthy left £10,000 to the museum and library when he died in 1874. With his money, the building of the Langworthy wing began in 1875 and was finished and in occupation in 1878. The official opening was on 14 August 1878 and a grand ball was held in the museum that evening to celebrate

Interesting facts

Lark Hill Mansion was built in 1790 by Colonel James Ackers. When it was demolished in 1936 due to safety precautions, it was replaced with a new wing which mirrored the Langworthy wing
The ground floor of the new wing was turned into the Lark Hill Place exhibition in the 1950s
Peel Park, in which Salford Museum and Art Gallery is situated, was named after Robert Peel in honour of his contribution to the subscription fund which allowed the council to purchase Lark Hill Mansion in 1849

Friends of Salford Museum

The Friends of Salford Museums are at the heart of supporting both Salford Museum & Art Gallery and Ordsall Hall.

Formed over 50 years ago, the Friend promote, support and assist the improvement of the City of Salford museums and galleries in cooperation with their management and staff.

For more information please visit their website to keep up to date on events and activities. You can also support Salford’s heritage by joining the Friends.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Pinc College

We are delighted that Salford Museum & Art Gallery is a new campus for Pinc College.

Pinc College run specialist colleges for creative education within cultural venues in the UK, focusing on creative study programme pathways for 16-25 year olds, and including art, digital art and complementary studies for neurodiverse young people.

Pinc College strives to ensure no young person is isolated due to disadvantage and additional need, but has a place and an outlet for creativity and learning, that allows for raising of aspirations, self-value and connecting with community and place.

Learn more about Pinc College

Clubs and Societies

Salford Art Club

Venue: Salford Museum & Art Gallery
Time: Saturdays, 1:00-3:00pm for drawing, painting, demonstrations, talks and exhibitions
Email: salfordartclub@outlook.com
Website: Salford Art Club

For all sessions there is a small weekly charge which applies to both the club members and visitors, as well as an annual joining fee of £25.00. Prospective members are welcome to attend a couple of meetings free of charge before deciding on joining. Members from other clubs are welcome.

Chalk History Group (Charlestown and Lower Kersal) Local History Society

Venue: St Sebastian’s Community Hall, 1 Douglas Green, Salford
Time: Fortnightly, every other Friday from 12.30pm
Email: chalkhistory@yahoo.co.uk

Eccles and District History Society and Local History Group

Venue: Alexandra House, 395 Liverpool Road, Eccles, M30 7HB
Time: Second Wednesday of the month, talks commence at 7.30pm
Cost: £3.00
Contact: Andrew Cross
Phone: 0161 788 7263
Email: eccleshistory@yahoo.co.uk
Website: Eccles District History Society

Irlam, Cadishead and District Local History Society

Venue: St Paul’s Methodist Church, Liverpool Road, Irlam
Time: Third Wednesday of the month, talks commence at 7.30pm
Cost: £2.00 for visitors, £1.00 for members
Contact: Deborah Yates
Phone: 0161 775 8708
Email: debbie.yates@yahoo.co.uk
Website: Irlam and Cadishead History Society

Salford Local History Society

Venue: Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Peel Park, Salford, M5 4WU
Time: Last Wednesday of the month, talks held from 2-4pm
Cost: £3.00, visitors welcome
Contact: Roy Bullock
Phone: 0161 736 7306
Email: roy.bullock@ntlworld.com
Website: Salford Local History Society

Swinton and Pendlebury Local History Society

Venue: Swinton Library, 100 Chorley Road, Swinton, M27 4AE
Time: 10.00am
Cost: £1.50 (where there is a speaker), £1.00 (other sessions)
Contact: Jean Applyby or Marjorie Williams
Phone: 0161 794 4570 or 0161 793 7847

Working Class Movement Library

Venue: 51 The Crescent, Jubilee House, Salford, M5 4WX
Contact: Lynette Cawthra
Phone: 0161 736 3601
Email: enquiries@wcml.org.uk
Website: Working Class Movement Library