View source for Kersal

{{Short description|Suburb of Salford, Greater Manchester, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| london_distance          =
| coordinates              = {{coord|53.510062|-2.278237|display=inline,title}}
| official_name            = Kersal
| population               = 12,929
| population_ref           = (Ward profile conducted by [[Salford City Council]] in 2014)
| metropolitan_borough     = [[City of Salford]]
| metropolitan_county      = [[Greater Manchester]]
| region                   = North West England
| constituency_westminster = [[Blackley and Broughton (UK Parliament constituency)|Blackley and Broughton]]
| councillor1              = Ari Leitner
| party1                   = Conservative
| councillor2              = Arnold Saunders
| party2                   = Conservative
| councillor3              = Peter Connor
| party3                   = Labour
| post_town                = SALFORD
| postcode_district        = M7
| postcode_area            = M
| dial_code                = 0161
| os_grid_reference        = SD815015
| static_image             = [[File:Kersal Cell.JPG|240px]]
| static_image_caption     = Kersal Cell, built in 1563 
}}
'''Kersal''' is a district of [[Salford]], [[Greater Manchester]], England, {{convert|3|mi|km|1}} northwest of [[Manchester city centre]].

==History==
Kersal has been variously known as Kereshale, Kershal, Kereshole, Carshall and Kersall.<ref name="townships">see'Townships: Broughton', A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 4 (1911), pp.&nbsp;217–222. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=41408. Retrieved 28 October 2007</ref>

The name incorporates the [[Old English]] word ''halh'', meaning "a piece of flat [[alluvial]] land by the side of a river". "''Kers''al" indicates that this was land where [[Barbarea verna|cress]] grew.<ref>Ekwall, E. ''The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names'', 4th ed. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1960, p.273</ref>

In 1142, Kereshale was given to the [[Priory]] of Lenton, an order of [[Cluniac Reforms|Cluniac]] [[monk]]s, who established an early cell there named [[Leonard of Noblac|St Leonard]]'s. On the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]] in 1540 [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] sold the priory and its lands to one Baldwin Willoughby. It was sold eight years later to Ralph Kenyon, who was acting on behalf of himself, James Chetham of [[Crumpsall]] and Richard Siddall of [[Withington]]. The Kenyon third was sold about the year 1660 to the Byroms of [[Manchester]], whose line terminated on the death of [[Eleanora Atherton]] in 1870. All the land eventually descended to, or was bought by, the Clowes family (the Lords of the [[manorialism|Manor]] of [[Broughton, Salford|Broughton]]) who began to sell off the land for development in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The most famous resident of Kersal Cell was [[John Byrom]] (1692–1763). It is said that he wrote the hymn ''[[Christians Awake]]'' there, but it is more likely that it was written at his home in the [[Shambles Square, Manchester|Old Shambles]] in Manchester above what is now the Wellington Inn.<ref name="townships"/> After John and his wife's death Kersal Cell was left to his daughter the enthusiastic Jacobite [[Elizabeth Byrom]]. Her diary of her time with Bonnie Prince Charlie was discovered in the house.<ref name=eorb>{{Cite ODNB |title=Elizabeth Byrom in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |date=2004-09-23 |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/48929 |editor-last=Matthew |editor-first=H. C. G. |access-date=2023-05-21 |place=Oxford |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/48929 |editor2-last=Harrison |editor2-first=B.}}</ref>

In the 17th century, the Kersal Moor races were the great event of the year. They usually took place around [[Whit Week]] when large numbers of people turned the area into a giant fairground for several days.<ref>Dobkin (1999), p.&nbsp;3.</ref> The moor was also used for nude male races, allowing females to study the form before choosing their mates. Indeed, in the 18th century, [[Roger Aytoun]], known as "Spanking Roger", later a hero of the [[Siege of Gibraltar]], acquired Hough Hall in [[Moston, Manchester|Moston]], through marriage after such a race.<ref name=roger>[http://www.m-cr.net/fohh/index.php?page=pages&menuid=6 ]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Retrieved 27 October 2007</ref> Kersal Moor was also host to one of the great political events of the 19th century, when it was the meeting place for the largest of the [[Chartism|Chartist]] Assemblies attended by at least 30,000 people in September 1838 and again in May 1839. It was also the site of one of the first golf courses to be built outside Scotland. Kersal Links opened in 1818, and was the oldest golf course between the [[River Thames|Thames]] and the [[River Tweed|Tweed]] until it closed in 1960.<ref>[http://www.salford.gov.uk/leisure/parks/parksinsalford/countryparks/thecliff/kersaldalehistory.htm Retrieved 2007-11-03]</ref> The Kersal Moor races began prior to 1680 and continued, with various interruptions, until 1847 when the course was switched to the other side of the [[River Irwell]], to [[Manchester Racecourse|Castle Irwell]], where it remained until 1963. In 1961 the Members' Stand at the Castle Irwell Racecourse was opened and contained the world's first executive boxes. The [[architect]] for the racecourse, Ernest Atherden, showed this to the directors of [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] who opened their first executive box in 1965, and hence began the modern corporatisation of sport.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Grounds for saving
  | publisher = The Observer
  | date = 17 November 2002
  | url =http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,6903,841662,00.html
  | access-date = 28 October 2007
| location=London}}</ref>
[[File:Former Toll House - Kersal.jpg|thumb|right|Former Kersal Bar Toll House]]
Kersal remained a rural area until about 1840 when the Clowes family, who owned most of the land in the area, began to sell it off for development, and merchants and manufacturers began to build their mansions in the green fields of [[Broughton, Salford|Higher Broughton]] and Kersal. In keeping with their own ideas of social engineering they imposed strict [[Covenant (law)|covenants]] on how the land was used, reserving the higher ground for more well-to-do residents and the lower ground for workers' cottages.<ref>Dobkin (1999), p.&nbsp;39.</ref> The number of [[public house]]s was severely restricted and then, only beer houses that didn't sell spirits were allowed. Singleton Road and Moor Lane were the only roads connecting Bury Old Road and Bolton Road and there was a toll bar on the corner of Bury Old Road. When Bury New Road was built in 1831 a gate or bar was erected and travellers had to pay a toll to the [[turnpike trust]] to pass through. A [[toll house]] was erected on Bury New Road with a bay window projecting out so that the toll collector had a clear view of the road. By 1848 the local authority had taken over the road, the tolls were abolished and the toll collector's house became a [[newsagent]]'s. This was the only shop in an area where the landowner's restrictive covenants prevented commercial development.<ref>Dobkin (1999), p.&nbsp;40.</ref> The exterior of the house remains largely unchanged to this day, although it was renovated in 2007 with a two-storey extension being added to the rear. The Toll House is now a Grade II [[listed building]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.salford.gov.uk/living/planning/heritage-and-conservation/listedbuilding/listed-building-register/listed-building-register-b.htm|title=Listed Building Register B – Salford City Council<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=12 November 2007|archive-date=15 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315015134/http://www.salford.gov.uk/living/planning/heritage-and-conservation/listedbuilding/listed-building-register/listed-building-register-b.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Demolition of Kersal Flats (October 1990).jpg|thumb|right|Demolition of the Kersal flats in 1990]]
In the 1930s a large [[Public housing in the United Kingdom|council housing estate]] was built to the east of Littleton Road. Twelve high-rise tower blocks, known as Kersal flats, were constructed for Salford Council in the 1960s. Eight of these were demolished in 1990. The other blocks were sold to private developers to renovate for private sale. The [[Housing Act 1980]] gave [[leasehold estate|tenants]] the [[right to buy scheme|right to buy]].<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Council tenants will have 'right to buy'
  | publisher = BBC News
  | date = 20 December 1979
  | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/20/newsid_4017000/4017019.stm
  | access-date = 3 November 2007 }}</ref>  Since then much of the council estate has been sold to sitting tenants and by 2011 just over 50% of homes in the Kersal Ward were in owner-occupation.<ref name="Tennant">{{cite web |title= Area: Kersal (Salford Ward): Tenure | url = http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=13689274&c=Kersal&d=14&e=61&g=6344969&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1492126412241&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2505 | website = neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date= 14 April 2017}}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Kersal (Salford City Council ward).png|thumb|right|Kersal electoral ward within [[Salford City Council]].]]
Kersal was originally a [[hamlet (place)|hamlet]] in the [[Township (England)|township]] of [[Broughton, Salford|Broughton]].<ref>Farrer, William; Brownhill, J. (1908), "[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=38347 House of Cluniac monks: The cell of Kersal]", in {{cite book | editor-last1 = Farrer | editor-first1 = William | editor-last2 = Brownhill | editor-first2 = J. | title = A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 2 | publisher = Victoria County History | location = London | via = [[British History Online]] | year = 1908 }}</ref> In 1853 the township amalgamated with [[County Borough of Salford|Salford]] despite opposition from some of its more wealthy residents, who did not wish to "assimilate the cotton of Manchester or the filth of Salford".<ref>Dobkin (1999), p.&nbsp;26.</ref> Kersal & Broughton Park [[Ward (country subdivision)|ward]] (simply Kersal until 2021) is one of twenty, each represented by three councillors, which make up the City of Salford.

;Councillors 
The ward is represented by three councillors: Ari Leitner (Con),<ref>{{cite web | title = Councillor Ari Leitner | url = https://sccdemocracy.salford.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=298 | website = sccdemocracy.salford.gov.uk | publisher = [[Salford City Council]] | access-date = 9 May 2018}}</ref> Arnold Saunders (Con)<ref>{{cite web | title = Councillor Arnold Saunders | url = https://sccdemocracy.salford.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=261 | website = sccdemocracy.salford.gov.uk | publisher = [[Salford City Council]] | access-date = 4 April 2017}},</ref> and Andrew Walters (Independent).

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Election!!colspan="2"|Councillor!!colspan="2"|Councillor!!colspan="2"|Councillor
|-
| [[2004 Salford City Council election|2004]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| Ann-Marie Humphreys ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| George Wilson ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| Peter Connor ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
|-
| [[2006 Salford City Council election|2006]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| Ann-Marie Humphreys ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| George Wilson ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Peter Connor ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
|-
| [[2007 Salford City Council election|2007]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Ann-Marie Humphreys ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| George Wilson ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Peter Connor ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
|-
| [[2008 Salford City Council election|2008]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Ann-Marie Humphreys ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| George Wilson ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| Peter Connor ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
|-
| [[2010 Salford City Council election|2010]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| Ann-Marie Humphreys ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| George Wilson ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Peter Connor ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
|-
| [[2011 Salford City Council election|2011]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Ann-Marie Humphreys ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| George Wilson ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Peter Connor ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
|-
| [[2012 Salford City Council election|2012]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Ann-Marie Humphreys ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| George Wilson ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| Peter Connor ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
|-
| [[2014 Salford City Council election|2014]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"|Ann-Marie Humphreys ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| George Wilson ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Peter Connor ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
|-
| [[2015 Salford City Council election|2015]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Ann-Marie Humphreys ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| Harry Davies ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Peter Connor ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
|-
| [[2016 Salford City Council election|2016]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Ann-Marie Humphreys ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Harry Davies ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| Peter Connor ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
|-
| [[Salford City Council elections#By-election results|By-election<br />2 March 2017]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Ann-Marie Humphreys ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:silver;"| Arnold Saunders ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Con]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Peter Connor ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
|-
| [[2018 Salford City Council election|2018]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| Ari Leitner ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Con]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Arnold Saunders ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Con]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Peter Connor ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
|-
| [[2019 Salford City Council election|2019]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| Ari Leitner ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Con]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| Arnie Saunders ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Con]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| Peter Connor ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])
|-
| [[2021 Salford City Council election|2021]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| Ari Leitner ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Con]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| Arnie Saunders ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Con]])
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| style="background:#9cf;"| Andrew Walters ([[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Ind]])
|}
{{Color box|#99CCFF|border=darkgray}} indicates seat up for re-election.
{{Color box|#C0C0C0|border=darkgray}} indicates seat won in by-election.

==Geography==
Kersal is bounded on the north by Singleton Brook, which defines the border with [[Prestwich]], on the south and west by the River Irwell and on the east by [[Broughton, Greater Manchester|Broughton]], although the exact position of the border with Broughton is difficult to determine. The west and south of the district lie in the [[flood-plain]] of the River Irwell, and consequently have historically been subject to flooding. Serious floods were documented in 1866, 1946, 1954 and 1980.<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Hindle
  | first = Paul
  | title = Exploring Greater Manchester&nbsp;— a fieldwork guide
  | publisher = Manchester Geographical Society
  | year = 1998
  | url = http://www.mangeogsoc.org.uk/egm/5_1.pdf
 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.salford.gov.uk/leisure/museums/lifetimes/lifetimes-stories/stories-area3.htm Stories and Photos – Kersal & Broughton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040919084147/http://www.salford.gov.uk/leisure/museums/lifetimes/lifetimes-stories/stories-area3.htm |date=19 September 2004 }}, Salford City Council, 15 July 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2007</ref> The River Irwell Flood Defence Scheme, officially opened in 2005, uses [[levees]] and the playing fields alongside the river as an emergency [[water catchment]] area to alleviate this problem.<ref>[http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/irwell_03_1771695.pdf River Irwell Catchment Flood Management Plan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031133325/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/irwell_03_1771695.pdf |date=31 October 2008 }}, [[Environment Agency]], December 2006. Retrieved 28 October 2007.</ref>

The land in the north east rises steeply before flattening out into a series of rolling hills. At one time it was a pastoral area (said to be of {{convert|100|acre|km2|1}}) known as Kersal Woods or Kersal Moor. Much of it has now been developed for [[residential]] purposes or as a football ground, and the open land known today as Kersal Moor comprises an area of only {{convert|12|acre|km2|2}}.

==Demography==
A profile of the ward conducted by [[Salford City Council]] in 2014 recorded a population of 12,929 with 86.8% of people describing themselves as white, 2.3% African, 1.4% Pakistani and 2.7% as other ethnic group.<ref name="Kersal_2014">{{cite book | title = Kersal Ward Profile | url = https://www.salford.gov.uk/media/388907/kersal-ward-profile-mar-2016.pdf | website = salford.gov.uk | publisher = [[Salford City Council]] | date = March 2016 }}</ref>

The [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 UK Census]] recorded that the religious mix is mainly [[Christians|Christian]] and [[Jewish]] with 34.3% of the population describing themselves as Christian and 40.96% as Jewish. 3.30% describe themselves as [[Muslim]] with none of the other faiths exceeding 0.5%.<ref name="Religion">{{cite web |title= Area: Kersal (Salford Ward): Religion | url = http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=13689274&c=Kersal&d=14&e=61&g=6344969&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1492126412241&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2579 | website = neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date= 14 April 2017}}</ref>

==Religion==
[[File:St pauls kersal.jpg|thumb|upright|left|St Paul's Church, Moor Lane]]
Churches in Kersal include the [[Anglican]] St Paul's Church on Moor Lane, built at the instigation of Colonel William Legh Clowes and [[Eleanora Atherton]] of Kersal Cell "for the benefit of the poor of Rainscow" (Rainsough&nbsp;— a hamlet just across the border in Prestwich) in 1851–1852.<ref>Dobkin (1999), p.&nbsp;9.</ref>

The only church in Lower Kersal is the Anglican St Aidan's on Littleton Road, a brick-built church opened in 1972 which seats about 120 people.<ref>[http://www.salfordchurch.org/St_Aidan.html St Aidan's, Lower Kersal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071105195621/http://www.salfordchurch.org/St_Aidan.html |date=5 November 2007 }}, Anglican churches in central Salford. Retrieved 3 November 2007.</ref>

There is also the [[Roman Catholic]] church Our Lady of Dolours, on Bury New Road served by [[Servite Friars]] and known locally as "the Servites". The building adjacent to the church at number 500 Bury New Road, now used as the Servite [[Priory]] for the church, was originally the [[Greece|Greek]] [[Consulate]] and still has many Greek motifs adorning its internal decor.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The former Catholic Chaplaincy at St Philip's Church on Northallerton Road, Lower Kersal, is now home to the "Just Youth" ministry of the [[Holy Ghost Fathers]].{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

There are convents of the Roman Catholic [[Sisters of the Cross and Passion]] on Bury New Road and [[Faithful Companions of Jesus]] on Singleton Road, and there was also a closed order of [[nuns]] at a [[Carmelite]] [[Convent]] on Vine Street for many years.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

[[Synagogue]]s in Kersal include the [[Spanish and Portuguese Jews#Great Britain|Spanish and Portuguese]] Synagogue (Shaare Tephillah), founded in 1873,<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Massil
  | first =Stephen
  | title = Jewish Year Book 2007
  | publisher = Vallentine Mitchell
  | year = 2007
  | isbn = 978-0-85303-735-4
  | page =110}}</ref> and North Salford Synagogue. Greater Manchester has the largest Jewish community in the United Kingdom outside London<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ejpress.org/article/in_depth/on_anglo_jewry/3807 |title=EJP {{!}} In Depth {{!}} On Anglo Jewry {{!}} Anglo Jewry Today<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=12 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109180303/http://ejpress.org/article/in_depth/on_anglo_jewry/3807 |archive-date=9 November 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Kersal, along with Higher Broughton, Prestwich, and [[Whitefield, Greater Manchester|Whitefield]], is home to most of the [[Orthodox Jewish]] community.

==Education==
There are three schools serving the area, St Philip's Roman Catholic Primary School on Cavendish Road, Lower Kersal Community Primary School on St Aidan's Grove, off Littleton Road and St Paul's Church of England Primary School on Nevile Road which replaced a school of the same name built in the 19th century on [[Kersal Moor]] and demolished in the 20th century. There was also a [[high school]] off Moor Lane on Mesnefield Road, Kersal High School, which was replaced in 2003 with the Albion High School, based on Lissadel Street, Charlestown. Kersal High School was demolished in 2006 and its site used for housing.

==Health==
The mortality rate in Lower Kersal and Charlestown is more than twice the national average and approximately one third of the population has a chronic illness.<ref name="chalk">[http://www.chalk-ndc.info/delivery_plan_2001-2011.pdf The Salford New Deal for Communities Delivery Plan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710041359/http://www.chalk-ndc.info/delivery_plan_2001-2011.pdf |date=10 July 2007 }}, The Charlestown/Lower Kersal Partnership, 2001. Retrieved 3 November 2007</ref> Although 52 [[General Practitioner]]s serve the area, only three are located within it and there is just one pharmacy and one part-time dentist.<ref name="chalk"/> New Deal for Communities (NDC) was a programme that was part of the Government strategy to regenerate deprived neighbourhoods in England. The two neighbourhoods covered by the Salford NDC were Charlestown and Lower Kersal. A grant of £53m was awarded to the area and a 10-year plan developed. It focused on health, crime, education and employment, young people, building communities and the physical environment. Plans for new health services in Kersal, including two GP practices, a pharmacy, a healthy living project, children and young people's health services and community health services, were implemented with the opening of the Horizon Centre, part of the Willow Tree Healthy Living Centre, at 94 Littleton Road in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhs.uk/service-search|title=Find services – NHS|last=NHS|website=www.nhs.uk|date=9 November 2020}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[Salford City F.C.|Salford City Football Club]] ("The Ammies") is based at the Moor Lane ground in Kersal. The club, founded in 1940, moved into this historic ground in 1978, a location with a sporting legacy which includes horse racing, golf, cricket, rugby union, rugby league, tennis and archery, going back as far as 1681.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://salfordcityfc.com/|title=salfordcityfc.com – Domain Name For Sale|website=salfordcityfc.com|access-date=23 June 2019|archive-date=23 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623094946/https://salfordcityfc.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Horse racing moved from Kersal Moor to a new racecourse at Castle Irwell, just across the [[River Irwell]] from Kersal, in 1847. In 1867 it was moved to New Barnes, [[Weaste]] but the site had to be vacated in 1901 when [[Salford Docks]] expanded and built its Dock 9. Castle Irwell later staged a Classic&nbsp;– the 1941 [[St Leger Stakes]], and was most famous as home of the [[Lancashire Oaks]] (nowadays run at [[Haydock Park Racecourse]]) and the [[November Handicap]], which was traditionally the last major race of the British flat season. Both the Castle Irwell and New Barnes sites were named the "[[Manchester Racecourse]]" even though they were entirely within the borders of Salford. Through the late 1950s and early 1960s the track saw jockeys such as [[Scobie Breasley]] and [[Lester Piggott]] annually battle out the closing acts of the jockey's title until racing ceased on 7 November 1963. The intention was to sell the land, apart from {{convert|4.5|acre|m2}}, to a property development company. Both the City Council and the Royal Technical College objected and their objections were upheld at a [[Public Inquiry|Public Enquiry]] two years later.<ref>{{harvnb|Gordon|1975|p=177}}</ref> The main stand at Castle Irwell was designed by local architect Ernst Atherton and was the first stand at any sports venue in the UK to include private boxes, the idea having later been copied by [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and then made commonplace throughout the country. The structure still survives as a [[students' union]] building; and in the early 1970s the majority of the site was used to build a student village for the [[University of Salford]], the first student houses opening in October 1972.<ref>{{harvnb|Gordon|1975|p=201}}</ref>

Kersal's long association with sport continues with the building of Salford Sports Village, a major sports facility centred on Littleton Road which opened in March 2006. This facility is a £4.7m flagship project for the [[Pendleton, Greater Manchester|Charlestown]] and Lower Kersal New Deal for Communities Partnership, Salford Community Leisure and Manchester [[Association football|Football]] Association. The football facilities include mini, junior and adult grass pitches, a third generation artificial floodlit pitch, a 60-metre x 40&nbsp;metre artificial pitch, 18 adult grass pitches and players and officials changing rooms. There is also a community suite with a meeting room/social facility with catering facilities, office accommodation training room and an [[Information technology|ICT]] suite.

The Riverbank Park, a neighbourhood park and children's play area, opened next to the Sports Village in 2007.

==Community facilities==
{{more citations needed|section|date=December 2018}}

Kersal Dale Country Park occupies about 32&nbsp;hectares of countryside<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.salford.gov.uk/leisure/parks/parksinsalford/countryparks/thecliff.htm|title=The Cliff / Kersal Dale – Salford City Council|date=29 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629235755/http://www.salford.gov.uk/leisure/parks/parksinsalford/countryparks/thecliff.htm|archive-date=29 June 2008}}</ref> straddling a large meander of the River Irwell to the east of Kersal. Approximately half of the park is [[beech]] woodland on the side of the Irwell Valley and half is flat land on the flood-plain of the river, which occupies part of the area formerly taken up by the Irwell Castle Racecourse and Kersal Links golf course. The park is designated as a Local Nature Reserve.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.salford.gov.uk/kersaldalehistory.htm|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120805131817/http://www.salford.gov.uk/kersaldalehistory.htm|archivedate=5 August 2012|url-status=dead|title=Kersal Dale history – Salford City Council|access-date=30 June 2021}}</ref> The Salford Ranger Team organise environmental walks and talks, educational programmes for schools and other activities. There is also a permanent [[orienteering]] course.

Kersal Moor is an eight hectare recreation ground to the north of Kersal designated as a Site of Biological Importance and a Local Nature Reserve which consists of open moorland popular with dog walkers and schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salford.gov.uk/biodiversity-spd-january-2006.pdf |title=Salford City Council Supplementary planning Document: Nature Conservation and Biodiversity: Adopted 19 July 2006 |work=Salford City Council |date=19 July 2007 |access-date=14 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225142818/http://www.salford.gov.uk/biodiversity-spd-january-2006.pdf |archive-date=25 February 2009 }}</ref>

Lower Kersal Activities Centre, Northallerton Road, Lower Kersal runs a variety of community activities for different age groups, including holiday play schemes. Salford College also runs community courses for over 16s at the centre.

Lower Kersal Social Club, Stamford Road, is a sports and social club open to the public. The club consists of two rooms – the vault area with TV's, 4 darts boards, 1 snooker table and 1 pool table.

The Community Groups' Network gives local community groups, residents' groups and volunteers in Charlestown and Lower Kersal the chance to meet and share information.

Lower Kersal Young People's Group is a Greater Manchester youth network.

The Y-Talk Website has been designed with, and for, young people in Charlestown and Kersal. The site is produced and managed by Salford Youth Service.

==Industry==
A soap factory was established in Kersal Vale, by the side of the River Irwell on the border with Prestwich in 1920 by [[Alexander Tom Cussons]]. The factory produced the famous brands of Carex, Cussons Imperial Leather and Morning Fresh but was closed down in 2009 and was demolished in 2010.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

==Plans==
The Charlestown and Lower Kersal New Deal for Communities has made many improvements to the area including the sports village and improvements to housing and the local environment. There is much work yet to be done, including the demolition of old housing stock to make way for new development. The New Deal Team is working closely with Salford City Council, partner agencies and a network of well-established community groups with their stated aim being to "make sure that the area can become a prosperous and thriving part of Salford." The plans have not been universally welcomed and action groups have been formed to protest at the perceived lack of consultation and the threat to existing homes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/54/greenbelt.html |title=Networking Newsletter (Issue 54): Green Belt in for a Thrashing |access-date=1 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014074211/http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/54/greenbelt.html |archive-date=14 October 2006 }} Retrieved 2 November 2007</ref>

==Notable residents==
*[[Eleanora Atherton]], philanthropist
*[[John Byrom]] (1692–1763), poet and inventor of a revolutionary system of [[shorthand]].
*[[Edward Schunck]] (1829–1903), organic chemist
*[[Annie Swynnerton]] (1844–1933), artist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artmagick.com/pictures/artist.aspx?artist=annie-louisa-swynnerton#biography|title=Annie Louisa Swynnerton:Biography|last=Anon|work=ArtMagick|access-date=2 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203114339/http://artmagick.com/pictures/artist.aspx?artist=annie-louisa-swynnerton#biography|archive-date=3 February 2010}}</ref>
*[[Hewlett Johnson]] (1874–1966), cleric later known as the Red Dean of Canterbury, born here.
*Ginger Joe, C-MAC and Little Kev of Notable Rap Group 'The Kersal Massive'<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://themanc.com/feature/the-story-of-kersal-massive-manchesters-greatest-rap-trio/|title=The story of Kersal Massive: Manchester's most infamous ever rap trio|date=22 December 2020|via=themanc.com}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Listed buildings in Salford, Greater Manchester]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last=Dobkin |first=Monty |title=Broughton and Cheetham Hill in Regency and Victorian times |year=1999 |publisher=Neil Richardson |isbn=1-85216-131-0}}
*{{Cite book |last=Gordon |first=Colin |year=1975 |title=The Foundations of the University of Salford |location=Altrincham |publisher=John Sherratt and Son |isbn=0-85427-045-0 }}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*[http://98.130.137.247/history.html A brief history of Kersal]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://www.chalk-ndc.info/index/doing/physical-environment/the-environment/sports-village.htm Salford Sports Village] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019035119/http://www.chalk-ndc.info/index/doing/physical-environment/the-environment/sports-village.htm |date=19 October 2007 }}
*[http://www.salford.gov.uk/leisure/parks/parksinsalford/countryparks/thecliff/kersaldalehistory.htm History of Kersal Dale]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080527192108/http://www.salford.gov.uk/leisure/parks/parksinsalford/countryparks/thecliff/kersaldalevideo.htm Video of Kersal Dale's History]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071204044906/http://www.chalk-ndc.info/text/index/doing/building-communities/community-groupsnetwork.htm The Community Groups' Network]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070511231118/http://www.gmynetwork.org.uk/orgs/alpha.html The Lower Kersal Young Peoples Group]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060526185056/http://www.y-talk.co.uk/home.asp Y-Talk Website]
*[http://www.chalk-ndc.info/index/doing/physical-environment.htm The Charlestown & Lower Kersal New Deal for Communities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206051115/http://www.chalk-ndc.info/index/doing/physical-environment.htm |date=6 December 2007 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070710041359/http://www.chalk-ndc.info/delivery_plan_2001-2011.pdf Salford New Deal for Communities Delivery Plan 2001–2011]
*[http://www.kersalflats.co.uk/ Website about Kersal and Kersal Flats]

{{Areas of Salford}}
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[[Category:Areas of Salford]]
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