“Salford was first” - The 'poor bloke' in Salford who invented the UK’s first ever bus service
Ever wonder who first came up with the idea of a bus? Well look no further.
Newsletter author: Katherine Stephenson
In this week’s newsletter, we’ll take a look at one of Salford’s greatest entrepreneurs, who started the UK’s first ever bus service in Pendleton. Keep scrolling for the Salford MP’s take on the £1bn Regent Retail Park development, plus sport and what's on in the city this week.
We love to hear your comments so tell us what you liked and what you'd like more of in the comments at the bottom. If you enjoyed it, please forward this newsletter to someone who might enjoy it.
Got a story – or something you think we should look into? Let us know at now@salford.ac.uk
200 years ago, an ‘ordinary bloke’ in Salford set out a plan to revolutionise transport services for commuters across the UK. The legendary entrepreneur John Greenwood created the first ever bus service right here in the city of Salford.
Greenwood was born in 1788 in the small village of Heptonstall, West Yorkshire and originally worked as an apprentice corn miller. However, it appeared fate had a bigger plan for John as he had to give up his career in corn milling due to injury.
He began his career as a tollgate collector in Burnley and then later moved to Salford, where he set up his tollhouse in Pendleton in the 1820s.
Proud historian Paul Williams, from the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester, explained: “The roads at the time were terrible so there was an act of parliament set up called turnpike trusts.
“Which meant they were given the power to build a road, and in return, they were allowed to charge a toll for people passing through.”
A tollgate keeper would be stationed every few miles and they would have a toll house window so they could see people using the road and charge them accordingly. It was here, at his toll house in Pendleton, where Greenwood saw the very early signs of commuting.
“People were starting to go to the office (in Manchester) because at that time Pendleton was a place of big houses. It was quite a prosperous area,” Paul added.
Greenwood recognised the need for a frequent, reliable commute service into Manchester where no pre-booking was required. Of course, there had been stage coach services for a long time before him; however, these would require pre-booking and the journeys were often long and tiresome.
Paul explained: “To give an idea, there was a coach that ran at 6am every day from Manchester to Blackpool in the 1780s, it got to Blackpool early evening.
Realising there was demand for shorter, more spontaneous journeys, Greenwood created the first immediate “stick your hand out bus service” that ran from a spot in Pendleton (where St Thomas’ Church near Ford Lane is now) to Market Street in Manchester on January 1 1824.
The new service costs six old pence, which was considered to be quite expensive at the time and so bus services were specifically targeted towards middle class commuters.
Each bus (carriage) would fit around eight or nine people, with the majority sitting inside the bus and then another three or four sitting on the roof, next to the driver.
Earlier this year in April, The Museum of Transport GM recreated the 200-year-old bus route Greenwood started all those years ago. The museum invited avid bus enthusiasts to come along a 1934 bus which would copy Greenwood’s old bus route from Salford to Manchester.
Kevin Platt, Vice Chairman at the Museum, said at the time: “This bus route will be following the original Greenwood route which ran between Pendleton Church and Manchester Market Street.
“The short route actually ran quite a long way in those days because Pendleton would have been regarded as an outer suburb, almost semi-rural as opposed to being part of the middle of the city of Salford as it is today.”
Greenwood’s special service was a roaring success with commuters of the time and it was not long before he had to bring in more buses that ran more frequently. The word of his bus service spread throughout the UK and other areas soon followed suit.
Paul added: “More routes opened up and it became quite a feature in Manchester and they were known as bees, because they were like busy bees, so there is that echo of a loop to the Bee Network we have today.
“Personally I think it’s a really nice thought that Salford was five years ahead of London.
“London’s first bus wasn’t until 1829, Greenwood had been running buses in Salford for five years by then. Salford was first; Salford had the first bus in the country.”
Greenwood managed to form his own transport empire in Manchester by founding The Manchester Carriage and Tramways Company. His company, which he later passed onto his son, (also called John) had an outstanding run in Manchester until around 1901.
Unfortunately, there are no pictures or illustrations of John, so his identity is somewhat unclear.
Paul added: “He sounds really interesting and it’s a shame we don’t know much more about him because he wasn’t born into nobility; he was just a poor bloke from Heptonstall.”
All images are credited to the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester.
News and Sport in Salford this week
Salford MP objects to plans for 3,300 homes at Regent Retail Park
The Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey has firmly objected to the plans to knock down most of Regent Retail Park to build 3,300 homes. Read more here.
Eccles Old Road eastbound to close on weeknights this September
The eastbound section of Eccles Old Road will be closed on weeknights this September for resurfacing works worth nearly £400,000. Read more here.
Jay Rayner hails Salford curry house for its great value Indian food
The award-winning food critic Jay Rayner has praised Maida Grill House on Liverpool Street for its ‘great’ and ‘cheap’ curries. Read more here.
Woman tragically dies after being pulled out the water at Salford Quays
A 53-year-old woman has sadly died after a “tragic accident” at Salford Quays last week. Read more here.
Paul Rowley hopes ill discipline does not ruin Salford’s play-off push
Salford head coach Paul Rowley fears a lack of discipline could cost his side their chance of clinging on to a place in the Betfred Super League top six. Read more here.
‘What’s On’ in Salford this week
🎉 - Quite a few Worsley residents will have their plans sorted for the bank holiday weekend as Worsley Live comes to Roe Green Cricket Club this Sunday August 25. There are still tickets available and residents can find out more here.
🛍️ - This bank holiday weekend, residents can head down to the monthly Makers Market at Salford Quays where there will be an array of art, craft, food, drink, coffee, music and street food. Find out more here.
🤡 - If you’re looking for something to entertain the kids, The Louby Lou Clown Show is on at Kargo MKT this Saturday August 24. Find out more here.
Our photo of the week
An image Salford’s first motor bus taken in 1920. Credit: Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester.
Expect windy and mostly wet weather for the rest of the week
🌧️ - The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Storm Lilian which could bring strong winds to Salford on Friday August 23.
🌦️- For the rest of the bank holiday weekend expect light rain and a moderate breeze.
Thank you for reading
All our journalism is written by people working, studying and living in Salford – for the people of Salford. We'll be adding more exclusive writing to future editions. If you value local journalism sign up: it’s free, easy and we’ll never share your data.