Lost and forgotten streets of Salford nu 59 ................. Fairbrother Street

Fairbrother Street, 2019

Now it would be very easy to miss Fairbrother Street.

Today it’s a small stretch of road running down from Ordsall Lane to the river, which is flanked by an industrial unit to one side and open land on the other which was  once a chemical works.

Those with long memories, will know that Fairbrother Street once continued on over Ordsall Lane to Taylorson Street, but long along this bit disappeared, along with the old Ordsall Board School and a row of residential property.

Looking across the development, 2019

But Andy Robertson, who was out on a jolly, was more interested in in the little remnant of Fairbrother Street which ran down to the river, where on the southern site side the land is being cleared for redevelopment.

Once this spot was home to the Ordsall Chemical Works which was established by 1854, and probably much earlier.

Andy speculated that the outline of the walls may offer up archaeological opportunities, and I must say before I begin researching, I thought we might be looking at the remains of some residential properties, which might throw light on how people lived in Salford during the 19th century.

Ordsall Chemical works, 1854

But not so, because  these are the remains of the chemical works, which looked out on the Egerton Mills which was opposite on the northern side of Fairbrother Street.

I shall go looking for news of an archaeological dig her, but for now gaze on Andy’s pictures of all that is left of the chemical works before it vanishes forever.

Location; Salford

Ordsall Chemical Works, 1894

Pictures; Fairbother Street, 2019 from the collection of Andy Robertson’s and in 1854 from the OS map of Lancashire, and 1894 from the OS map of South Lancashire, courtesy of Digital Archives Association, http://digitalarchives.co.uk/