1888 SEABREEZE takes ownership of Castle Irwell as prestigious winner at Manchester Racecourse.
Castle Irwell opened in 1847 and began it’s life as a racecourse which you can still see elements of
to this very day. The student reception still shows evidence of the ticket entrance to the once thriving
racecourse. Originally it was established in the 17th century on Kersal Moor. The race course was
commented on by the London illustrated news in 1847 and commented on as “one of the finest in
England”.
Castle Irwell originally was named due to the large castellated brick house built in 1826 by John
Purcell Fitzgerald. The Fitzgerald family owned the land and ran it for many years. Once opened the
course had a lease of 24 proprietors at a rental of £500 per annum which at the time was a significant
amount of money .The cost of the stands is thought to of been close to £8000.All together the Course
could contain 1000 people in one stand with a further two containing 7200 spectators. Not far off the
current holdings of an estimated 1020 students currently housing at castle Irwell.
In 1826 John Fitzgerald the wealthy owner of Castle Irwell house aldo embarked on the building of a
suspension bridge across the River Irwell and between lower Broughton and Pendleton. The bridge
was a source of great local pride suspension bridges at the time were considered the new wonder of
age.
In 1867 the race course was inherited by John Fitzgerald’s son who was against gambling of sorts
which led to the company being forced to relocate to Weaste.In 1902 the land was bought back by the
company and racing recommenced.
The course hosted both flat racing and national hunt racing. Flat racing was famous for Manchester
and improved its image greatly. Manchester traditionally hosted the finally of the flat racing season.
The highlight of which was the November handicap. Castle Irwell was also the host of the Lancashire
Oaks until 1963 and the wartime substitute St Leger in 1941. Irwell also staged Britain first evening
fixture in July of 1951 and was the site of the first British private sports boxes. During the 19th century
the Lancashire plates were held at the course with a prize fund of £9000. Irwell is rich in history and
culture not just the accommodation site but for both the history of the River Irwell which played host in
the rise of Manchester in the Industrial Revolution.
Furthermore it is well known that the history of castle Irwell remains prominent through siting’s of
ghosts thought to of previously worked on site. Viewings have included a punter who hung himself
after losing all his money to race betting. Others claim to of witnessed the form of a jockey. The
laundrette still envisages evidence of its original usage of the former course as commented on by the
Irwell sculpture trail which is a historical geographical trail accessible via the Salford City Council
website.
Plans were established in 2004 to reopen a racecourse in Salford. However these plans were
massively opposed by the community with locals from Eccles College commenting on the
catastrophic impact it would have on traffic in the area.
No current plans are being pursued to build another race course. Many historical societies and
national trust communities are still researching the history of Castle Irwell and there are many
websites containing more in depth detail.