Although little is recorded of its earlier history, Salford is a city of great antiquity. In 1228, Henry III granted the Lancashire town the right to hold a market and an annual fair. Centuries later, it was the Industrial Revolution that had a phenomenal impact, with Salford becoming one of the greatest cotton towns. With the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1894, the newly built docks in Salford became another major factor shaping the local economy. Today the city is made up of five districts: Salford, Eccles, Worsley, Irlam and Cadishead, and Swinton and Pendlebury. Home to 220,000 people, Salford is constantly changing and moving into an exciting future as a thriving cultural, economic and residential location.

In Salford in 50 Buildings, authors Carole O'Reilly and Paul Rabbitts uncover fifty of the city's architectural treasures and landmarks from across the centuries. These are the places that reflect the city's history and tell the stories of its people and their way of life. Among those featured are university buildings, the cathedral, Irlam railway station, Worsley Old Hall, Ordsall Hall, together with schools, shops, pubs and churches. Each one chronicles a fascinating aspect of the city's cultural, social and industrial heritage.

From urban buzz to greenbelt tranquillity, Salford is building on the mixture of its waterfront, urban and countryside environments to create places where people want to live, work, invest and visit. Its modern structures reflect this change including iconic buildings such as the Lowry Theatre and Salford Quays. The city celebrates its Victorian heritage as well as embracing the future with stunning new architecture.