Road Improvements adjacent New Bailey Prison

IMPROVEMENTS IN FRONT OF THE NEW BAILEY – The works are now in progress for widening the road in front of the New Bailey, towards the river. The widening will extend from Albert Bridge to the engineering works of Mr Ellis. Hitherto there has been a vacant strip of land between the river and the wall forming the boundary of the footpath. This is now to be covered by arches supported on 25 iron pillars, and upon these the new footpath will be formed, thereby increasing the width of the road by a considerable extent. The gain in width will vary at different points; at Albert Bridge it will be 19 feet 6 inches and at Mr Ellis’s works, 6 feet. The new footpath towards the river will be the same width as the present one; but the road and path in front of the prison will be considerably widened. The alteration is deemed necessary in consequence of the large amount of traffic that passes over this spot. The magisterial business at the New Bailey frequently brings together large numbers of persons, who crowd the approaches to the building, and much inconvenience has often resulted from the narrowness of the road at this point. The work, when completed will much improve the appearance of the river from Albert Bridge. The water will come close up to the foundations on which the pillars will rest, and the packet station, which at present consists merely of a small wooden shed, will be neatly covered in, and will be considerably extended. The work is being carried out under the directions of the Salford Improvement committee, from the plans of Mr J Evans, surveyor.

Reference           Manchester Guardian 16 September 1857 page 3

In 1981 the undercroft was enclosed and converted into the Mark Addy public house, named after the Victorian local hero who was famous for rescuing no fewer than 50 people from the waters of the River Irwell. It is included in Salford’s latest list of Heritage Assets where it is claimed that this was built as a passenger’s waiting room for the adjacent New Bailey landing stage. A regular horse drawn packet boat service provided a once daily service to Runcorn from 1807. Tickets were obtained from a nearby public house. At the time the packet station was a small shed. As a bonus the undercroft offered the oppotunity to improve these facilities.