GORTON STREET GAZETTE As many illustrious players of this historic club can no doubt confirm, Eccles can be lively, boisterous town at weekends. But what may come as a surprise is that the town’s reputation for rowdy entertainment actually stretches back several hundred years to when Eccles would host a 3-day street party in late August each year! The ‘Eccles Wakes’ traditionally commenced on the eve of the feast day of St Mary, to whom the Parish Church is dedicated, and had their origins in the ancient custom of rush bearing, when villagers would bring decorated cartloads of rushes to spread over the church floor for a vigil mass which began at sunset on a Saturday, often called a ‘wake’ due to the late hour. As these occasions developed into a secular holiday the community celebrations would include sports, music, dance and drinking. Sound familiar? The Eccles Wakes When the Barton Aqueduct designed by James Brindley first crossed the River Irwell in 1761 the rural existence of Eccles was changed forever. By the 19th Century the famous Eccles Wakes were attracting large crowds from the surrounding district and had become a somewhat less than pious affair. The recreation area between Barton Lane, Oxford Road and Pleasant Road was transformed into a racecourse where Donkey riders and ladies would compete in races to win a smock, and competitions held along Church Street included blood sports such as bull and bear-baiting and cock fighting. People would dress up for the event and the revelry would often result in drunkenness and fighting. In 1877 local residents had enough of the excessive, riotous behaviour and at the request of the Local Board the Home
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