Editing Irlam (section)

{{Short description|Suburb in Greater Manchester, England}}
{{distinguish|Irlams o' th' Height}}
{{about||the electoral ward for Irlam|Irlam (ward)|ships with the name|Irlam (ship)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| static_image_name        = Irlam, Manchester - geograph.org.uk - 1553.jpg
| static_image_caption     = St. John's Church
| country                  = England
| official_name            = Irlam
| coordinates              = {{coord|53.445|-2.422|display=inline,title}}
| population               = 19,933
| population_ref           = ''(2011)''
| metropolitan_borough     = [[City of Salford|Salford]]
| metropolitan_county      = [[Greater Manchester]]
| region                   = North West England
| constituency_westminster = [[Worsley and Eccles South (UK Parliament constituency)|Worsley and Eccles South]]
| post_town                = MANCHESTER
| postcode_area            = M
| postcode_district        = M44
| dial_code                = 0161
| os_grid_reference        = SJ725945
| london_distance          = {{convert|166|mi|km|abbr=on}} [[Boxing the compass|SE]]
}}

'''Irlam''' is a suburb in the [[City of Salford]], [[Greater Manchester]], England.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/irlam-salford|title=Irlam, Salford – area information, map, walks and more|access-date=4 July 2018}}</ref> In 2011, it had a population of 19,933.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-england-northwestengland.php?cityid=E35000257|title=Town population 2011|access-date=7 January 2016}}</ref> It lies on flat ground on the south side of the [[M62 motorway]] and the north bank of the [[Manchester Ship Canal]],  {{convert|6.7|mi|km|1}} southwest of [[Salford, Greater Manchester|Salford]], {{convert|7.6|mi|km|1|}} southwest of [[Manchester]] and {{convert|8.3|mi|km|1}} northeast of [[Warrington]]. Irlam forms a continuous urban area with [[Cadishead]] to the southwest, and is divided from [[Flixton, Greater Manchester|Flixton]] and the [[Trafford|Metropolitan Borough of Trafford]] to the southeast by the Manchester Ship Canal. The main road through Irlam, linking it to [[Cadishead]] and [[Eccles, Greater Manchester|Eccles]], is the [[A57 road|A57]]. [[Irlam railway station]] also serves the district.

Irlam was anciently known as Irwellham, an outlying area of [[Chat Moss]], a large [[bog|peat bog]] which straddled the [[River Irwell]]. Work was carried out in the 19th century to reclaim large areas to enable the completion of the [[Liverpool and Manchester Railway]] in 1829. In 1894, the Irwell was adjusted so that its waters were united with the Manchester Ship Canal, stimulating the growth of Irlam as an inland port. Irlam Urban District was established in the same year and was governed thereafter by its own district council until its abolition in 1974.

Irlam's geography is varied: the northern half is still moss land, with a large farming community; the southern half is predominantly residential.