Edward Watkin - the Railway KIng
Wed 02 Sept
|Salford
Geoff Scargill talks about Edward Watkin one of the best known public figures of the Victorian Era, but now virtually forgotten. Born in Salford , he built the Great Central Railway from Manchester to London and created the first parks for the people in Salford
Time & Location
02 Sept 2026, 14:00 – 15:30
Salford, Crescent, Salford M5 4WU, UK
About the event
Geoff Scargill is a retired headteacher and magistrate. His main interests are history, politics, Edward Elgar and Edward Watkin. (He is chair of the national Watkin Society and has had a book on Watkin published: ''Victoria's Railway King'.). He is a life member of Lancashire County Cricket Club.
Watkin was a fascinating and dramatic character, one of the best known public figures of the Victorian Era, but now virtually forgotten. He was born in Salford and lived and died in Northenden. He built the Great Central Railway from Manchester to London, created the first Parks for the People in Salford and Manchester, tried to dig a Channel tunnel in 1880 and an Eiffel Tower at Wembley. He was knighted by the government for his work in helping to created the Dominion of Canada.