Unsworth

Unsworth
Castle Lane on the outskirts of Unsworth
Unsworth
Location within Greater Manchester
Population11,034 (2021)
Metropolitan borough
Metropolitan county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBury
Postcode districtBL9
Dialling code0161
PoliceGreater Manchester
FireGreater Manchester
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament

Unsworth is a settlement in the Bury district, in Greater Manchester, England. The population of Unsworth Ward, as of the 2021 census is 11,034. The village sits approximately 7 miles (11 km) north of the city of Manchester and 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the town of Bury, and contains the area of Hollins, and part of Sunny Bank.

Historically a part of Lancashire, Unsworth has been recorded as far back as the 13th century. Its name is thought to derive from the Old English word “hound,” literally meaning “place of the hounds.” Unsworth's development as a village mostly took place during and after the Industrial Revolution, when due to its nearby waterways, it became involved in the manufacturing of dye and bleach. The mid-20th century onwards saw major changes in the village. The construction of Sunny Bank Road, and the M66 motorway which both cut through the village significantly shifted its character, with its western side becoming suburbanised, while leaving its eastern side largely agricultural.