The Royal Technical Institute, Salford, opened in 1896 as the result of the merger of the Pendleton Mechanics Institute and the Salford Working Men's College. The name of the institute changed in 1921 to the Royal Technical College, Salford. It continued to operate under this name until 1959, when it split into two organisations: The Royal College of Advanced Technology and Peel Park Technical College. The institute is a precursor of the University of Salford.