The Manchester, Salford Junction Canal was opened in 1839 as a way of allowing coal traffic from the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal access to the canal network via the Rochdale Canal. The canal with its long tunnel under Manchester's street was built to avoid carting goods across Manchester to the Rochdale Canal. Later a link canal was opened at Hulme and the remarkable MSJc canal became a white elephant. PHOTO: The bricked-up entrance and exit to the World War Two air-raid shelters built in the canal tunnel in 1939 still survives. Notice the stalactites hanging from the lime mortar present in the roof. (1973)