The Manchester Ship Canal is one of the great achievements of the Victorian Age. As the Industrial Revolution advanced better transport links between inland Manchester and the seaport of Liverpool became essential. The Mersey and Irwell Navigation had 'improved the River system and removed many loops and meanders, but with the growth of the Lancashire Cotton Industry, engineering, chemicals etc, the bold men of Manchester and environs built The Manchester Ship Canal, actually from Salford (port of Manchester) to Runcorn and Ellesmere Port a length of 31 miles. The Canal was officially opened in 21 May 1894 by Queen Victoria and could offer passage to ships up to 12,000 tons.
The Bridgewater Canal system is inextricably linked with both the Manchester Ship Canal and the earlier Irwell and Mersey navigation. We have created a separate Gallery for the Bridgewater Canal and for convenience copied a number of images to both Galleries where content clearly overlaps.
Categories & Keywords
Category:Transportation
Subcategory:Ships
Subcategory Detail:
Keywords:boats, cheshire, engineering, english history, industrial revolution, lancashire, manchester ship canal, mersey, river irwell, rivers, salford, ships, trafford, victorians
