The Manchester Ship Canal
Thirty-Two Miles Inland but a Major Sea Port None-The-Less.
Manchester is thirty-two miles inland but is still a major sea port. Thanks to the Manchester Ship Canal, Manchester became the hub of the trade, industry and commerce of the Lancashire cotton industry.
The Manchester Ship Canal Fact File:
The Manchester Ship Canal was designed by Daniel Adamson, an engineer from County Durham. However, he died in 1890, three years before the completion of his endeavour.
The Manchester Ship Canal was opened by Her Majesty Queen Victoria on 1st January 1894.
Machine-power and man-power played a crucial role in the construction of the port and its canal-ways. At its peak, 16, 341 workers were involved with the building. Navvies and engineers worked a ten-hour day, usually from 7 am to 5pm.
The Manchester Ship Canal provided a cheap and direct link to the world??s oceans from the industrial city of Manchester, compared to rail or road: Salt, minerals, iron, pottery, nitrates, resin, textiles, cotton, timber, and sugar.
It is the eighth longest canal in the world.
Eight million tonnes of cargo are transported on the canal annually.
Submitted by: Shelley Deasey, SETPOINT Greater Manchester, 02 December 2005
