Jim Shead Waterways Photographer & Writer

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.

Manchester Ship Canal

Description: Runs from Eastham Locks (some 6 miles up the Mersey from Liverpool) to Woden Street Bridge, Manchester.

History: Promoted by the Manchester Ship Canal Act of 1885. Construction started in November 1887 and the canal was opened on 1 January 1894.
For more details see the History page.

Subordinate Waterways:

Navigation Authority: : Manchester Ship Canal Company, Queen Elizabeth II Dock, Eastham, Wirral CH62 0BB: Telephone 0151 327 1461 : Fax 0151 327 6278 :

Irlam Lock

The Best Laid Schemes

Related Books

The Canals of North West England (1) by Charles Hadfield and Gordon Biddle, ISBN: 07153 49562, 236 pages, Published by David & Charles, Volume 1. . Order now from .
The Canals of North West England (2) by Charles Hadfield and Gordon Biddle, ISBN: 07153 49929, 260 pages, Published by David & Charles, Volume 2.. Order now from .
Romance of Modern Engineering by Archibald Williams, Edition: New edition revised by T W Corbin., 377 pages, Published by Seelley, in 1925, 19 plates. Some British content including the Manchester Ship Canal, aqueducts and dams..
History of the Manchester Ship Canal by B T Leech, Published by Sherratt & Hughes, in 1907, 2 volumes..
A Hundred Years of the Manchester Ship Canal by Edward Gray, ISBN: 1 85926 030 6, 130 pages, Published by Aurora Eterprises Ltd, in 1994, The story of the building and history of the canal published to coincide with its centenary. Colour and B&W illustrations.. Order now from .
Manchester Ship Canal Company, Preliminary Prospectus by Richard Dean, ISBN: 0 947712 26 7, Published by M & M Baldwin, in 1994, 17 X 23 inch double sided copy of the original prospectus, plus commentary by Richard Dean.. Order now from .
Manchester Ship Canal by Edward Gray, ISBN: 0 7509 1459 9, 124 pages, Published by Sutton Publishing, in 1997, Historic record of the canal featuring over 200 photographs.. Order now from .
The Manchester Ship Canal and the rise of the Port of Manchester 1894-1975 by D A Farnie, 187 pages, Published by Manchester University Press, in 1980,
Scenes from the Past - Lancashire Canal Carriers, J Monk & Sons by Norman Jones and James and Leonard Monk, ISBN: 1 870119 54 1, 64 pages, Published by Foxline, in 2000, Large format book with good photographs of the Manchester Ship Canal and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.. Order now from .
Barton's Bridges by Glen Atkinson, ISBN: 1 85216 146 9, 48 pages, Published by Neil Richardson, in 2002, The history of the many crossing in this area, the first over the Mersey & Irwell Navigation and the later ones over the Mancgester Ship Canal.. Order now from .
A Spark on Salford Docks - Manchester Canal Memories 1954 - 1963 by Bill Hardie, ISBN: 1 85216 149 3, 50 pages, Published by Neil Richardson, in 2002, An electrician's story of the people who worked in the docks.. Order now from .

Related videos

Cut to Caernarfon - Return Journey Chris Coburn, 2 hours 41 minutes Produced by Laurence Hogg Productions, The second part of Chris Coburn's epic trip along the North Wales Coast. Features visit to Salford Quays National Waterways Festival, the Manchester Ship Canal and return to the midlands and Walsall gathering. Available on tape. Order on video tape from
Seaway to the World - The Manchester Ship Canal , Released in 1998, 43 minutes Produced by , The film takes us on a nostalgic journey from Eastham locks right up to Manchester and shows us some of the sights and sounds feeding off the Canal. A fascinating insight into one of the greatest Victorian engineering achievements. Part of the 'Maritime Britain' series. Produced privately by Graham Cooke. Available on tape. Order on video tape from
MSC. The 250 Ton Crane , 55 minutes Produced by Laurence Hogg Productions, Changing lock gates on the MSC is a big job. the steam electric 250 tot crane is still in original order. Available on tape DVD. Order on video tape from . Order on DVD from
MSC. Tug story , 45 minutes Produced by Laurence Hogg Productions, We join the crew of two MSC tugs for a day. Experience how ships are towed and berthed on the ship canal. Available on tape DVD. Order on video tape from . Order on DVD from

Related photographs

Manchester Ship Canal: Irlam Locks

Related External Web Sites

Mersey Ferries Various cruises on Mersey Ferries including trips on the Manchester Ship Canal.
Frank's Web Site Information on the Manchester Ship Canal and associated docks.
Pennine Waterways Peak Forest, Ashton, Rochdale, Leeds & Liverpool, Huddersfield and other canals in the area.

Related Cruising Logs

24th August 1998

Other Related Pages

Cruising Times

Lock Sizes and maximum craft dimensions: Large locks: Length 600 foot, beam 65 foot. Parallel smaller locks: Length 350 foot, beam 65 foot. NOTE: For more details of maximum lock and craft sizes and the basis of these figures see Craft and Lock Sizes Page

Manchester Ship Canal: Table of distances		Miles	Locks	Navigable (N)	Grid ref	OS Map No
Eastham Locks	Junction with River Mersey Large and Medium Locks at the entrance to the canal from the River Mersey.	0	1	N	SJ369810	108
Bankfield Wharf		0.6	1	N	SJ374801	108
Hooton Wharf		1.4	1	N	SJ384792	117
Bowaters UK Paper Mills		2	1	N	SJ394785	117
Pool Hall Wharf		2.6	1	N	SJ401778	117
Ellesmere Port	Junction with Shropshire Union Main Line Junction with the Shropshire Union Canal	2.9	1	N	SJ405774	117
Ellesmere Port Grain Warehouse		3.1	1	N	SJ408772	117
Stuart Wharf		3.6	1	N	SJ414770	117
Stanlow Wharf		3.9	1	N	SJ417770	117
Associated Ethyl Wharf		4	1	N	SJ419770	117
ICI (Dyestuffs) Wharf		4.1	1	N	SJ421770	117
Esso Barge Wharf		4.4	1	N	SJ421770	117
Stanlow Oil Docks	Turning point and Stanlow Lay-by	4.5	1	N	SJ423770	117
Ince Coaster Berth		5.1	1	N	SJ433769	117
Ince Oil Berth		5.4	1	N	SJ436769	117
Ince Tying-up Berth		5.6	1	N	SJ439769	117
Ince Wharf		6.6	1	N	SJ458774	117
Holpool Gutter		7.4	1	N	SJ475777	117
Frodsham Pumping Stage		8.5	1	N	SJ485784	117
Weaver Mouth	Junctions with River Weaver and River Weaver - Old Navigation Line Junction with the Weaver Navigation	9.9	1	N	SJ501800	997
Weaver Sluices		10.1	1	N	SJ499802	108
Weston Mersey	Junction with River Mersey Junction with River Mersey through Weston Mersey Lock	10.9	1	N	SJ493812	108
Weston Point Docks		11	1	N	SJ493814	108
Delamere Dock	Entrance to Weaver Navigation	11.1	1	N	SJ493818	108
Weston Point Salt Works (ICI)		11.3	1	N	SJ493819	108
Runcorn Lay-by		11.5	1	N	SJ494821	108
Bridgewater Canal Junction (closed)	Originally access to the Bridgewater canal was via Bridgewater Locks which were closed in 1966	11.8	1	N	SJ496823	108
Runcorn Docks		12.3	1	N	SJ500828	108
Runcorn Railway Bridge		12.5	1	N	SJ508833	108
Widnes Bridge	A533 road bridge	12.6	1	N	SJ509833	108
Old Quay Lock	Entrance to Runcorn Old Quay	13	1	N	SJ514833	108
Old Quay Swing Bridge		13.3	1	N	SJ520832	108
ICI (General Chemicals) Wharf		13.5	1	N	SJ524833	108
Astmoor Wharf	ICI (Chemicals and Met.)	14.3	1	N	SJ534836	108
Stone Delph		15.1	1	N	SJ548842	108
Randles Sluices		15.4	1	N	SJ551843	108
Moore Lane Lay-by		16.4	1	N	SJ565848	108
Moore Lane Swing Bridge		17.1	1	N	SJ578853	108
Acton Grange Wharf		17.5	1	N	SJ585855	108
Acton Grange Railway Viaduct		17.9	1	N	SJ590857	108
Chester Road Swing Bridge		18.8	1	N	SJ604861	109
Walton Lock Branch	Junction with Manchester Ship Canal - Walton Lock Branch Junction with branch leading to the River Mersey	19	1	N	SJ606862	109
Northwich Road Swing Bridge	A559 road bridge	19.4	1	N	SJ613864	109
Latchford High Level Bridge		20.1	1	N	SJ623867	109
Knutsford Road Swing Bridge	A50 road bridge	20.4	1	N	SJ628869	109
Latchford Viaduct		20.8	1	N	SJ633871	109
Latchford Locks		21	2	N	SJ637872	109
Thelwall Pumping Station		21.5	2	N	SJ646876	109
Thelwall Ferry		21.8	2	N	SJ649877	109
Stratham Pumping Station No 3	Disused	22.5	2	N	SJ659881	109
M6 Motorway Bridge		22.8	2	N	SJ664882	109
Rixton Junction		24	2	N	SJ682889	109
Warburton High Level Bridge		25.1	2	N	SJ695901	109
Millbank Wharf		26	2	N	SJ702911	109
Cadishead Ferry		26.6	2	N	SJ710916	109
Cadishead Viaduct		26.9	2	N	SJ716920	109
Partingham Coaling Basin		27.1	2	N	SJ719922	109
Irlam Wharf		27.8	2	N	SJ725932	109
Mersey Weir		28	2	N	SJ726935	109
Irlam Viaduct		28.1	2	N	SJ726936	109
Irlam Locks		28.4	3	N	SJ727941	109
Hulmes Bridge Ferry		29.6	3	N	SJ738958	109
Barton Locks		30.4	4	N	SJ747965	109
Barton Swing Aqueduct	Barton Swing Bridge	31.8	4	N	SJ756975	109
Irwell Park Wharf		32.3	4	N	SJ774978	109
Sewage Works		33.4	4	N	SJ790980	109
Mode Wheel Locks		33.9	5	N	SJ797974	109
Dock No 9 Entrance		34.3	5	N	SJ802971	109
Turning Basin	Docks Nos 6, 7 and 8	34.6	5	N	SJ807968	109
Dock Railway Swing Bridge		34.9	5	N	SJ810966	109
Trafford Road Swing Bridge		35.1	5	N	SJ812965	109
Pomona Dock No 4	Junction with Bridgewater Canal Followed by Pomona Docks No 3, 2 and 1, Access to Bridgewater Canal via Dock 3.	35.4	5	N	SJ816966	109
Pomona Dock No 1		35.6	5	N	SJ819969	109
Woden Street Bridge	Junction with Manchester Ship Canal - River Irwell Upper Reach Junction with River Irwell Upper Reach	36	5	N	SJ824973	109

NOTE: N and U in the Navigable column above indicates that the node is navigable or unnavigable. If a D appears here it means that navigation is difficult or restricted to smaller craft.

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.