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Manchester Ship Canal facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Opening of Manchester Ship Canal by the yacht Norseman 1894
The yacht Norseman led many ships when the canal opened in January 1894. It passed the Barton Swing Aqueduct and carried important people from the canal company.

The Manchester Ship Canal is a huge waterway in North West England. It is about 36-mile (58 km) long and was opened on 21 May 1894. When it was finished, it was the biggest shipping canal in the whole world!

Sometimes called the "Big Ditch," this canal connects the River Irwell and River Mersey. It was made deep enough for large ships to travel from the Mersey Estuary all the way to Salford Docks in Greater Manchester. This amazing project turned Manchester from a city far from the sea into a busy seaport.

Images for kids

  • Ship Canal Cartoon Punch

    A cartoon from Punch in 1882, making fun of the idea that Manchester could become a big seaport.

  • BridgewaterCanalCheque

    A cheque from 1887 for £1,710,000, used to buy the Bridgewater Navigation Company. This was the largest cheque ever presented at the time!

  • Manchester Ship Canal The Making of Eastham Dock

    The Excavation of the Manchester Ship Canal: Eastham Cutting with Mount Manisty in the Distance (1891), a painting by Benjamin Williams Leader.

  • The Queen at Manchester, Her Majesty, in the Admiralty Yacht Enchantress, opening the Ship Canal, by William Heysham Overend

    Queen Victoria in her yacht Enchantress, opening the Ship Canal. Painting by William Heysham Overend.

  • Manchester Ship Canal viewed from the air

    The ship canal next to the Mersey, between Stanlow and Runcorn, looking east.

  • Snowdrop at irlam locks on manchester ship canal

    The passenger ferry Snowdrop at Irlam Locks.

  • MSC Latchford Locks 1950 edited-2

    A large ship going through Latchford Locks near Warrington, heading for Eastham.

  • Manchester Ship Canal Hunslet 0-6-0T number 686 The Lady Armaghdale at Bridgnorth

    A preserved train engine that used to work on the Manchester Ship Canal Railway.

  • Cadishead Viaduct

    The Cadishead Viaduct, built in 1892 to carry a railway line over the canal. It is now closed.

  • Old Quay swing bridge is open - geograph.org.uk - 2536192

    Approaching the Silver Jubilee Bridge in Runcorn.

  • Woolston Eyes - geograph.org.uk - 1530284

    Woolston Eyes nature reserve, a wildlife area near Thelwall.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Canal marítimo de Mánchester para niños

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