A Trip along the Manchester Ship Canal

Sailing into an inland port with the ships bringing goods to Manchester.

Opened in 1894, the Manchester Ship Canal was a milestone in the history of civil engineering. This reel, shot by documentary film pioneer Charles Urban and others, looks at features along its 36-mile length, including Eastham Locks, Barton Aqueduct, and Manchester Docks. We can also see the masts and rigging of sailing ships, a reminder that these are the early decades of this inland waterway.