Mr D Mathews

Greater Manchester's Rivers and Canals Mr D Mathews

It is said that Birmingham has more canals than Manchester, Manchester has I am sure more has more miles if you take into consideration the underground canals of the Duke of Bridgewater at fifty odd miles, plus all the other canals within the greater Manchester area. A canal to bring the sea to Manchester was not a new idea. In 1720 the Mersey and Irwell Navigation Company obtain Parliamentary powers to make navigable the Rivers Irwell and Mersey from Liverpool to Manchester. This "Old Navigation" was such a success that at one time there were no less that one hundred and fifty boats in operation on these rivers. On 23rd March 1759 a Bill received Royal Assent to build the Bridgewater Canal, first thought of between Worsley and Salford and changed to run into Manchester which made history as being as the first canal to be built in Great Britain.