ECCLES AND THE SHIP CANAL
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LEFT; An ox roast in Patricroft where celebrations took place following the passing of the Manchester Ship Canal Bill in 1885. The Bill gave the go-ahead to the scheme to build a canal to link Manchester with the sea. This was welcomed by towns in the Manchester area such as Eccles as the promise of future prosperity.
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RIGHT: Barton's swing bridges. The Ship canal opened in 1894. To allow ocean-going ships to pass swing bridges were built at Barton. The swing aqueduct (on the right) carried 800 tons of water. This was to allow the Bridgewater Canal to cross at this point.
Both the new swing auqeduct and its predecessor, Brindley's stone aqueduct of 1761, were considered to be wonders of their age.
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