The Big Ditch

The history of the Manchester Ship Canal can be traced to the Stone Age. When the MSC was being constructed in the 1880s, dug-out canoes were discovered at two locations throughout its length, where a river previously existed. The owners of these canoes could not have had any direct bearing on the canal as it is today, but the discovery may indicate that the importance of the rivers Mersey and Irwell was recognised when mankind was in its infancy. This book provides a history and guide to the inland waterways system around Manchester, chartering their development from ancient beginnings, to their importance in the Industrial Revolution, to current redevelopment projects.