Manchester was one of the major industrial cities of the Victorian Era. Huge cotton mills dominated the skyline leading to the nickname Cottonopolis. Canals crisscrossed the city moving cargo back and forth to satisfy the insatiable demands of industry.
With a reliable connection to the sea secured by the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal ocean going vessels could travel right into the heart of the city to load and unload goods destined for locations all around the world.
Decline and renewal
Today Manchester is a bustling urban area encompassing many of the mill towns that grew so prosperous during the Industrial Revolution. The canals now form a network of green and blue space benefitting the wellbeing of the local population and providing habitats for nature.
Learn about a SSSI site in the heart of an urban area, see the wildlife present and study the development of this former Industrial powerhouse by spotting the clues left behind from the past on a visit to your local canal.
