Runcorn

Picturing the Past: NarrowBoat, Spring 2006

Euan Corrie

Picturing the Past Euan Corrie looks at the Manchester Ship Canal

The Old Quay area of Runcorn was photographed by Geoffrey Sheldon from the Runcorn– Widnes road bridge on the afternoon of Saturday 1st June 1963. The bridge had been built in 1961 to replace the adjacent Transporter Bridge of 1905. These bridges (together with the London & North Western Railway’s 1868 Liverpool main line bridge behind the camera) cross the River Mersey estuary at the narrows of Runcorn Gap. The exposed mud in the estuary clearly indicates that it was about low tide, when the substantial wall built to enclose this part of the adjacent Manchester Ship Canal is clearly visible. Much of the canal embankment downstream of Runcorn was constructed along the edge of the tidal river by driving piles and tipping spoil. The ship is the Manchester Regiment (7,638 tons) owned by Manchester Liners Ltd. This company was set up by Manchester business interests to take advantage of the opening of the Ship Canal, later becoming part of the Furness Withy Group and a pio…