21. Building the MSC.

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Pay Day at the MSC Salford Office.

 

Piling on the Manchester Ship Canal.

 

A plank bridge across the canal at Weston.

 

A land dredger filling 'tipper' spoil wagons.

 

Making good the bank above Pool Hall syphon.

 

The Manchester Ship Canal cut through a wide range of landscapes, from the more industrial areas to land containing country houses, such as Pool Hall in an area known then as 'Netherpool' now Ellesmere Port. Pool Hall is described as being 'within a stone's throw of the canal' by Bosdin Leech (Vol II, pg 24), and its history dated back to time of Henry VIII. Pool Hall was at one time owned by the Bowater family. On the 4th September 1933 the tenant Mr Samuel Jones lost the battle of saving the hall to dry rot the old building was in a sorry state and in 1937 it was then decided to demolish it, Its last tenant took his own life on hearing that he had to leave.

 

The Explosive Powder Magazine at Irlam.

 

During the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal explosives were used to help clear away obstructions. Explosives were stored at the explosives powder magazines at Holpool Gutter, near Frodsham Marsh.

 

'Powder Monkey' On Guard at the explosives magazine, Irlam.

 

Using explosives to blast away through the Dam Entrance to No9 Dock at Salford Docks complex, this was the largest dock and many decades later would become the home to the Manchester Liners container service to Montreal.