D is for.....

Docks

Yes we have docks in Manchester
Due to the engineering marvel that is the Manchester Ship Canal, Manchester had the third busiest docks in England despite being 40 miles inland. The Ship Canal allowed ocean going vessels to access the port of Manchester from 1894 to 1982.

In 1948 Manchester was the busiest in the country due due bomb damage at Hull.

The docks went into decline in the 1970s due to the use of container vessels that were too large to navigate the ship canal. In 1982 they closed and became derelict.

The area has been redeveloped and is now Salford Quays, a mixed residential, commercial and lesiure development. It includes some very architecturalyinteresting apartment blocks and offices, a watersports centre, the Lowry Theater/Art Gallery, the Lowry shopping centre, the Imperial War Museum and Media City with the BBC's new base in the North West.

I still find it sad to see the Dock entrance closed and the signage removed and the Dock Offices empty and 'to let'.

These are two original electric dock cranes built by Stothert & Pitt.
They do look good large.

Will add some other shots to blipfolio when time allows :-)

Other A to Zs here