The dry docks were opened in 1894 by the Manchester Ship Canal Pontoons and Dry Dock Co. Later it was known as the Manchester Drydock Co. Ltd. There were three dry docks in this facility (including a floating drydock), the largest being 535 feet long, the others being 430 and 450 feet long, all of them have a width of 65 feet.
They played a key role in the rise of the region's shipping industry after the Manchester Ship Canal was opened by Queen Victoria in 1894.
The special port facilities, which could be drained to allow repairs on ships' hulls, have been closed and the heavy machinery dismantled and moved to Liverpool.
They were used to repair large ocean-going liners, tugs and dredgers over the years. More recently, the Mersey ferry Mountwood and the replica of the Golden Hind, had work done at the docks.
Below you can see some old aerial pics of the site
Manchester Dry Docks Ltd folded in 1980, marking the end of a long and proud history with the loss of 450 jobs. But a band of former employees resurrected the shipyard in 1987 under the name Lengthline.
Sadly the place is now derelict and currently being demo'd to make way for the ever expanding Salford Quays :(
I went for a mooch a while back with Stepping Lightly whilst we were on the way to another site...
Present Day
Dock Cranes
"Hmmm I can think of a good use for these" ;) - SL eyeing up your craneZ
Hooked
Boilers
Generator
Pump Room
Ship Canal
Old meets new... Salford Quays
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