Geograph - photograph every grid square

The major part of this canal was constructed and operational during the 1790s, mainly carrying coal from the area it served into Manchester and Salford. As the 19th century closed the coal mines became worked out and canal traffic fell away. The canal suffered a number of serious breaches and it eventually fell into disuse,closing in 1961. The link from Oldfield Road to the River Irwell (joining this canal to the greater network), part of which is seen here, was completed in 1808. Following closure it was infilled in 1969. Plans to restore the canal are now in place and this section was excavated in 2006/7 in preparation for the building of a canalside housing development. Beyond the canal is part of the Manchester skyline, dominated by the slender Beetham Tower hotel and apartment complex.