Great Britain Pomona Docks, Salford - May 2013

[Paulpowers]

I had finished my work for the day and the route home was diverted due to the M62 being shut so I decided that as I was in the area and hadn't seen a report from the docks for quite a while that I would pay the utility tunnel a visit

A little History;

Seven terminal docks were constructed for the opening of the Manchester Ship CanalFour small docks were located on the south side of the canal near Cornbrook, within the Borough of Stretford and named Pomona Docks No.1, No.2, No.3 and No.4

The three main docks were located within Salford and were built primarily for large ocean-going vessels

These were situated to the west of Trafford Road on the north bank of the canal and were named No.6, No.7 and No.8. In 1905, No.9 Dock was completed on the same site

Dock No.5, or Ordsall Dock was part of the Pomona Docks, but was dug on the Salford side of the river; it was never completed and was filled in around 1905

Pomona Docks have been filled in and to large extent remain derelict, but number 3 dock remains intact and has a lock connecting the ship canal to the Bridgewater canal, which runs parallel to it

The western four docks have been converted into the Salford Quays development and can no longer be used as shipping docks

Ships using the Manchester Ship Canal now dock at various places along the canal side, such as Mode Wheel (Salford), Trafford Park, and Ellesmere Port

Most vessels have to terminate at Salford Quays, although smaller vessels can continue up the River Irwell to Hunts Bank, near Manchester Cathedral

Moving the large steel plate covering the entrance I was greeted with a smell of stale water, I dropped down and immediately sank into knee deep mud, the wellies just didn't cut it this is wader territory but it was to late to worry about that now

the tunnel ran off in both directions so I set off in to the mud

​

Sadly 90% of my pictures blurred from my tripod slowly sinking into the mud so I guess a return visit will be on the cards

 

[Wevsky]

Lovely bit of history there mate..old pics and map win

 

[Paulpowers]

Need a return visit over summer when it's dryer

 

[Nelly]

Lol, just a spur of the moment wade in knee deep mud then? You kill me Mr P!!

Excellent as usual

 

[Stussy]

Great report, nice bit of history and super photos!

 

[Shush]

ever ready ey Paul. Great report and pics chuck

 

[Scattergun]

This is right up my street, a bit of maritime history followed by a tunnel Looks cramped foul down there, just the sorta thing I like. The shots that did come out came out well mate, hope to see the return visit soon! I've done a lot of research on the Glasgow docks and the Clyde redevelopment so this was enjoyable reading

 

[SuZyQue]

Interesting, nice pics and report