A day out in Manchester - part 2
As mentioned in my Canals & Romans at Castlefield post, this canal cruise to Media City (July 2014) had been booked for months by cousin Jean. So after exploring the area, taking many photos & then enjoying an excellent light lunch with a window view of the canal from our table at the Castlefield Hotel - building on the left in this photo, it was time to embark on the L.S. Lowry to take us on our sightseeing tour of the docks & buildings alongside the canals & River Irwell.
The L.S. Lowry our canal boat for the journey.
All aboard ! With me being busy still taking photos, I was one of the last to get on board, luckily Jean had saved me a seat on this sold out trip.
This three hour cruise is organised by the New Manchester Walks website in conjunction with City Centre Cruises & it included a comprehensive commentary on the history of the canals & the places of interest that we were going to see.
We first viewed the Merchants Warehouse & Lock 92 which is the last lock on the Rochdale Canal. Then after traveling along the Bridgewater Canal passing by Potato Wharf we got our first sight of the graffiti which adorns the walls & bridges along the canals. I took that many pictures of this "art" that I will publish this post at a later date.
The derelict land in the foreground is Pomona Island & in the 1880's there had stood Pomona Palace & Pleasure Gardens. I have added this link http://www.theskyliner.org/pomona-palace/ for the history & pictures of Palace & pictures of how the island looks today.
We are now just about to enter Pomona Lock. This lock was built at Pomona Dock No.3 to allow passage from the Bridgewater Canal to the River Irwell in 1995, replacing another lock further up the canal which is now disused. With the lock gates firmly closed behind us, the water was then released out of the lock & we started to descended the 12 feet (3.6 metres) to the River Irwell below.
We are now just about to leave the lock & then turn right along the River Irwell heading towards the city centre, going as far as the bridge at Blackfriars Street.
Looking towards Exchange Quay, the red bricked building with the chimney is the former Colgate-Palmolive Soap Works & the boiler house has now been converted into office space.
The Hilton Hotel looking towards the city centre.
The Bonded Warehouse on Water Street, had been used by Granada TV as part of their studio complex & I have added this link to more pictures of this building inside & out. http://alliedlondon.com/item/the-bonded-warehouse/
This one was good timing to catch the train as it passed by. They like there jazzy colours in Manchester !
The red building on the right was the former Albert Warehouse which was built in 1844 & is now the Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel.
Looking back towards the many bridges that we had just passed under.
This was to be our turning point on the River Irwell at the Lowry Hotel, with us then heading back towards Pomona & then onto Media City.
Soon after passing by Pomona Lock we were viewing this impressive Quay West Office building & the footbridge to the Lowry Complex.
A quick turn to the right & we were viewing the Lowry Arts Centre.
Then after passing under the bridge which links West Quay to the Lowry, we got our first sight of Media City.
Next on the left was the Imperial War Museum North.
Buildings were coming thick & fast now, with the ITV Coronation Street Studios in front of us.
Our Captain then manoeuvred the boat to come alongside the Media City Complex.
After viewing Media City we headed under this bridge towards the Mode Wheel Locks where we turned around.
"Ahoy there shipmates ! It's Blue Peter." That takes me back some years. "Get down Shep." was my favourite !
Link to Barron Knight's song about John Noakes & Shep's adventures. If you wish to rekindle the past.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzasI7ZWUe0
Dark skies are threatening. This is where we had a bit of a shower, but it didn't last long.
This impressive building coated in bronzed glass is the Quay West Office Complex on Trafford Wharf Road & can be accessed via the footbridge from the Lowry Centre.
Exchange Quay, a prestige office space side of the Trafford Road Bridge.
The Trafford Road Bridge means one thing, Yep you've guessed it !
& you have to be quick to get this shot with a good zoom lens as the trees soon obscure the view.
Fancy living on the canal ?
Now back at our start point, everyone thanked our tour guide for giving us such an excellent commentary. Then as we disembarked we thanked the crew of the L.S. Lowry for a fantastic & enjoyable trip.
As there was still time left in this Great Day Out, we elected to head back down to Media City via the tram to get a closer look at the Quays & this will be covered in Back to Media City, a day out in Manchester part 3.
This was the best £15 (£18 in 2015) that I had ever spent. So, if you wish to follow in our footsteps, then booking the Canal Cruise in advance is a must, so here is the link.
http://www.newmanchesterwalks.com/walks-tours/canal-cruise-2/
If you are an organisation or a large group & you wish to book your own cruise then contact City Centre Cruises at this link.
http://www.citycentrecruises.co.uk/8301.html
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