Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Trees give way to moorland near Lumbutts
.
This is one of the finest Victorian city centres anywhere, Manchester having been built on
textile wealth that developed from the skills of Flemish weavers in the 14th century. Although
the final section of canal through Manchester is largely below road level, the whole area has
been restored and sees a lot of city centre activity.
Chorlton Street lock keeper's cottage is built over the canal. Italianate buildings are the old
Minshull Street magistrates' court. Manchester Metropolitan University is in an 1895-1912
French Renaissance-style listed building. The North West Film Archive has material from
1896 onwards. The Grade II Mechanics' Institute was the first meeting place of the Trades
Union Congress in 1868, and the Co-operative Insurance Society and the University of
Manchester Institute of Science & Technology were also founded here. Manchester Art
Gallery has one of the country's best collections of pre-Raphaelite art.
After Oxford Road Lock comes the line of the Manchester & Salford Junction Canal, built
to link the Rochdale Canal with the River Irwell, its tunnel being used as an air raid shelter
during the Second World War. It opens into a basin below the glass edifice of the Bridge-
water Concert Hall, opened in 1997 as the new home of the Hallé Orchestra. Beyond is the
Manchester Central Convention Complex in the former Manchester Central station railway
terminus, a station with a roof span exceeded only by that of St Pancras in London. Built in
1880, the 64m arch rises 27m to provide an extensive unobstructed exhibition hall.
