Exploring the Forbidden Manchester Ship Canal - FAILED!

[@G1NZOU]

10:00 I think the wooden structure was for ships to wait while the transporter bridge was crossing, the gondola would take two and a half minutes to cross and from the diagrams I've seen the gondola hung quite low, not that far above the level of the siding, so big ships would have definitely collided with it had they not stopped and waited.

[@baronlowie]

Great . We owe such a lot to the Victorians. Thanks for sharing.

[@Chriswizzv12]

This is so interesting, imagine the man hours that went into this construction.

[@paullee3009]

What a great video, thank you My Aunt and uncle lived just by the church on the Runcorn side I played down on the bank of the MSC as a kid Been living in New Zealand for 20 odd years and I brought back many memories Cheers

[@chrismooney3715]

Fascinating footage. I always thought the Mersey met the old Irwell - now the Manchester Ship Canal - in Flixton then plodded on to the North Sea and that was that. Didn’t know the canal split away from the Mersey again. Brilliant video as always.

[@stewartmarsh5199]

Great presentation and fascinating video. Many thanks.

[@tonymurray5263]

Great video. I was born and bred in Runcorn but now live in Manchester, this brought back many memories. Thanks.

[@mickd6942]

The photos of the ship canal under construction are ace , the shear size of the undertaking was breathtaking, Lancashire’s suez or panama , nothing scared the victorians .

[@michaeloram6346]

Brilliant video again, got to love the enthusiasm

[@johncallaghan4616]

Brilliant piece Oli !Keep 'em comin'! Stay safe!

[@stum8262]

Thanks for the video, always fancied walking down the ''Gantry'' but never got round to it. Facinating view points and I actually learned a couple of things. Marvellous.

[@elizaphe58]

Wow great to watch I'm from Old Trafford the Manchester Ship Canal the Docks were a big part of growing up.Still walk around there today still fascinated by the history.

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Thanks, glad you liked the vid. I love the ship canal, especially around trafford area.

[@nigelbarker4135]

Very interesting Clark "Indiana" Kent😀👍👏👏. Love the old maps and pictures too and the song at the end- PMSL😂😂😂😂😂

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Thanks mate!

[@elongatedmush7805]

As an ex manc living on the Yorkshire coast, l show your records) research to our kids and their children. History is under our feet. Thank you. Brilliant work 👍

[@michaelgamble296]

Well done for getting that far - this is the only way I could have seen it. I have enjoyed your Liverpool Edge Hill Tunnels AND the Manchester Ship Canal and Mersey River. Thank you for Beeing There Then.

[@WildswimmerPete]

My family were going to south Liverpool to visit relatives back in 1960 and for a treat we went the "long way around" from Heswall, Wirral and we crossed the Mersey via the transporter bridge with the new Runcorn-Widnes bridge still under construction. The new bridge opened in 1961 with the transporter demolished shortly, which was a mistake as it would have been a brilliant tourist attraction. The new bridge was renamed the SJB in '77.

[@bernardmcmahon5377]

The canal is still in use , but only just, used to see very big sea going ships until a few years ago, your presentation about these parts of the canal is excellent, well done and thanks. Salford

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Thank you very much. I'm glad you liked it. I will have to do a proper revisit one day.

[@andrewrodger775]

The Halton fireworks display on November 5th each year is fired from the pontoon you were on, just upstream from the bridge's. We used to travel by boat the day before the show to rig it all. Then back over early morning of the 5th, the show was then fired about 7pm. Good video.

[@lauriecooper8194]

Wonderful stuff, I've often wondered about the narrow strip between the river & the canal when crossing the Runcorn to Widnes bridge - & now I know!

[@stefo2001]

It's called the ganchy wall, it's where the fireworks are set off November 5th, still used every year

[@rlc7571]

You can get trips along the length of the ship canal from Pier Head to Salford Quays, well worth a trip and less foliage to battle 😀

[@DanielArnolf]

Great job, good luck next time !! Thanks a lot

[@johnbrown1749]

My legs were shaking just following you. Exciting but scary.

[@GRUMP5B]

Nostalgia overload. For my sins I was born the Runcorn side of the waters - Mersey, Ship Canal and the Bridgewater Canal. One interesting bit of history was the first Mersey Ferry went from Runcorn to Widnes - check out Stanley Holloway monologue, Penny per person etc. Going the other way towards Warrington you will come across some old munition factory where they used to make Mustard Gas in WW1. Thank you for Oldham Mumps video as well. More nostalgic memories.

[@barrysteven5964]

A failed project but a very successful and fascinating film. You are a very talented film maker.

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Thank you very much!

[@kmag7122]

Well done it was very interesting 👍👍👍👍

[@Davejezz]

Another great video. I've enjoyed viewing it and great shots of the railway and road bridges. Cheers.

[@thehighlander8407]

I lived in Runcorn 30 years ago. This was really interesting. Thank you.

[@mervynsands3501]

Fabulous exploration to undertake, very well done. Never easy on some overgrown and rickety places to access. On the virtually inaccessible bits a drone can be used to show the view from above to good effect, if you have access to one of course! Plenty more places to check out if you can. Nice one, 😉👍

[@MarkJT1000]

I've long been fascinated by this long thin strip of land. So weird. Anyway kudos to you for having a go. Maybe try it with the Mersey at low tide when you might be able to hop down onto the mud flats and get past the jungle. Or try your luck from the other end at Eastham locks where it seems to be accessible - security permitting 😄

[@thebrowns5337]

Need to be careful on mud flats - not always that firm

[@ephphatha230]

I've cycled the opposite way towards Warrington. You can see the old sluice keeper's cottage.

[@stuvolvoless66.6]

I definitely need to check that out.. perhaps one for the winter when the greenery has died back.. another great video 👍👍

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Yeah defo. Hopefully it's still accessible by then 😕

[@RingwayManchester]

Another corker Oli! I've often wondered about this strip of land!. HAve you been to the boat museum at ellesmere port? Well worth a visit! I love your enthusiasm mate!

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Cheers mate! I've not been to the museum actually. Cycled past it a couple of times. I'll check it out... whenever thats possible

[@RingwayManchester]

@@BeeHereNowuk I'm hoping to go back soon it's so good. Might do a bit of ship watching at Eastham too. Really getting into canals lately, I'm in Stockport so loads of canals locally so I'm getting a Kayak this week!

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Great idea. I've been thinking of doing that myself. Would be nice going up the Peak Forest Canal on a kayak

[@RingwayManchester]

@@BeeHereNowuk Yeah that'd be awesome too. Look up the Intex K1 Challenger, looks a great cheap starting out kayak with good write ups. I'll let you know how it goes next week!

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Nice one.😁 I bought an inflatable dingy from aldi last year but only used it once!! 😂

[@TheBigBenTheory17]

Yes! I grew up in the background of this video! Used to swim in the MSC and climb up that wooden bit you spoke about. So nostalgic. We call that wall the "Gantry wall" I don't know why! Great video.

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Fantastic, good memories to have. 👍

[@richardstuart325]

A friend of mine, from Widnes, says he and his mates used to stow away underneath the cradle of the Runcorn Transporter bridge and jump off into the Manchester ship canal for a swim.

[@LonleyCopy]

We as young kids used to swim up in the MSC back then the ships on the other end had port bays which we called the "Jetties", which ran the other side of the gantry wall, where the new houses are (We used to sunbathe there on very hot days) also travelled onto the dividing wall and been inside of it too which i'd advise never to do again sadly they was removed used to be from memory around 6 bays before passing the big dukes house, reaching a big type wall As for getting to where you wanted to go only way now is by boat im sure a few narrowboaters have done it (Floxes afloat you tube channel) & onto liverpool docks Or walking down to black road. Good memories of my childhood we used to build rope swings under runcorn bridge and swing out over the MSC, and climb up under Runcorn bridge sit under it, Camp out on which we called the island as it was full of bamboo trees where it had the dukes house & salt factory, Good video thank you

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

Amazing how much the silt has filled in the river.

[@jasonjohnson1178]

Outstanding mate bloody good work keep it up

[@stephenknight-m4y]

Great video thanks. As a big (Mancunian) fan of the canal, it is clear that the upper reaches are doomed and done. But it has played its part in History, and was a venture with great vision. Peel now control it, and have extracted their pounds of flesh many times, but have no interest or incentive to look after the swing bridges etc on the Upper reaches, it’s a shame but that’s progress I believe. History moves on all the time.

[@richardsmith2370]

I lived in Liverpool through my late teens and early twenties. I have clear memories of crossing the Runcorn Bridge, on our way to visit family in South Wales and seeing huge sea going vessels passing along the canal. This video brought back many memories for me. Also thank you for answering something I have always wondered about. I never understood why the rail bridge looked so much like a castle or fort. Definitely gonna subscribe for more.

[@GeraldineJayne]

Oooh, a cheeky forbidden video! Loved it! Made my morning. Love the history of the old Bridge and castle! So much history! Also, your fail was our entertainment 😂🤣 Sorry 🙈

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Haha no problem!

[@marvinegreen]

Best video yet!

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Thanks mate!

[@johneastman1905]

Great video , that “strip of land” is actually completely solid construction of stone. As for the remnant wooden, “even a walking cat might break through the rotten wood....

[@focuspocus3690]

I thought it was only kryptonite that defeated superman not gorse and bramble! Interesting video, there are now stretches that have nesting gull colonies on, so that would be interesting to watch as they’re aggressive blighters when they have eggs or young. Good luck on a winter attempt.

[@lescampbell4196]

Just watched this, very interesting as I grew up in sight of the canal in Flixton. If you had managed to negotiate the jungle you would have arrived at the sluice gates which might have been fenced off, blocking further progress anyway

[@trecker59]

Another great vid

[@kidda74]

Great video, I've travelled both bridges for 18 years to work. I never knew that wall even existed 🤣 still amazes me how they managed to achieve amazing structures so long ago! 👍🏻

[@sayparler]

I was browsing on Google maps looking for the location of an ebay package I'm eagerly waiting for, and found this canal thing. It was fascinating to see if from the satellite photos, this canal linking the centre of Manchester all the way to nearby of Liverpool! And that's exactly the video I was looking for, clean and raw, just beautiful footage and some information. Thanks a lot for sharing this! Cheers from Japan!

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Thanks so much! Glad you liked the video. I'm very flattered

[@steveweller7240]

Love it.... so interesting....

[@andyairshots]

Love this vid. Well done.

[@FatJoeFilms]

The ladders at 9:30 lead down to a 'lower deck' of sorts (due to all the rain recently it's covered in this video). Only goes as far as the wooden bit on top but it's quite cool down there, or it was to me as a 15 year old back in 2007 lol.

[@daviespaulaann8913]

Great video as usual

[@SocieteRoyale]

I had no idea that viaduct was named after Ethelfleda, despite having crossed it loads of times on the train (great view over the Mersey if you do though!). Really interesting video though, I have walked down the Runcorn side were those flats and new houses are and wondered about the small strip of land between river and canal. Also of interest on that Runcorn side was the old entrance from the ship canal to the Bridgewater canal which climbed a series of locks to reach a basin in Runcorn old town. I wonder if those jetties may have been a place for barges to tie up to await their passage through the lock system? the locks are now filled in and you can walk them on a footpath to the top which is worth having a visit if your back this end of the Mersey again

[@nickaxe771]

Wow amazing....I have been looking at this strip of land only today.....thinking how do I get up on it near old Quay bridge....I suspect walk along the mud on the Mersey at low water and climb up the wall. I an 67 so maybe a bit still but quite fit...I still like an adventure....the strip were you got stuck runs for around 1/2 a mile....I to was thinking this time of year would be better....maybe the undergrowth has died back a bit..... Again at low water maybe jump down on the river side and if the ground is firm walk along the river. I know the tides well on the river....so if you fancy trying again I would go with you....better not being on your own in case you have a fall. I love the river and all the old stuff around it. Tell me how did you get on the wall. I take my hat off to you....well done. Nick....from Runcorn

[@chriswatson2407]

Very well done.

[@chrism8705]

Great video

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Hey thanks!

[@BassBanj0]

I think that area would be a great place for a garden walk sorta thing if they cleaned it up. I'd love to see that

[@slw0599]

Great vid mate👍

[@socklesslad]

Are there any remains of the transporter bridge on the Runcorn side? In West Bank (Widnes) you can see the approach and one or two associated buildings.

[@andyshacks7812]

Fascinating video. Never knew that was there.

[@anthonymcdonnell6615]

there are also mersey flats including Darebury built 1772 at Sutton Locks near Sutton next to Sutton Hall Golf club

[@mickd6942]

Coal from pits local to me in South Yorkshire used to go via the woodhead electric line to fiddlers ferry power station

[@crimencrochet]

Both the Mersey Gateway Silver Jubilee bridges are now toll bridges. Whilst residents of Widnes and Runcorn can cross for free, anyone else has to pay the toll. Has been a bone of contention for Warrington residents as many decide to drive through Warrington to cross the Mersey and moves a traffic problem further along. Absolutely senseless idea to make both tolled!

[@alangates5634]

love the video, i follow you by goggle maps and i noticed that the ramps and end for the gondola bridge are still there.

[@jamiewallace6966]

How did you get past the locked fence? Did you go along the sand? Great video!!

[@normanyates6735]

Up till the late #sixties a railway goods line ran the full length of the canal.

[@lescampbell4196]

There was an engine in a playground in Irlam for years but it's been repainted and moved to the by pass where the steel works used to be

[@neilwilkins7686]

Maybe it's time to launch your own merchandise range with 'Its Amazing' on it 🤔🤣

[@montystelevision3238]

Somewhere along there a chemical plant used to dump toxic waste into a couple of lakes. Near the Weaver river. Weston Marsh.

[@NR23derek]

The Runcorn Widnes bridge is a steel arch bridge, not a suspension bridge!

[@thebrowns5337]

Bowstring bridge

[@NR23derek]

@@thebrowns5337 OK, I've learned a bit about steel arch bridges thanks to google. It is a "through arch" bridge, because the road deck is suspended from the arch rather than sitting on top of it. So I was right, it is a steel arch bridge, suspension bridges are something else. The arch doesn't have bearings at the ends of the arch, such as with the Sydney harbour bridge where the weight of the road deck on the arch is taken by the rock the bearing are built into on the banks. Instead, as you say, it's a bowstring arch, where the road deck is under tension keeping the arch shape, like the string of a bow. You learn something new every day!

[@wollyxl]

You should head to the swing Bridge in Frodsham there is a road...

[@gilles111]

The "wooden structure" is probably a landing for ships which had to wait till the old transport bridge lifted before they could proceed on the canal.

[@baronlowie]

Transporter bridges don't lift. They have a suspended deck which travels back and forth like a ferry.

[@chrismccartney8668]

Great Video...

[@andrewschmitz9707]

Smashed it mate!!

[@DavidBrown-gf1wc]

How did you get around the initial fenced off bit near the old swing bridge?

[@chrisshaw9836]

enjoying the vidz, learning a lot

[@davidwaterhouse2552]

Where are you stood at the atart of the video please?

[@richardjellis9186]

5mins... I was watching the concentration on your face, filming the scene, and quietly hoping that you'd forget where the edge was.!🤣!.

[@busterboy7505]

You should have got yourself a drone, well done for getting so far,👍👍.

[@TheFlexTapes]

Love this

[@Tuberuser187]

The Wooden Quay might have been a mooring spot for the lock queue?

[@the007cat]

I can remember crossing the Mersey between Widnes and Runcorn on the old transport bridge. My dad who lived in the west bank as a kid told me that he and his mates would ride under the carriage and drop down onto the wall between the canal and the river. I never saw anyone do it on my journeys Dads don’t tell lies do they?

[@baronlowie]

Yes I used to work with a bloke who said the same. Mad!

[@1936Studebaker]

Were the first set of lock gates simply installed as an entrance into the shipping canal from the river at that point along the river? The canal looks to be flowing at the same level as the river? It would have made sense to build the canal at a higher elevation to the river so when the river floods it doesn't enter the shipping canal effecting it's level but from this video it doesn't seem that this was the intention or the case. I heard you mention there are several locks further down the canal, that I can understand if the topography and elevation needs to change. Do you know what stopped the shipping canal from flooding during flood periods or did it flood also when the river burst it's banks?

[@the_model_train_guy1328]

Excellent video i live in helsby but really interested in visiting this, how did you get past the security fence at wigg island

[@frankainsworth2686]

Both crossings are now tolled

[@antonybullock2240]

I bet it would be awesome for a bit of stealth wild camping.

[@davidC1984]

A shame you didn't go for a walk on the long closed Ethelfleda Bridge footpath. Or even the Silver Jubilee Bridge footpath.

[@keithpolhill4138]

Great video 👍. So you have to clkmb over the metal fence in Runcorn? Easy ?

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Cheers thanks. Yes and no, haha

[@runsandrides]

I’m thinking of doing a run here. I assume the access is near the bridge going to Wigg Island?

[@juicestyx]

you should do a video on worsley delph and wigan pier

[@iain4295]

Great video. Watch till the end for the old photos.

[@colinstewart7123]

It finishes at Eastham on the Wirral. You're welcome 😊

[@WhiskeyReview]

I cannot believe that a Greenaway has not been installed there

[@anthonymcdonnell6615]

accross the river at spike island are remains of mersey flats

[@telabib]

That thin piece of land has become a place where some of the birds nest, its a place of refuge for them , especially further on past the bridges. So i really hope that people don't start going down there.

[@deeestuary]

The main reason the Mersey can’t be used for ships is because it’s tidal, and yes. It’s a natural estuary so it’s full of sandbanks. Calling it ‘unreliable’ implies some kind of criticism which I’m sure wasn’t intended. Apart from that very interesting!

[@barryfurey1024]

Would of liked to of done this furthest i got to was the first lock from wigg island

[@EXPLORINGWITHMEDAVE]

cool mate,

[@barbaraillingworth3607]

shame about the jungle great video

[@alisonwilliams4862]

How did you get past the barrier at 1.30? 🤔

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Hey Alison, there's a hole in the fence ;)

[@alisonwilliams4862]

@@BeeHereNowuk Oh yeah, I think I see it now! Only people of slight build could get through it by the look of it though.

[@MrJoff65]

I rode my back along that first part, then got chased off it back in the early 1980s

[@spud74]

Used once a year for the launching of fireworks by the council!

[@pauldavid22212]

The amount of times we’ve been sent down there for a ‘concern for safety’ once you’d have got past Runcorn you have been someone else’s jurisdiction 😉

[@BeeHereNowuk]

Haha, yeah Grade 4, delay, delay... OK now its Cheshires problem.

[@lewis72]

I hadn't realised that any part of the Manchester Ship Canal was derelict !

[@lewis72]

Ah, I think it is just a few intermediate access locks that are disused. The canal itself isn't disused/derelict.