Manchester Ship Canal Trip

In spite of an early start 43 members of Fetcham U3A enthusiastically looked forward to a varied four days travelling north. Our first stop, apart from a comfort break, was at the last complete Victorian Pottery factory in the country - Gladstone Pottery Museum - where we had a delicious buffet lunch. Typical of hundreds of similar factories at one time in the area, we experienced what conditions would have been like for the men, women and children who had worked at the centre of the world's pottery industry, including the sights, sounds and smells. We followed the story of the WC from Queen Elizabeth 1 through to the toilet of our future and now know what a sagger maker's bottom knocker is - a valuable piece of information for any quiz!

Later that afternoon we arrived at our base for the next few days, unpacked and gathered in the bar for a drink before dinner. Surprisingly, although most were tired after a long day, we were all up and ready the next morning for the Manchester Ship Canal cruise out of Salford Quays. From the boat we saw the new BBC Media Centre built on the banks of the Canal, the Lowry Gallery and Imperial War Museum North before cruising for six hours along the 35-mile canal to Liverpool. With a pleasant lady guide giving us a lively commentary as we sailed along, a clear blue sky and warmth from the sun, it was a magical day, only broken by suddenly coming up close and personal with a huge unladen oil tanker, pulled by a tug, rounding a corner towards us. Obviously our captain was aware and put us into a 'layby' on the canal so that the tanker could pass.

We then travelled via one of the Mersey tunnels to Birkenhead to visit Port Sunlight, exploring Lord Lever's vision, the founding of the village, the architecture, soap making and village life at the Lever Gallery and Museum.

The next day, we altered the itinerary slightly as the weather forecast was not good, and spent a full day in Liverpool. With so much to see we dived in and out of museums, galleries, cathedrals and the Liverpool Eye and managed to avoid the heavy rain. The rebuilt Albert Dock housed several museums and the Tate Gallery of Liverpool. The red sandstone Anglican Cathedral and the beautifully modern Catholic Cathedral
Winnie

Our last morning saw us at the Anderton Boat Lift. A wonderful construction, for 125 years this impressive Victorian monument served a purpose very different to the peaceful passage of colourful narrowboats between the River Weaver and the Trent & Mersey Canal 50ft above, linking the canals of the north and midlands as the motorways of their day.

We arrived back at Fetcham tired but, in spite of the changeable weather, having had a very enjoyable four days.
Tony R

Winnie

Alec
Graham
Judy - Manchester Ship Canal
Judy - Liverpool
Judy - Anderton Boat Lift
Judy - Port Sunlight