The Manchester Ship Canal was the artery carrying the lifeblood of the Industrial Revolution.
From its conception, it was heralded as one of the most ambitious – and daring – construction projects the country had ever seen.
It starts at the Mersey Estuary and roughly follows the lines of the Mersey and Irwell rivers to the city centre.
The canal itself, proposed as a direct route for shipping vessels to Manchester, opened in 1894 and cost about £15m.
It took six long years to construct, but the benefits quickly became apparent. Previously narrow boats along the Bridgewater Canal and the railway system were used for trade.
But the canal led to Manchester becoming the third largest shipping port in the country and opened it up to the world.
It was a key driver for the Industrial Revolution and led to a huge population increase in Manchester.
Daniel Adamson, a leading local industrialist, formed the Manchester Ship Canal Company in 1882 in Didsbury.
Parliamentary permission for the project was earned after a long struggle.
Renowned civil engineer Thomas Walker was the lead contractor.
After the early years of success and bustling trade, however, the canal declined, largely due to advances in shipping technologies and practices.
The old docks were finally redeveloped as Salford Quays.
Last week it was revealed that the Ship Canal is to get a new lease of life thanks to a £90m clean-up that will bring back fish to the historic waterway.
The ‘spring clean’ aims to produce cleaner water – leading to the return of fish including bream, roach, perch and carp.
Some pictures courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council. Browse over 80,000 historical photographs of Manchester and buy high quality prints online at http://images.manchester.gov.uk