Wilburn Basin a forgotten bit of our industrial heritage

Now I have never come across the Wilburn Basin which is a shame.

It is sited between the Middlewood Locks and Woden Street Bridge and features in the plans for the River Irwell Park which sets forth the vision for  an urban river park to be delivered over the next decade which “will transform the day to day workings of an 8km stretch of the Irwell”*

Our city “has been rated the 14th greatest European city in an independent survey.  

The other 13 cities ahead of Manchester have fabulous water fronts – and Manchester needs the same.  

The Irwell has always been the lifeblood of Greater Manchester and by keeping a singular vision we can make it a unique place to visit.”**

So there you have it, a plan and to go with that some of Andy’s pictures taken last week.

Even in its present state the area looks exciting with a hint of  its industrial past and  stunning  views across to the twin cities.

There will be people who will remember it as a working place and I hope will come forward with stories and perhaps old pictures to compliment Andy's collection.

And I noticed some of the land went up for sale last year, comprising 1.34 Hectares (3.3 Acres), Hughly Visible with River Frontage, Castlefield & Spinningfields Nearby.***

All of which puts Andy up there in front yet again recording bits of our history just as they are about to take a new turn.

And given that he and his daughter shot plenty of pictures I shall be featuring more.

Remember you saw it here first.

Pictures; the Wilburn Basin June 2014, from the collection of Andy Robertson

* River Irwell Park, http://www.ribacompetitions.com/salfordmeadowsbridge/downloads/Irwell%20Park%20Overview.pdf

**Chris Farrow, Chair, Irwell River Park Executive Management Group
***http://www.urbanvision.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/development-oportunity-wilburn-street-basin-salford-urban-vision-partnership-final.pdf