On a grey day with the light fading fast …..at Middlewood Locks ….. part 2 …. wildlife and water

Now in answer to the question what to do on an indifferent grey day in February, the answer is of course to wander Middlewood Locks.

Add to this an imperative to get moving as the light was fading and you have Andy’s latest adventure which he described as a “medium stroll” which had the advantage that “We found Middlewood Locks and managed to get on to them much to our surprise”.

And the rest is a new series of pictures, capturing not only the expanse of water, but the developments beyond.

The Locks are one of Andy’s projects and over the years he had been going back and back to record the changes to the area.

Location; Middlewood Locks

Pictures; Middlewood Locks, 2021, from the collection of Andy Robertson

On a grey day with the light fading fast …..at Middlewood Locks ….. part 1 …. water

Now in answer to the question what to do on an indifferent grey day in February, the answer is of course to wander Middlewood Locks.

Add to this an imperative to get moving as the light was fading and you have Andy’s latest adventure which he described as a “medium stroll” which had the advantage that “We found Middlewood Locks and managed to get on to them much to our surprise”.

And the rest is a new series of pictures, capturing not only the expanse of water, but the developments beyond.

The Locks are one of Andy’s projects and over the years he had been going back and back to record the changes to the area.

Location; Middlewood Locks

Pictures; Middlewood Locks, 2021, from the collection of Andy Robertson

Discovering a little bit of our lost history, out by the Princes Bridge ...back in 2014

“Don't know what you know about this abandoned area just east of Water Street and over Princes Bridge, I discovered it on Monday afternoon.”

Well I have to confess neither do I but given these magnificent pictures that Andy tool on that warm sunny recent Bank Holiday I am inclined to want to do the research.

In the meantime I think I shall content myself with posting a few from the collection Andy  made while out that day

We are Middlewood Locks and the sign close by refers to the “Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal Restoration Middlewood Locks, A British Waterways  project to promote Regeneration and Restoration.”

So that gives me the historic link and the first place to research and suggests that in a few years this open bit of land will be redeveloped.

All of which means these like so many of Andy’s pictures these will be the only clue to what was once here.

And at present it does offer up some stunning views across to Manchester.

Pictures; Middlewood Locks,  Andy Robertson, May 2014

Tales from the Ordsall Chord ...... part 5 ..... Middlewood Locks

So yesterday I said there would be no more from the series on the Ordsall Chord, and then Andy came along with some more pictures and I just had to include them.

Now this is partly because over the years Andy has taken some stunning photographs of the Middlewood Locks, and because by his own admission “we concentrated on the Manchester side but when the train stopped for quite a while we leapt across our seats and took these from the Salford side. 

Didn't send them before because couldn't work out their location, anyway it is the Middlewood Locks development”*.

And that is all I am going to say.

Location; from the Ordsall Chord








Pictures; The Ordsall Chord, 2017, from the collection of Andy Robertson

*The Middlewood Locks, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Middlewood%20Locks

Looking out of Salford ....... the Middlewood Locks story

Now Andy’s picture of Hampson Street, taken from Oldfield Road in 2014 is as he says the “common thread” to his new collection.

2014

Over the last few years Andy has been wandering down there and photographing the Middlewood Locks and with that unerring eye to spot future change he marked down the area as one of special interest.

And yesterday he was back and in the space of three years much has begun to change.  The open expanse of land with its mix of wild undergrowth and stunning views across open water has been transformed.

It is of course a development that will be familiar to anyone who has walked around the bits of Salford and Manchester which were once home to bustling industry and the modest homes of those who lived in the inner city.

Over the years Andy has not only chronicled those changes but has taken some mean pictures at the same time.

2017

So with that said, here is one of my favourites of his from that 2014 photo shot.

If like me you have a corny sense for captions, the one that springs to my mind is "the long and winding road," not that  Hampson Street is in anyway winding and if it leads anywhere its towards the Beetham Tower.

But the dramatic image of tall blocks rising in Andy's second picture must bring forth some comments.

Enough said.

Location; Middlewood Locks, 2014

Pictures; Middlewood Locks, 2014, from the collection of Andy Robertson

Back at Middlewood Locks and the promise of a new vision for the River Irwell

Now I was recently  down at Middlewood Locks courtesy of some fascinating pictures taken by Andy Robertson who promised me more and so here they are.

The area is derelict but has the promise of something happening

And Neil Simpson alerted me to this link to URBAN RIVER REGENERATION IN MANCHESTER, which sets forth to argue for the regeneration of the river.

“Following years of neglect by governments, commerce and the public alike, the importance of the River Irwell as valuable asset in Manchester, Salford and Trafford is becoming increasingly apparent. 

Its benefits in terms of its historical legacy as well as its huge potential to drive economic, social and environmental healing and growth are enormous. 

It is with this in mind that plans are now underway to turn the tide on the years of neglect and once again embrace the River Irwell as a fundamental part of the cities heritage and future economic and social growth.”

It is an interesting mix of history and plans for the future and sits with other material I posted with the original story.

So I suggest you download the article and take in Andy’s pictures.

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

*Middlwood Locks

**URBAN RIVER REGENERATION IN MANCHESTER TRANSFORMING THE‘DARK RIVER IRWELL' http://www.merseybasin.org.uk/archive/assets/60/original/60_APEM_River_Irwell_report_EA.pdf