Eastham Locks

By Sarah Griffiths on Mar 16, 09 08:06 AM in 1800-1899

Eastham Locks mark the entrance to the Manchester Ship Canal, which was constructed between 1887 and 1894, and is the eighth longest canal in the world for sea-going ships.

The Mersey and Irwell Navigation of 1740 had previously enabled small boats to reach Manchester, but the new canal allowed ocean-going vessels to reach the city instead of unloading cargo at Liverpool to be transported by train.

The waterway stretches for 36 miles and the two Eastham locks are the first in five sets of locks between the River Mersey and the Terminal Docks in Manchester. The original function of these locks was to provide a seal for the tidal estuary of the Mersey and they measure 106.68m x 15.24m and 182.88m x 24.38m respectively.

As it was such a large engineering feat, the cost of the Manchester Ship Canal escalated to over £15 million and this was paid for by the consortium of businessmen who held shares in the company. Their faith in the project was rewarded as by the beginning of the First World War, around 5% of UK imports and 4% of exports were transported via the canal and Manchester became the third-largest port in the country.

Before the realisation of the canal project, Eastham was considered to be a tourist destination and visitors came across the Mersey by ferry especially to see the pier and gardens. However, the gradual industrialisation of the area around the canal meant that the 'Richmond of the Mersey' had less appeal and this activity declined. The town became famous as the gateway to the Manchester Ship Canal and for its large tanker terminal, the Queen Elizabeth II Dock, which allowed the transfer of oil from local refineries.

Eastham Locks remain an important component in the area's infrastructure, as around six million tonnes of goods are still transported through the privately-owned Manchester Ship Canal on an annual basis.