Set up in 1977, the North West Film Archive preserves moving images made in or about Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Cumbria and offers a variety of access services to users in the public, academic and commercial sectors.
This film is part of Free
A Trip along the Manchester Ship Canal
Sailing into an inland port with the ships bringing goods to Manchester.
From the collection of:
Overview
Opened in 1894, the Manchester Ship Canal was a milestone in the history of civil engineering. This reel, shot by documentary film pioneer Charles Urban and others, looks at features along its 36-mile length, including Eastham Locks, Barton Aqueduct, and Manchester Docks. We can also see the masts and rigging of sailing ships, a reminder that these are the early decades of this inland waterway.
Related
Watch for free
Inward Bound Inward Bound
Amateur film 1934 16 mins Silent Location: Liverpool
Travelling inland with the 'Manchester Commerce', heading for home.
Watch for free
Manchester Ship Canal Manchester Ship Canal
Documentary 1924 26 mins Silent Location: Manchester Ship Canal
Manchester's link to the sea - a success story for British engineering and commerce.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Watch for free
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.