The network of canals and rivers in Greater Manchester served as the industrial arteries of the North for more than two centuries.
These waterways once carried huge quantities of coal and other raw materials through the heart of the city.
While the industrial uses are long gone, the waterways have found a variety of new uses.
Urban fishing and the world’s oldest angling club
In recent times, a resurgence in the popularity of fishing has coincided with the clean-up of urban waterways here and around the UK.
The chance of trying Fishin’ Frenzy at Betfair Casino reveals how this activity has also been integrated into online slots.
With symbols that evoke a peaceful angling trip, it’s made up of spinning reels and a bonus round.
It’s one of many fishing-themed games, showing how the popularity of the sport has reached new levels.
The Salford Friendly Anglers Society was formed in 1817 and has lived through some very different times in the region’s waterways.
In its early days, there were still fish in the local rivers and canals they could catch. However, the rapid pace of the Industrial Revolution meant that members soon had to travel to fish in places around Cheshire, North Wales and other unpolluted destinations.
The Society kept going as a social hub and travel club, even when it seemed impossible to imagine Manchester with fish in its waterways again.
Easy access and free fishing rights have turned Manchester into a hotbed of urban angling in the last decade or so, with TV shows showing some of the best spots.
In the eighth series of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, we were treated to the sight of the show’s stars carrying out some urban fishing on the Rochdale Canal.
The trip was particularly memorable for Bob Mortimer, who studied law here, although it turned out to be a less than successful trip in terms of the number of fish that they landed.
The rise of urban water sports
While fishing has become the most visible sign of the returning importance of the canals and rivers here, we can also find a variety of sporting events taking place on the waters around Greater Manchester.
From open-water swimming events to paddleboards and kayak races, it has become an important hub for local sport.
Open-water swimming is typically carried out at The Quays or at Sale Water Park. You might also spot dragon boat racing at Sale Water Park, with the Barnabus Charity Dragon Boat Race set to take place on 12 September.
The UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is held each year at Dock 9 at The Quays, which is also the setting of the Greater Manchester Swim.
Looking to the future of Greater Manchester’s canals
The way that Manchester’s waterways have been transformed demonstrates how post-industrial landscapes can be successfully repurposed for entertainment and athletic recreation.
Provided that local authorities and the public continue to support these initiatives, we can expect Manchester’s historic canals and rivers to carry on providing us with great moments.
Feature image: Luke Power
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