Return to main site

Monday 2 April 2012

Victoria Arches

I had a few hours spare so decided to head under Manchester for a bit.

The Victoria Arches were a series of arches built in the embankment of the River Irwell in Manchester. They served as business premises, landing stages for Steam packet riverboats and as World War II air-raid shelters. They were accessed from wooden staircases which descended from Victoria Street

Regular flooding of the river resulted in the closure of the steam-packet services in the early 20th century, following which the arches were used for general storage. In World War II they were converted into air raid shelters. The arches are now bricked up and inaccessible; the staircases were removed in the latter part of the 20th century.

A brilliant explore but as I went solo it was a bit strange when I heard voices, at parts the sounds from the street echo down manhole covers which is a bit un-nerving





















3 comments:

  1. This place keeps winking at me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. if you don't head down soon it will be sealed and it really is worth an early evening visit

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete