Manchester's link to the sea - a success story for British engineering and commerce.

A testament to the "triumph of British tenacity and determination" that built the Ship Canal, the film travels along the waterway linking Manchester to the sea. From Eastham Locks on the Mersey to the floating cranes and pneumatic grain elevators of Manchester Docks, this film celebrates British engineering and commercial ingenuity, and records a vital part of the North West's industrial heritage.

Survey of the Manchester Ship Canal from Eastham Locks to Manchester Docks, largly shot from the canal. Entrance to the canal at Eastham on the Mersey. Ship in Eastham Locks. Electric crane on canal bank. "Elesmere Port". Grain silos and flour mills. Spirit docks. Petrol storage tanks.Petrol superintendants launch going up the canal. Weston Mersey docks. Salt Union works at Runcorn. "Runcorn Railway Bridge & Transporter". The transporter is seen in operation. "Paitington Coaling Basin". Changing of ships at the basin. "Paitington Steel & iron Works". "Co-operative Wholesale Society's soap works at Irlam". "Mersey Weir & Irlam viaduct". Cheshire lines high level bridge, where the Mersey enters the canal. Ship passes under rail bridge as train goes over. "Irlam Locks". "Baiton Lock & Aquaduct". Aquaduct being swung over. "Irwell Park Wharf". Unloading iron ore from SS Reine Elizabeth, ore train leaving wharf. One of the largest tanksteamers afloat, the British Sergeant. Animals landing wharf, unloading cattle from Ireland. "The Manchester docks". Railway swing bridge, flour mills. Discharging grain, small grain elevator loading a barge. "Trafford Wharf". Pan of the wharf. Loading motor cars for the continent. Unloading Egyptian cotton. Crane operated by man on ship. Unloading American cotton, bales are swung ashore. Number 9 dock, general shots of the dock and cranes. Railway and road leading directly from the dock. Cases of Jaffa oranges being unloaded. SS Manchester Regiment employed in the Manchester Canadaian Service, shot of the moored ship. A 60 ton floating crane lifting large pipes and boilers. Barge traffic, dry dock, a warehouse piled high with produce. Goods leaving the docks by rail. [Possibly incomplete.]