THE MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL is seen here viewed from Barton Bridge. The M60 (formerly M61) motorway bridge (built 1959) spans the canal less than a mile away.

It is shortly after dusk and the sky has turned a wonderful shade of red graduating to blue - This is not an effect created in Adobe Photoshop - it's exactly what I saw!

The vignetting effect is caused by the add-on zoom lens, which is designed to be used with the camera zoom fully extended - here the lens of the Nikon Coolpix was at normal setting.

THE MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL is seen here in zoom view, seen from the Barton Swing Bridge, looking towards the M60 motorway bridge.

This spectacular bridge, which was widened in the 1980's, carries road traffic around the west side of Manchester. It is part of the Manchester orbital motorway, the M60, which was finally completed in the year 2000, four years late.

On the water we can see the group of swans which has taken up residence on this stretch of the canal

THE MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL seen at dusk from the Barton side about a quarter of a mile from the Barton Swing Bridge.

The M60 Barton motorway bridge is visible on the right.

Across the water to the left, about half a mile from the canal is the Trafford Centre.

The large box-like structure has a special function in connection with the ship canal, but I'm not sure what. Can anyone help? E-mail aidan@anamaria.u-net.com.

FIDDLERS FERRY POWER STATION is located next to the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal west of Widnes.

It is one of the new generation of very large power stations which have replaced smaller ones such as those formerly at Agecroft, Trafford Park and Stockport.

Its giant cooling towers and chimney can be seen from locations many miles away, including Werneth Low, Winter Hill and the north Wales mountains.

How long will it be before this power station closes and is turned into, perhaps, an art gallery? Check back in 25 and 50 years time to find out.

A BLOCK OF FLATS in Childwall, Liverpool is ceremonially blown up on Sunday the 15th of January 2001 at 12 noon. The Lord Mayor of Liverpool Eddie Klien pressed the button to set off the explosives.

Crowds gathered to witness the destruction of the 1960's eyesore and few tears were shed at its passing.

It took just seconds for the concrete shell of Valley Views to be reduced to a pile of rubble - The explosion was remarkably quiet - there was only a dull bang and a faint rumbling in the ground, and the building slid quietly out of view, raising a large dust cloud.

I can think of a few buildings in the centre of Manchester which would benefit from similar treatment.

THE BRITONS PROTECTION stands on the corner of Albion Street and Lower Mosley Street. It's one of Manchester's oldest pubs, dating from the early years of the 19th century.

The venerable old pub is now surrounded by new developments, including the Bridgewater Hall, which is just across the street to the left.

The Briton's Protection used to be the last place to have a pint before taking a coach from the old Lower Mosley St bus station. Since the opening of the Bridgewater Hall in 1997, it's a pleasant watering hole for concert-goers and musicians.

Few of my contemporaries remember Lower Mosley St bus station, but I remember it vividly. Do you?

THE BRIDGEWATER HALL is seen here from the rear, looking up from Lower Mosley Street.

The futuristic glass-walled tower houses the air conditioning and other service equipment. The tower is set apart from the main building to keep noise in the auditorium to a minimum.

This tower is one of the most striking and interesting features the concert hall, which was opened in 1997.

The Bridgewater Hall stands on the site of the old Lower Mosley Street bus station.

WE ARE STANDING ON GREAT BRIDGEWATER STREET, behind the Bridgewater Hall, looking towards Albion Street and Deansgate.

A Metrolink tram is just crossing the Metrolink bridge, constructed in 1992 when the system was first opened.

To the right is the Bridgwater Hall and to the left is the new Jury's Hotel and next to it, the Briton's Protection pub.

LOOKING FROM GREAT BRIDGWATER STREET along the canal extension behind the Bridgewater Hall towards the high tech Barbirolli 2 office complex. The Pitcher and Piano cafe bar is visible just below, overlooking the newly created canal basin.

This arm of the Bridgewater Canal was recreated when the Bridgewater Hall was built. It is part of a stretch of canal which used to run under the former Central Station and Deansgate down to the Irwell.

The Victorian warehouse building to the right has been renovated for residential use.

A former derelict area has been transformed intoa cultural, business and residential quarter in the heart of the city.

THE DANCEHOUSE THEATRE now occupies this building on Oxford Road, constructed in 1930. We are looking from the steps of the BBC Building.

In 1999, the tiled exterior was extensively renovated.

Look closely and you will see an interesting piece of Manchester cinema archaeology - The former entrance sign of the Oxford Road Studios 1 - 5 has been uncovered as part of renovation work.

THE DANCEHOUSE THEATRE ENTRANCE is on Oxford Road opposite the BBC.

Above the main entrance an old sign from two decades ago has been uncovered - This was the entrance to the former Oxford Road Studios 1 - 5.

Shortly after I took this photograph, the sign was neatly covered over again with planks of wood.

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