Victoria Arches

The Cathedral Steps were wooden staircases that descended from street level on Victoria Street in Manchester, to landing stages built into the embankment of the River Irwell, and finally to floating moored platforms. The purpose of the steps was to allow fare-paying passengers access to riverboats which provided tours of the River. The steps were so named due to their close proximity to Manchester Cathedral.

History

The steps were opened in the years following the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal. Competition for passengers was fierce and there were at least two staircases down to the river, operated by different companies.

During the second world war, the stages and the tunnels surrounding them were used as air raid shelters (photographs on the Manchester Council Images website show this clearly)

The steps and landing stages have been closed from the public for many years. The stages are still visible from the surrounding bridges, and the northwest shore of the river. The arches are now bricked up.

Tunnels

There have been persistent rumours of tunnels extending from the landing stages to various parts of the city. While photographs on the Manchester Council website do appear to show tunnels with cobbled foot surfaces, there is as yet no real evidence to suggest such a network beyond the scope of the original landing stages. Several public toilets in the area, one on the junction of Corporation Street and Miller Street, and one located in front of the Cathedral itself, while now disused and closed to the public do appear to connect to the landing stages on the river.

Explorers have reportedly accessed the landing stages and taken images showing their current condition.

External links

• Manchester Council Image Database - search for River Irwell or Victoria Arches