Main docks.

The  terminal docks are entered through the Mode Wheel locks and are situated some 36  miles from Eastham. The larger ships coming  up the through the locks would berth at the main docks situated prior to the Trafford Road swing bridge whilst the smaller ones would continue to Pomona docks situated beyond the bridge.

When the canal opened there were only  three large docks (plus Trafford Wharf) which were capable of handling ocean going vessels but these, together with those at Pomona, gave the port over six miles of quayside.

Of the original docks, number 6 was the smallest and  No. 8 dock  was the largest.

As traffic increased, the need for further dock space became apparent and two larger docks were planned, of these only No. 9 dock was ever built,  being opened on July 13th 1905. The planned No.10 dock was  to run parallel to No. 9 dock and to be even larger.

The main dock area and surrounding roads during the 1970's.

- number 10 dock would have been in the area marked "Consolidation Depot" had it  been built.

Trade on the upper sections of the canal began to decline in the 1970's as a result of the changing patterns of trade, the growing size of ships, and the decline of the traditional industries in the area, as a result the docks became no longer viable and were eventually to close forever in 1982.

In 1983 most of the dock area and surrounding land was purchased by Salford council and a re-development plan for the new "Salford Quays" was published in 1985. Today the area is an attractive residential and commercial area with numerous leisure developments where the old wharehouses used to stand. Of the main docks only No. 6, now known as South Bay, is still open to the canal, the others  having been sealed off  from the waterway to enable the water quality to  be improved. Waterfowl  now inhabit the area and fish have been  introduced  into the cleaned-up sections.