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Hidden Canal
Underneath the city of Salford lies a canal, buried since 1961. Some of Salford's residents remember it vividly. Some of them have no idea it's there. And some of them want to unearth it and put boats back on it.
In this oral history podcast, we’re going to hear from 100 Salford residents speaking in their own words about their memories of Salford’s canals, waterways, rivers and boats.
Each week, we'll hear from a different selection of Salfordians telling their own stories. We'll hear about playing, working, falling in the canals, enjoying the peace and quiet of the canals, and for some people, seeing it disappear.
This project was created by Walk the Plank and the Manchester Bury and Bolton Canal Society with Whose Art Whose Culture funding from Salford CVS and the GMCA.
Recorded and produced by David McFarlane.
Music by David McFarlane and Ugnė Makselytė.
Episodes
5 episodes
"I'd be the first one there with a shovel" (E4)
This week we're getting deeper into some local history, with a focus on one question in particular: why was the canal filled in? We'll hear about the effect that had on the local area, how it changed Salford, and some other ways Salford has cha...
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"Ducks, Geese, Fish" (E3 – Middlewood Locks Fest Special)
This week we're doing something a little bit different, and focusing in on Middlewood Locks Festival, which takes place every year on the canal . The Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal was abandoned in 1961, but some parts of it have been restor...
"Captain of your own ship" (E2)
You can't talk about canals without talking about boats. People told me loads of stories about boats. Owning them, sailing on them, living on them, dreaming about them, and the two best days in a boat owner's life–'the day you get it, and the d...
"Kids nowadays wouldn't know what a canal was" (E1)
Underneath the city of Salford lies a canal, buried since 1961. Some of Salford's residents remember it vividly. Some of them have no idea it's there. And some of them want to unearth it and put boats back on it.In this oral history podc...
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