Throstle's Nest, near Manchester

J Ralston 1789 - 1833

Summary

This drawing shows the landing stage on the Old Trafford Bank of the River Irwell, looking upstream to Manchester. The boat alongside the landing stage is the Salford/Trafford ferry boat, from which passengers are disembarking, or waiting to embark. There was no bridge of any kind here until 1878, although as the names given to the area suggest, there was at one time a ford (Traf Ford or Sal Ford, depending on which side of the river you lived). The large house on the left river bank near to the centre of the image may be supposed to represent Ordsall Hall, as there is no record of other buildings here on maps contemporary with this drawing. However, artistic licence has been employed as the building here does not resemble the hall. Further in the distance on the left bank, the Salford side, can be seen the tall chimneys of the Chemical Works and further around the bend, the Dye Works.