Learning About Local History

Posted at 9:45 am on 30th April, 2019

Year 8 Visit Irlam Locks

In March, Year 8 students embarked on the annual Wellacre Irlam Locks visit as part of their History lessons.

In spring term lessons, students studied the Industrial Revolution and, particularly, the impact of the Manchester Ship Canal on the local area. When the Ship Canal was built, it was arguably one of the biggest feats of engineering that the country had ever seen.

Wellacre’s History department recognise the importance of students understanding the significance of this innovation right on our doorstep.

On the trip, students are shown some key features of the canal and the locks, and asked to imagine how the canal being built would have affected the local surroundings over one hundred years ago.

Year 8 Oliver said:

“This trip was really interesting and learned lots of facts about Irlam Locks.  I had never been here before and didn’t realise how big the canal was.”

This year marked the fourth year that this trip has taken place, and, for the first time students were lucky enough to see an actual ship travelling the canal!  The crew of the German ship ‘Veritas’ were happy to give students a wave as we watched them turn the vessel at Irlam, having dropped cargo off at the container base.

Mrs O’Neill, Leader of Humanities, said:

“I am thrilled we finally saw a ship delivering cargo! It was appropriate and exciting for students to see the canal in use. Each year, I’m proud of how students react so positively to learning about local history through the study of a local historical site.”