Victoria Arches, Underground brick archways along River Irwell in Manchester, England
The Victoria Arches consist of seventeen brick arches built into an embankment, extending along the River Irwell beneath Victoria Street in central Manchester.
Constructed in 1838 during Manchester's industrial expansion, these arches initially housed manufacturing spaces for wine merchants, printers, and machine makers along the river.
The arches transformed into public air raid shelters during World War II, protecting 1,600 Manchester residents with reinforced walls and specialized ventilation systems.
The structures remain sealed and inaccessible to the public, though their entrances can be observed from Greengate Square and three bridges crossing the River Irwell.
Two floating landing platforms, Cathedral and Victoria, operated from the arches until 1900, offering river cruises despite the Irwell's significant pollution levels.
Location: Manchester
GPS coordinates: 53.48510,-2.24540
Latest update: March 5, 2025 13:15
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