10: The Marina

Slabs of old stone piled on top of each other,

Bursting with green life.

Moss.

Dandelions.

Turn left walk through the Marina.

I remember this area way back – it’s changed significantly.

None of this was here.

Sometimes, it’s a cultural thing, it’s got a bit snooty.

That wasn’t an original.

That wasn’t there.

That’s new.

All of this was just brown earth for years.

It was very working class, a poor environment.

Manchester’s ghettos.

There’s a lot of unity in having nothing. You’re all in the same boat.

You’ve got nout. I’ve got nout.

Up ahead ever-changing house boats in all colours.

Spot the green one, orange yellow, red.

The resident swans.

A small floating house with pink and white stripes.

Cats and dogs, geese and mallards.

One boat has got a resident skeleton steering it from behind, find it.

Head all the way to the end of the marina.

Cross all the bridges on the left-hand side.

Jim Spalding: The Marina itself has just changed so dramatically. When I moved there it was just, you know, a brown field site. It's arguable that it was more enjoyable back then (laugh). Those three great big towers of Mordor didn't exist, the grey houses along the arm didn't exist. The School wasn't there. I mean it was a bit crap living on a building site for three and half years on both sides of my boat. But it's interesting how the whole of Ancoats has become a bit of a social experiment. You know on one side you've got people who have lived there their whole lives, you know people who have grown up there, some real poverty in places. Contrasted against you know all of these mill conversions and trendy young people with their little dogs. It's an interesting contrast that's for sure.