Hanging Bridge

[3] A stream flowed through the ditch, from the Irk to the Irwell – possibly the lost River Dene, which gave its name to Deansgate.

[2] It has been speculated that Hanging Ditch may be of Roman origin, part of a defensive circuit between the rivers Irk and Irwell.

[6] The present structure was built in 1421, possibly incorporating parts of the previous bridge, using sandstone from Collyhurst.

[9] It previously led directly into the churchyard, and in 1554 the court leet appointed guards to prevent people using it as a shortcut for driving livestock.

[3] Hanging Ditch was also used as a rubbish dump; archaeologists discovered leather, wood, bone, metalwork and pottery in the channel dating from between the 13th and the early 15th centuries.

A directory published in 1772 recorded that nine houses had been built along the line of the bridge, suggesting that it may have been covered over during the first phase of Manchester's town planning, some time in the 1770s.

[3] Following restoration work, Hanging Bridge went on display in 2002 as a main attraction of Manchester Cathedral's newly built visitor centre.

The two exposed arches of the bridge are part of the basement of Manchester Cathedral Visitor Centre and the monument was open to the public for free.