Walter T Glover established his wire manufacturing company in 1868, occupying premises at the Bridgewater Street Iron Works in Salford. W T Glover & Co, known as Glover’s, originally made cotton-covered and braided, insulated copper wires for use on bell, signalling and telephone circuits. As trade developed, the company moved to the Springfield Lane Cable Works in 1880. At this time, factories and larger private homes were beginning to install electric lighting, which required better insulated cable. Glover's started to manufacture cables covered with between one and three layers of rubber strip, waterproof tape and compounded cotton braid. In the late 1880s, Glover's began to make lead-sheathed cables for underground use. The company became a limited company and moved to Trafford Park in 1898, securing the exclusive rights for the supply of electricity to all the roads, streets and premises of Trafford Park. In June 1919, Vickers Ltd took over Glover's. Although Vickers held most of the shares, Glover's kept its name and management. In 1929 the Vickers group reorganised and sold its shares in Glover's to Sir Tom Callendar of Callendar Cable and Construction Co. Some shares later went to W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Ltd. and British Insulated Cables. In 1945, Glover’s became part of British Insulated Callenders Cables Limited, following the merger of Callenders Cable and Construction Co and British Insulated Cables. During the 1950s, Glover’s developed high voltage submarine power cables, used to link centres of population with sources of generation. The parent company formed a subsidiary, BIC (Submarine) Cables Ltd, to manufacture and install the Glover’s cables. Glover's submarine cables linked England and France, and the north and south islands of New Zealand. Increasing competition from other cable manufacturing companies resulted in the south side of Glover’s Trafford Parks works integrating with the newly formed Wiring and General Cables Division of the British Insulated Cables Company (BICC). The Trafford Park factory closed in 1970, but the Glover’s brand continued as part of BICC.

The Manchester Ship Canal Company was responsible for the funding and construction of the canal and the later management of the canal until it was bought by Peel Holdings in 2008. The project began with a meeting organised by Daniel Adamson on the 27th June 1882, at his home in Didsbury. The meeting was attended by several industrialists from across the region, as well as civic leaders. The project progressed but, it did have its detractors amongst them the Port of Liverpool and the railway companies. The Ship Canal was deposited with Parliament in November 1882. The Bill was not successful however, a third Bill was presented to Parliament and this time it made it to the House of Lords where, on the 6th august 1885 it received the royal assent. Some stipulations were put in place amongst them was the company had to but the Bridgewater Navigation Company and raise £5,000,000 prior to any construction starting. The funding was eventually secured by July 1887 and on the 11th November 1887 Lord Egerton cut the first sod. At the peak of the project there were over 16,000 men and boys working on the construction of the canal. As well as digging and carrying large amounts of the soil away by barrow, there were several mechanical diggers, powered by steam used during the project. Eventually after six years the canal was finished and attracted the additional building of a large industrial state, Trafford park along the Manchester end of the canal which was started in 1896. The Ship Canal also extended the docking facilities by building a further Dock No 9 which was opened in 1905. Manchester Docks was the official name given to the Docks at the terminus of the Manchester Ship Canal, the whole length of the Canal being referred to as the Port of Manchester. However, Docks No. 6 - 9 were also known as Salford Docks, due to their location in Salford, whilst Docks No. 1 - 4 were also called Pomona Docks. The formal opening of the canal was conducted by Queen Victoria in May 1894 although the canal had been opened to shipping prior to the official opening.