Industrial scene depicting the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal. In the foreground, building works with a stone tower and wooden hut can be seen to the right. The Penine hills are on the horizon, and to the left of the building works, a number of large ships are in the distance. There are indications of impressionist influence especially in the walled sections of the construction, where the surface seems mottled with daubs of paint. The colours are rich and vibrant in blue, white, and red with rich brown ochre representing the small walled valley within which the construction works are taking place.