Canal Museums & Waterways Museums

Canal Museums & Waterways Museums

The best places to see the story of the changes that the canals wrought are in the waterways museums. The best known were the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne in Northamptonshire, the Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire (right) and the National Waterways Museum at Gloucester Docks, now under common management and forming The National Waterways Museum. There are are several smaller canal museums and many kindred exhibitions and interpretation centres all over the canal system. (See link to Inland Waterways Heritage Network below.) Although they all give some sort of historic overview, each naturally tends to reflect the history of their own particular area which is part of their interest and charm.

Many canals and restoration projects have their own Societies, many with Society websites, dedicated to their study, promotion and/or restoration. For instance the preserved Steam Tug Kerne and the restored Shroppie Fly Boat Saturn now have their own sites. We list Canal Societies.

The Gloucester Waterways Museum tackles the whole broad subject of waterways in a comprehensive way, from water supply to wildlife, whilst The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port has a huge collection of historic boats and barges, many of which are displayed afloat and working. Sadly the condition of many is deteriorating due to lack of funds but a dry dock has been set up and trainees are developing their skills in historic boat renovation. Some very interesting canal exhibitions are part of larger regional museums, The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, for example, has a number of complete boats as well as a recreated working canal boatyard to service them. What they all share is the dedication and enthusiasm of their staff, a huge range of experience and information on offer. Come and see, you can be sure of a warm welcome everywhere in the world of waterway museums.