Canal Museum on the Shropshire Union Canal
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Guide To The National Waterways Museum
The National Waterways Museum has one of the world's largest floating collections of traditional canal craft. They include narrowboats, canal barges, river barges, canal and river tugs, icebreakers and a coaster. Canal trips are available.
The National Waterways Museum (NWM) provides an experience for visitors to learn about the important history and significance of Britain’s canals and waterways. It houses a large collection of artefacts, archives, and historic boats that comprehensively overview how these waterways impacted the country’s development.
The NWM is run by the Canals & Rivers Trust (CRT), which aims to preserve and promote the heritage of the inland waterways in the UK.
The NWM is located in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England, at the junction of the Shropshire Union Canal and the Manchester Ship Canal. During the Industrial era, this location was an important transhipment dock. Today, the site is peaceful and allows visitors to explore the history of the waterways and enjoy the serene surroundings.
Ellesmere Port and The Industrial Age
Ellesmere Port’s history can be traced back to the Netherpool Port, which Thomas Telford and William Jessop designed for the Ellesmere Canal project. The project aimed to connect the Mersey and Severn Rivers to allow commercial transportation between the two. Unfortunately, the project was never fully realised due to financial constraints and low expected revenue from boat traffic.
Despite this setback, the port continued to operate until the 1950s, serving boats that used the Chester Canal. In 1845, the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company took over the port and amalgamated several canals, including the Ellesmere Canal, into the Shropshire Union Canal.
The Birth of the Waterways Museum
During the 1970s, a museum was established at the unused port, originally named the North West Museum of Inland Navigation. It underwent various name changes before becoming the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port.
The museum received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop new exhibitions and visitor amenities, improving its overall experience. In 2012, the Waterways Trust, which had managed the museum since the 1990s, was merged into the Canal & River Trust, securing the museum’s preservation and expansion.
The NWM is one of several Canal & River Trust museums. Other museums in the network include the Gloucester Waterways Museum, which is housed in the historic Llanthony Warehouse, and The Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire. Together, these museums offer visitors a thorough understanding of the fascinating history of the United Kingdom’s waterways.
The Museum’s Collections and Archives
The NWM has an impressive collection of more than 12,000 items, which includes 68 historical boats and a vast archive of records and images. The Arts Council England has recognized the collection as nationally significant, and many of the boats are part of the National Historic Fleet.
When visiting the museum, guests can explore its historic buildings like locks, docks, and warehouses, which provide a glimpse into the site’s industrial past. The museum also has exhibitions about boat-building, the workings of the canal, and social history. Interactive displays, such as a working blacksmith’s forge, provide a hands-on experience for visitors.
The Waterways Archive, hosted within the museum, holds a wealth of material about Britain’s waterways and their international counterparts. This exceptional resource is renowned for its global significance and serves as a valuable research tool for historians and enthusiasts.
Annual Passes and Special Events
Visitors to the NWM can purchase an annual pass, which allows unlimited access to the museum for an entire year. The museum also hosts a variety of seasonal events, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas celebrations, as well as themed Sundays throughout the summer months. These events often include special exhibitions, presentations, and activities for visitors of all ages.
Exploring Beyond the Museum
If you want to explore the canals and waterways, you can take short boat trips along the Shropshire Union Canal through NWM. It’s a great way to see the region’s history and natural beauty from a unique perspective. You can also go on a Manchester Ship Canal cruise, which starts or ends at the museum on selected dates in June and September.
The National Waterways Museum Pictures
The National Waterways Museum Reviews
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Review from Google Places
A well presented and enjoyable visit. Lots of interesting things to look at, listen to and enjoy.
The Porters’ cottages are one of my favourite features. A rank of cottages each presented in a different era of the canals lifetime.
There are numerous exhibits ranging from big floating boats, narrow boats artefacts and niknaks to do with all things ‘Canal’
Things to see include boats, buildings, books and blacksmiths’ workshop.
A power room has various water related engines, some big, some small.
Lots of friendly helpful staff / volunteers.
The museum has a cafe with sitting both inside and out. And a gift shop plus a second handbook shop.
The cafe is open to those not wishing to pay to enter the museum itself
Review from Google Places
Fascinating place to visit. Shows lots of displays and objects relating to canal boats and canals.
There are several interactive displays around the site.
Lots to do for all ages and.the whole site is disabled friendly
Review from Google Places
A lovely place to visit, the museum gives a good overview of the history of the canals and boating in general. You can wander around the docks and several buildings. Very lovely staff and volunteers.
Parking is free and there is a nice coffeeshop with cakes and several lunch dishes. Also a nice museumshop
Review from Google Places
Absolutely loved it here! Great day out for families AND dog friendly (must be kept on a lead). There is a cafe, reasonably priced & food & coffee were good. Service was a little slow, but it was quite busy. It has a 5* food hygiene rating. There are plenty of picnic benches if you wish to take a picnic.
The museum itself is very interesting, has lots of exhibits you can interact with.
Plenty of toilets, which were clean, tidy and well equipped.
Staff were pleasant, polite and helpful.
Large free car park, with disabled spaces. The museum and cafe are wheelchair friendly.
Gift shop with good choice of merchandise, but a little expensive.
There are boat rides available, but they were sold out when we arrived (they had a special offer on for free admission with a lottery ticket).
Highly recommended day out if you’re into history or boats!
Review from Google Places
A weekend visit, and quite a success. The museum is truly well-organized, with numerous artifacts and information not only about the history of inland navigation but also about the entire Wirral region. It’s an ideal place to learn about the region’s history. In summer, the canal itself is certainly bustling with life, and you can watch the barges passing by. I definitely recommend visiting the museum on a sunny day. Outside, there’s a large playground and benches, indicating that after the education, it’s time for fun and relaxation.
