Timber for the boats
TIMBER has arrived at the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port to restore some of the historic canal boats.
Work starts
Work will begin firstly on two major projects, the restorations of George, a wide barge, and Box Boat 337—one of the last remaining examples of a specialist coal carrying boat.
Museum General Manager John Inch tells us:
"Finding suitable wood has been a challenge for work in the boatyard to progress but this large haul will enable us to start work on further restorations in the Spring. These are large boats and the lengths of wood, particularly the oak, that is required are longer than is usually available commercially.
"Friends and supporters of the museum have been extremely generous in helping with the project—both financially and in the donation of materials and skills. It amazes me that we have already had seven oak trees donated to the museum but we're always in need of financial support and materials for future projects."
Preserve traditional skills
The Heritage Boatyard is a project working with a range of partners and funders that aims to preserve traditional boat building skills relating to inland waterways craft and pass on these skills to a new generation. The Heritage Boatyard is working to restore and maintain the museum's collection of historic craft and in time develop into a commercial restoration boatyard.
The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port, is home to the national collection of historic working boats, some of which visitors can board to explore and find out how the working boat people used to live. The museum also has a trip boat, hands-on exhibits, films, touch-screen displays, stables, a blacksmith, docks, pump houses, workers cottages and gardens, an archive, a soft play area, museum shop and cafe.