Horses at the museum

THE early days of canals will be celebrated at the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port with the Horses At Work.

Scheduled for Sunday 5th August heavy horses will be visiting the museum to give a spectacular demonstration of horse-drawn canal boating—as well as old style horse and carts clip-clopping around the extensive museum grounds.

Demonstrations and tours

Visitors will also be able to see costumed performances, a harnessing demonstration, and join special tours of the site which highlight the horse-powered history of canals.

Horse drawn cart rides will be running on the day taking visitors on a loop of the waterfront, and for youngsters there will be pony rides available from the Parkgate Pony Sanctuary, with Marketing manager Oliver Briscoe explaining:

"Horses at Work has really carved out a place in our museum calendar over the last few years, and this year should be a good edition. It's a real link back to the early history of canals—after all the stables at the museum are among the oldest buildings in Ellesmere Port.

"The museum will be brought to life and there will be plenty for visitors to see and do—both experts and families will have a great day out at this atmospheric event."

The picture shows Sue Day of the Horse Boating Society at a past event at the museum, who will be present again on the 5th August.

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 café.