The historically important pumphouse at the National Waterways Museum, in Ellesmere Port, is to be repaired and restored thanks to a grant from Historic England.
The £252,282 award will enable the Canal & River Trust to renovate and conserve the structure and access bridge so they can be reopened to the public and enjoyed for many years to come.
Work will include removing dry and wet rot from timbers, repairing the roof, windows and doors, carrying out patch pointing to the walls and replacing the guttering. Traditional restoration techniques will be used to make sure the renovations are in keeping with the building’s historic character. The project is expected to be complete by spring 2026.
Opened in 1873, the pumphouse contains two steam-powered engines and was the heart of an extensive hydraulic system which supplied high-pressure water to power cranes, capstans and jiggers to load and unload cargo from boats and barges at Ellesmere Port, a seven-acre site at the junction of the Manchester Ship Canal and Shropshire Union Canal.
The money for the project is from the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, which is led by Historic England and funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to help rescue listed buildings and sites facing dereliction or demolition.
