The Canal & River Trust’s National Waterways Museum, in Ellesmere Port, will celebrate its 50th anniversary weekend on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June by offering visitors entry to the historic boat museum at 1976 prices.
For one weekend only, an adult day ticket will cost a mere £1.95 and a child/concession ticket only £1.50, as the Trust invites everyone to join in a special public party to mark the golden birthday at the popular visitor attraction, home to the nation’s largest collection of heritage canal craft.
This will be preceded by a VIP event on Thursday 11 June which will include a special ribbon cutting to launch a new history exhibition – marking the celebration, 50 years to the day when the new ‘Boat Museum’ was officially opened to the public by canal campaigner and author, Sonia Rolt, on 11 June 1976.
On offer over the anniversary weekend will be special talks about the museum’s history, live music, traditional craft demos and illustrated canal art talks from expert canal boat artist Phil Speight, who was awarded an MBE in 2024 for services to heritage crafts.
Canal enthusiasts will be able to pick up a special commemorative souvenir guide and souvenir beer glasses, as well as enjoying craft beers and food in the café.
Jannette Warrener, the Trust’s national destinations and attractions manager, said: “It’s wonderful to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this special boat museum, which has played such a key role in preserving some of the nation’s most important inland waterway craft.
“To mark the occasion, I’m delighted we’re able to present a brand, new exhibition to celebrate all the individuals and organisations who have championed the museum over the last five decades, fought to secure funding and enabled its survival through challenging times. As a charity, we’d not be where we are today without the support, dedication and commitment of all these wonderful volunteers and supporters.
“The story of how dozens of determined volunteers in the 1970s worked hard to preserve derelict port buildings and rescue neglected cargo boats is an inspiration to all of us. We look forward to an exciting future, building new partnerships with industry, academia and the wider community to enable us to celebrate the next 50 years with innovative and collaborative projects which will benefit the museum, the local area and the national canal network.”
The anniversary is being marked by several restoration projects, including a Historic England-funded renovation of the site’s Grade II Listed Pumphouse, which houses an impressive Victorian steam engine that once powered vital dock machinery.
Horse-drawn cargo boat, Gifford, has celebrated its centenary with a new coat of paint by specialist canal artist Phil Speight and work will soon be taking place on important National Historic Fleet registered boat, ‘Basuto’, the oldest surviving Forth and Clyde puffer boat (named due to the puffing sound of her steam engine).
Later in the year, the waterways museum, which is attractively sited at the junction of the Shropshire Union and Manchester Ship canals, will host a range of special events, including a Vintage Vehicle Weekend (27 & 28 June), World Chocolate Day (Sunday 5 July), and costumed characters bringing the old docks to life on several Canal Town Sundays through July and August.
For more information about visiting and to book discounted tickets and workshops, visit the museum website https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/national-waterways-museum. The National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port, is open 10am – 4pm, six days a week in spring/summer (Tuesday – Sunday) and every day during bank holidays and school holidays. Adult day tickets cost £13.25, concessions (65+) £11.95 and children £9.95.
History of the National Waterways Museum
The idea for a new waterways museum was first floated in September 1970 at a meeting of passionate canal enthusiasts. The ‘North Western Museum of Inland Navigation’ society was launched a year later. Volunteer work parties began to restore the site at the junction of the Shropshire Union Canal and the Manchester Ship Canal/River Mersey, and on 11 June 1976, the new ‘Boat Museum’ was officially opened to the public by canal campaigner and author, Sonia Rolt.
Since then, the museum has welcomed over a million visitors and highlights have included a visit by HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1979, and a ‘Museum of the Year’ award from the Council of Europe in 1984.
In 1999, The Waterways Trust, a charitable arm of British Waterways, was invited to step in to manage the museum, linking it with similar museums at Gloucester Docks and Stoke Bruerne to become a new ‘National Waterways Museum’. In 2012 the Canal & River Trust charity took over responsibility for the museum, along with 2,000 miles of inland waterways in England and Wales.
50 Years of Volunteering
The National Waterways Museum has always relied on dozens of volunteers, both in the early development days and later playing a vital role in the museum operations teams.
Remarkably still volunteering half a century on are Hoylake couple Mike and Cath Turpin, who regularly devote two or three days a week to the museum.
Former teacher, Cath said: “I’ve been proud to be part of something very special that continues to have relevance. Our early tasks included securing the decaying buildings against vandalism and looking after the increasing number of boats being acquired by the museum. We also got involved in fundraising. It was the industrial heritage that drew us in. This museum tells the stories of working boats and people that so often go unmentioned.
“I am still involved in the hands-on work and Mike volunteers with the collections and archive team, and on boat and lock demonstration activities. I volunteer in the archive and engage with visitors providing boat commentaries, talks and guided tours. There’s always something to do!”
The Canal & River Trust would be delighted to hear from anyone wishing to support the charity by donating or joining the enthusiastic volunteering team at the museum.
Museum History – Key Dates
1970 Creation of a new waterway museum discussed at a meeting of canal enthusiasts in the Ring O’Bells pub in nearby Daresbury on 29 September.
1971 Inaugural meeting of the ‘North Western Museum of Inland Navigation’ (NWMIN) at Manchester University.
1974 First working party at Ellesmere Port site, led by Tony Hirst.
1976 Boat Museum officially opened by canal campaigner Sonia Rolt, widow of Tom Rolt, one of the founders of the modern canal restoration movement. Staffed entirely by volunteers.
1977 First Easter Gathering of historic boats.
1979 Visit of HM Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh to Museum on 2 November.
1981 Creation of the Boat Museum Trust to run the museum. Financial support from Ellesmere Port and Neston BC, Cheshire County Council and NWMIN.
1981 NWMIN buys 10 Porters Row. Derelict Land Grant finances the restoration of the Island Warehouse and a new exhibition.
1981/82 Toxteth riots in Liverpool prompt the creation of a new Merseyside Taskforce, which leads to Government funding for the restoration of the remaining dock buildings. Visits from Michael Heseltine and PM Margaret Thatcher.
1984 The Museum is awarded the Council of Europe ‘Museum of the Year’.
1987 Opening of the Porters Row houses to the public.
1990 Opening of the David Owen Archive (now National Waterway Archive) on the ground floor of the restored slipway workshops by the Duke of Westminster.
2000 The Museum is rescued by The Waterways Trust, a charitable arm of British Waterways, after it experiences financial problems. It joins with waterways museums in Gloucester and Stoke Bruerne to become the National Waterways Museum.
2003 Heritage Lottery Funding is secured to revamp the Island Warehouse exhibition, shop and café.
2009 The Heritage Boatyard is opened.
2012 The British Waterways’ archive collection is moved from Gloucester to an expanded archive facility at Ellesmere Port.
2012 The Canal & River Trust charity is created from British Waterways and The Waterways Trust and takes over management of the National Waterways Museum and Archive.
2017 The Big Lift. Many sunken boats from around the port were craned out and moved to a warehouse on nearby Rossfield Industrial Estate for conservation.
2023 Museum trip boat refurbished and run by volunteers.
2026 50th anniversary celebrations
