NATIONAL WATERWAYS MUSEUM SHOWCASES ‘ASTOUNDING INVENTIONS’ EXHIBITION

Ellesmere Port’s award-winning National Waterways Museum will offer free, rare, behind-the-scenes sights and experiences for this September’s national Heritage Open Days.

The Canal & River Trust waterways and wellbeing charity is offering visitors a chance to see hidden treasures associated with the nation’s 250 year old canals, including access to an unseen collection of historic boats.

The Trust’s collections team, reflecting the ‘Astounding Inventions’ theme of this year’s Heritage Open Days, has selected seven exceptional inventions to be showcased. These include an 18^th century diving suit, the internal combustion engine, screw propeller, composite-hulled narrow boats, telephone communication, canal locks and a working model of the Victorian engineering masterpiece Anderton Boat Lift. These will be on display at the museum from 9 – 18 September, with free public open days available on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 September.

On Saturday 17 September, the Museum will open its doors to a hidden store of historic boats in nearby Rossfield Road, not normally on view to the public. Experts from the Trust collections team will be available throughout the day to give insights into the industrial and social heritage of the boats on display in a series of free, bookable 50 minute tours.

Steven Bagley, Canal & River Trust national collections manager, said: “The Industrial Revolution not only heralded the arrival of canals, it also saw the birth of many wonderful discoveries and ideas. Although these inventions are now embedded into our daily life, they’re often taken for granted and pass unnoticed or appreciated.

“The Heritage Open Days give us a great chance to focus on seven ‘Astounding Inventions’ normally stored away from public view, which will be on display around the museum site for visitors to enjoy. We’re also excited to offer waterway enthusiasts a one-off heritage experience at our boat store in Rossfield Road to explore our eclectic fleet of boats from across the nation’s waterways, while they’re being preserved out of the water.”

Visitors are invited to vote for their favourite invention, after viewing the special Heritage Open Day displays.

For more information about booking tickets and reserving free places, please check out the Canal & River Trust website:

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/features/free-entry-for-heritage-open-days

Book a free tour of the Rossfield Road Heritage Experience on Saturday 17 September: 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-national-waterways-museums-rossfield-road-heritage-experience-tickets-411197802697

For more information, visit the National Waterways Museum website:

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/national-waterways-museum.

The Canal & River Trust’s sister visitor attraction in Cheshire, the Anderton Boat Lift, is offering  free ‘Walking the Lift’ Tours on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September. Book advance tickets at:   

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/walking-the-lift-tour-tickets-395876696857