The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne

The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne

Stoke Bruerne, Towcester, Northamptonshire NN12 7SE.

Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum is a fantastic day out. It gives schools a great first-hand experience of a canal village and life on the canals in the past. It also provides an excellent location to study the local area, wildlife and learn more about the history of the waterways.

The Grand Union Canal cuts through Stoke Bruerne, between houses, pubs and workshops. A restored corn mill houses the museum and there you can follow the story of Britain’s canals, from the engineers and navvies who built them, to the people who lived and worked on the waterways.

Workshops

KS1 KS2 Build a Canal

This session helps children to understand how and why canals were built and how they changed Britain. It provides an interactive way of discussing local industry and how the arrival of the canals shaped the landscape.

KS1 KS2 Canal People

Find out more about the lives of the people working on the canal, including dressing up in traditional costumes.

KS1 KS2 How does a lock work?

Our volunteers will demonstrate the lock next to the museum and explain how it works. If you're lucky you might even see a boat going through the lock!

KS1 KS2 Building Bridges

Have a go at building model canal bridges and find out why arches are such a good shape.

Facilities

FREE facilities for teachers include pre-visits, entry for teachers (and carers) and risk assessments.

Practicalities include: indoor and outdoor picnic area, toilets including disabled access, shop, café, bag/coat storage, coach parking.

Don't forget a boat trip!

Get out on the water and book a boat trip. 30-minute boat trips into the mouth of the tunnel are available from two separate boat companies. 

Narrowboat Charlie, seats 26: 07966 503609 www.stokebruerneboats.co.uk

Narrowboat Indian Chief, seats 24: 01604 862428 www.boatinn.co.uk