Sculptor, which is owned by us and normally moored outside the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne, began her working life in November 1935 when she joined the fleet of the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company.
Marking its anniversary
To mark the anniversary, We are hosting a special display celebrating the vital role Sculptor has played on the nation’s waterways. The display, taking place within the Canal Museum on 28 and 29 November, will bring together historic photographs and other artefacts telling the story of the boat’s working life. The museum shop and cafe will also be taking part in the celebrations with special souvenirs and even a birthday cake.
A popular attraction for visitors of all ages to the museum and for people enjoying the towpath, Sculptor is one of a small number of working boats that still navigates on the canal. Originally paired with a second boat, Toucan, she was used to transport a variety of cargo such as cotton and coal from London to the Midlands. During WWII Sculptor was called into action to help with firefighting duties in London, helping to pump water from the city’s canals to extinguish fires caused by bombing.
After the war she was used as a canal maintenance boat on the Shropshire Union Canal before being taken out of service in 1985.
Today, Sculptor is cared for by a dedicated team of volunteers and supported with donations from local funders, including the Friends of the Canal Museum, who all work together to bring her story to life for people visiting the area.
Celebrate with us
Jannette Warrener, our destination & attractions manager, said: “As the charity that cares for the nation’s waterways, we’re proud to have Sculptor within our collection and are so excited to celebrate this important milestone in her long and colourful history.
“Sculptor is the most amazing historic boat, and she brings the story of the nation’s formerly industrial waterways to life at events around the country and for visitors to Stoke Bruerne.
“We hope that people come along and celebrate the occasion with us, see Sculptor for themselves and find out how they can help us to care for her for years to come.”
Looking good at 90 years old
Lynda Payton, chair of The Friends of the Canal Museum, said: “We are delighted to be part of Sculptor’s birthday celebrations. She is looking remarkably good for her 90 years, and this is undoubtedly due to the hard-working team of volunteers at Stoke Bruerne who devote a great deal of time and care to her maintenance and conservation.
“As a volunteer-led charity supporting the Museum and Sculptor for almost twenty of those years, we are pleased to work alongside the Canal & River Trust to ensure that our ‘nonagenarian’ is looking her very best for the occasion and will continue to be around to tell her story to our visitors well into the future.”
