National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port, celebrates 50th anniversary weekend with 1976 ticket prices

For one weekend only, an adult day ticket will cost a mere £1.95 and a child/concession ticket only £1.50, as we invite 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 ago when the new ‘Boat Museum’ was officially opened to the public by canal campaigner and author, Sonia Rolt, in 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, our 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 region 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.

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 in 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!”

We would be delighted to hear from anyone wishing to support the charity by donating or joining the enthusiastic volunteering team at the museum.