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New Heritage Boatyard For National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port

Friday 19 March 2010 will see the Chairman of British Waterways, Tony Hales officially open a new heritage boatyard at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port (formerly the Boat Museum).

The Waterways Trust, National Waterways Museum and The Boat Museum Society are working together to develop a sustainable working boatyard at the museum. The boatyard will be used by staff and volunteers to maintain and restore historic boats, develop and pass on heritage skills and engage museum visitors in the boat collection and its care.

£100,000 of funding has been secured towards the creation of the Heritage Boatyard, restoration of the boat collection, including funding from Future Jobs Fund (Cheshire West and Cheshire Council) for four trainee Boatyard Assistants. Considerable personal financial support has also been given to the project by Tony Hales, Chairman of British Waterways.

Roger Hanbury, Chief Executive of The Waterways Trust said: “The creation of a Heritage Boatyard at the National Waterways Museum presents a fantastic opportunity to enrich the visitor experience at the museum, to engage and involve young people and to conserve the nationally important historic boat collection. We are delighted with the support that we have received for the project so far, in particular from Tony Hales.”

Steve Stamp, Boat Museum Society Chairman, explained further: “Our ambition is to establish a sustainable working boatyard at the museum. As well as maintaining and restoring our historic canal boats, we are also developing and passing on essential heritage skills to a new generation. Four trainees from Future Jobs Fund (through Cheshire West and Cheshire Council) are working with museum staff and volunteers from The Boat Museum Society on a wide range of restoration projects including the renovation of historic working boats Mendip and Ilkeston.

“The addition of a working boatyard adds another important dimension to the museum, further broadening its appeal and relevance to today’s audiences. It is great that visitors are able to see restoration work in action with young and old working together.”

Local MP, Andrew Miller, Tony Hales, Chairman of British Waterways and the Mayor of Ellesmere Port are vocal supporters of the museum and boatyard and will be attending the celebration to mark its official opening.

The Heritage Boatyard is also working in partnership with the National Historic Ships Unit and West Cheshire College.

The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port is housed in a historic dock complex situated alongside the Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal. With indoor and outdoor exhibits, hands-on-activities and quizzes, it is a wonderful day out for all the family, whatever the weather.

Daily boat trips from the museum along the Shropshire Union Canal mean visitors can discover more about the history of the waterway and surrounding landscape.

The museum, which is open daily 10.00– 17.00, is situated just off junction 9 on the M53, 15 minutes drive from Chester and 25 minutes from Liverpool.