From a 1,000 year old log boat to a concrete barge, a coracle to a steam powered dredger, the canal narrowboat and boat collection illustrates the many different types of craft that have used our canals and rivers over the centuries.
Most of the boats are kept at Ellesmere Port and Gloucester Docks. Some are exhibited as part of the museum's indoors displays. The majority of narrowboats are in the canal docks outside where some of them are open to the public.
Looking after these boats is an on-going task and particularly at Ellesmere Port, you will see boats and narrowboats in various states of repair. We are currently working closely with The Boat Museum Society, the Historic Boat Register, NarrowBoat Magazine and others to identify a sustainable solution to looking after this important collection.
Click here to find out how to get involved in our new campaign to help save our historic boats and narrowboats.
Find out more about some of the boats in our collection:
