The Waterways Archive collects, preserves and makes publicly available records relating to our inland waterways. These include plans, drawings, accounts, photographs and letters.

At the core of the collection are the archives of British Waterways and the early canal companies, which trace the history of Britain’s inland waterways back to its very roots in the 17th century.

The Waterways Archive is currently housed at our museums in Ellesmere Port and Gloucester Docks.

The Waterways Archive Ellesmere Port

The Waterways Archive Gloucester Docks

Additional resources
Virtual Waterways is an on-line database with resources to help research family and local history, and to support classroom work.

Other significant collections of materials relating to our waterways can be found in fifteen archives across the UK. 

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