Join us at The National Waterways Museum’s for an Easter Historic Boat Gathering.
For the first time in many years, Saturn, the last-surviving Shropshire Union flyboat, paired with its new horse Flower, will be joined by around 30 historic boats and will leave Chester City Centre early Friday morning and travel along the Shropshire Union Canal, arriving at the Museum between 11am and 1pm.
Flower, an eight-year-old mare, will be demonstrating her new towing skills by taking the former Cheshire cheese cargo flyboat Saturn through on-site locks in a series of demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday at 11.45am and 1.45pm.
There will also be a chance to see fascinating rare canal treasures at the National Waterways Archive, giving visitors the potential to track down their own long-lost family connections to the nation’s historic canal network. The Collections Team will also be demonstrating the use of new ground-breaking photogrammetry technology, now providing 3D access to historic artifacts, thanks to a project supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Foot-tapping music will be provided by Loctup Together and Sea Shanty Rebels on Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 3pm, and on all four days, visitors will also be able to enjoy short boat trips along the Shropshire Union Canal, run by volunteers from the Wirral Community Narrow Boat Trust.
The Museum’s private collections store at nearby Rossfield Road, packed with old waterway treasures, will again open its doors on Saturday and Sunday for Behind-the-Scenes tours at 11am and 1pm.
Throughout the weekend, work by the Cheshire Artist Network will be on display in the Island Warehouse Gallery, and on Sunday and Monday (11am – 1pm) Ellesmere Port Model Boat Club will be staging displays in the top basin.
If you are looking to register your boat at the event please complete our booking form and email to nationalwaterwaysmuseum@canalrivertrust.org.uk or telephone 0151 355 5017.
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