The Canal Museum, formerly known as the "National Waterways Museum Stoke Bruerne" and "The Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne", is a canal museum located next to the Grand Union Canal just south of the Blisworth Tunnel, near the village of Stoke Bruerne in Northamptonshire.[1] It is about 10 miles (16 km) north of Milton Keynes and 7 miles (11 km) south of Northampton near junction 15 of the M1 motorway.
 Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne | |
  Location within Northamptonshire | |
Former names |
|
|---|---|
| Location | Stoke Bruerne |
| Coordinates | 52°08′35″N 0°54′54″W / 52.143°N 0.915°W |
| Owner | Canal & River Trust |
| Website | canalrivertrust |
History
editThe museum was established in 1963,[2] as "The Canal Museum". It was founded by two canal workers and enthusiasts, Charles N. Hadlow, the first curator, and Jack James, its first caretaker, whose personal collections formed the main part of its initial exhibits.[2][3][4]
It was subsequently known as the "National Waterways Museum Stoke Bruerne", one of three museums operated by The Waterways Trust that focused on the history of canals in Britain. After the creation of the Canal & River Trust in 2010, the Stoke Bruerne museum was rebranded to its original name.[5]
Museum
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2024) |
The museum is housed in a restored Grade II listed corn mill at the top of a flight of canal locks,[6] and is one of several museums and attractions operated by the Canal & River Trust, the successor to The Waterways Trust.
The museum tells the story of Britain's inland waterways and the people who worked on them. It provides an insight into the transport system which was fundamental to the Industrial Revolution in Britain. There are working models and 3-D displays including a model of the short-lived inclined-plane mechanical lift at Foxton in Leicestershire. Exhibits include models of working boats including narrow boats, barges, butties and tugs, painted ware and canal crafts, traditional clothing, canal-side signs and specialist tools.
The museum has a shop and café, and a school/activity room available for educational visits.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne". canalrivertrust.org.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ a b "The Canal Museum at Stoke BruerneThe Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne". Towpath Talk. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "Welcome to the Stoke Bruerne web page". Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "BW192/2 "Photographs by C N Hadlow"". Canal and River Trust. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "All change—again". Narrowboat World. 14 April 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
The waterways museums at Gloucester and Stoke Bruerne are being re-named, which is to 'emphasise and strengthen their links with their local environment'. The museum at Gloucester will now be known as Gloucester Waterways Museum and at Stoke Bruerne the museum will revert to its original name, the Canal Museum.
- ^ Historic England (15 March 1988). "Waterways Museum (Grade II) (1294154)". National Heritage List for England.
External links
edit
- The Canal Museum - Canal & River Trust
- The Friends of The Canal Museum
- July 1963 episode of Look Around, featuring Charles N. Hadlow at the newly-opened museum
- Map sources for The Canal Museum
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