Caring for the collection at the National Waterways Museum is a challenge. The 70 historic boats represent the most comprehensive collection of inland waterways craft in the UK. Fourteen are listed on the National Register of Historic Vessels and 12 form part of the National Historic Fleet.
By 2014, when I became the collections manager, the situation had become critical; boats were stored around the site on land and in water, and were deteriorating rapidly.
The starting point was an application to the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund to study the options available for the care and display of the collection. Working with consultants, we followed National Historic Ships guidance to research the boats and identify their care pathway – conservation of fabric or conservation for operational use.
The museum had never had the capacity to store boats or care for them by preventive conservation, so achieving this was a priority. We secured funding from Arts Council England for a project that included leasing a storage building, moving the boats into it and reinstating the dry dock at the museum.
Moving 11 historic boats required specialist boat-moving contractors, an experienced surveyor, boat builders and volunteers.
Recently, a 350-tonne crane arrived at 7am to move the vessels, starting with the oldest surviving all-wooden Mersey Flat, which was to be hoisted opposite the museum entrance. The 71ft-long vessel was loaded onto a lorry, backed into the yard and then turned by 90 degrees – this took two-and-a-half hours.
The team persevered even when one boat refused to go into the slings; they turned her around with all pumps running to keep her afloat. By 6.30pm on the fourth day, the UK’s largest movement of historic vessels was complete.
Margaret Harrison is the collections manager for the Canal & River Trust at Ellesmere Port
By 2014, when I became the collections manager, the situation had become critical; boats were stored around the site on land and in water, and were deteriorating rapidly.
The starting point was an application to the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund to study the options available for the care and display of the collection. Working with consultants, we followed National Historic Ships guidance to research the boats and identify their care pathway – conservation of fabric or conservation for operational use.
The museum had never had the capacity to store boats or care for them by preventive conservation, so achieving this was a priority. We secured funding from Arts Council England for a project that included leasing a storage building, moving the boats into it and reinstating the dry dock at the museum.
Moving 11 historic boats required specialist boat-moving contractors, an experienced surveyor, boat builders and volunteers.
Recently, a 350-tonne crane arrived at 7am to move the vessels, starting with the oldest surviving all-wooden Mersey Flat, which was to be hoisted opposite the museum entrance. The 71ft-long vessel was loaded onto a lorry, backed into the yard and then turned by 90 degrees – this took two-and-a-half hours.
The team persevered even when one boat refused to go into the slings; they turned her around with all pumps running to keep her afloat. By 6.30pm on the fourth day, the UK’s largest movement of historic vessels was complete.
Margaret Harrison is the collections manager for the Canal & River Trust at Ellesmere Port
