Waterways Museum Notes

The following links lead to notes prepared by the Friends of the Gloucester Waterways Museum to provide a convenient resource for Museum staff and volunteers.

1  Waterways Background
1.1  Britain's Inland Waterways - a brief history of the role of waterways in Britain.
1.2  Life on a Working Narrow Boat - living conditions for a boatman and his family.

2  Museum Exhibits
2.1  Opening Miscellany - a figurehead, canals and wildlife.
2.2  Life on the Boats - objects related to working life on narrow boats.
2.3  Canal Construction – engineers, structures and navvies.
2.4  Waterways Operation – management and maintenance.
2.5  Waterways for Leisure – pleasure craft and books.
2.6  Linking the Midlands to the Sea – the River Severn and connecting canals.
2.7  Warehousing – containers, handling aids and weighing machines.
2.8  Level Three - roses & castles, water management, tunnels and dredging.
2.9  Propulsion – horse power, sail, steam engines and internal combustion engines.
2.10  Vessels & Maintenance - boats, barges, sailing vessels, etc.

3  Museum Boats
3.1  Steam Dredger SND No 4 - maintained the depth of the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.
3.2  Tug Severn Progress - towed boats and barges on the River Severn.
3.3  Barge Sabrina 5 - carried vital cargoes between Avonmouth and Stourport.
3.4  Narrow Boat Northwich - worked on the canals between London and the Midlands.
3.5  Narrow Boat Wye - a late design with many original features.
3.6  Motor Boat Oak - carried cargoes between Gloucester and the Midlands.
3.7  Concrete Narrow Boat - an experiment that was not successful.
3.8  Other Boats - Spindrift 3, Hesketh, Renton, ice boat and concrete barge.
3.9  Passenger Boats - Queen Boadicea II and King Arthur.

4  Museum Surroundings
4.1  Cranes - Balmforth, Tardebigge, Ellis, Gibbins, Henderson.
4.2  Railways - Lines & turntables, fireless locomotive and wagons.
4.3  Ancilliary Buildings - Llanthony Yard, Fielding Engine, Off-site Store.

5  Additional Information
5.1  The Gloucester Dredger in Action - more about dredger operation and a sinking (3.7MB).
5.2  The Barge Sabrina Story - more about the barges in action.

More Resources
Gloucester Docks & the Sharpness Canal - past and present.
Gloucester Docks - a brief history.
Gloucester Docks - interpretation panels
River Severn - a basic story board
Going Up Country - by narrow boat to the Midlands.
Gloucester Waterways Museum - official site.
Museum Gallery - images of exhibits.