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Wikidata identifier:
Q19873553
Also known as:
National Waterways Museum, Gloucester Docks
Instance of:
museum; national museum
Museum/collection status:
Accredited museum; Designated collection
Accreditation number:
71
Persistent shareable link for this record:
https://museumdata.uk/museums/q19873553/

Collection-level records:

  • Collection overview (Cornucopia)

    Transport Collection

    This collection largely comprises boats and barges used for transport on the waterways and for maintenance purposes. Major items are all floating, some smaller items are housed in displays or on outside exhibition. There are also engines and tools for boat driving and maintenance. There is a steam railway engine used in association with water side deliveries of coal to a power station. This is an extremely important collection of boats and equipment for transporting and handling cargo on the inland waterways of Britain.

    Subjects

    Transport; Inland waterways

    Science and Industry Collection

    The collection includes tools associated with building and driving boats; the tools used to keep waterways repaired, some of which are shown in active use such as in the blacksmith’s shop; and items of cargo handling equipment and storage.

    Subjects

    Science and Industry

    Costume and Textile Collection

    The collection includes examples of the traditional dress of canal boat people.

    Subjects

    Costume and Textile

    Social History Collection

    The collection holds examples of the traditional costume, tools and domestic objects of the boat people, including canal painted ware. Desks and other items of office equipment, paperwork and small items connected with waterways administration are used in displays and room settings.

    Subjects

    Social History

    Photographic Collection

    The collection includes a large collection of images of canals and canal workers. There is a video and film library.

    Subjects

    Photography

    Archives Collection

    Canal archives are a major source of information and historical evidence for the history of canals. Scarcely any company archives have survived, but a range of documentation does remain. The collection includes plans, maps, registers, documents, periodicals, books, sound, video and film material. It includes both company records and material from private collectors.

    Subjects

    Archives

    Source: Cornucopia

    Date: Not known, but before 2015

    Licence: CC BY-NC

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