Gloucester Waterways Museum facts for kids
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| Former name | National Waterways Museum, Gloucester |
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| Established | 1988 |
| Location | Gloucester Docks |
| Type | Maritime |
| Architect | Capel N Tripp |
| Owner | Canal and River Trust |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name | Llanthony Warehouse |
| Designated | 14 December 1971 |
| Reference no. | 1245607 |
The Gloucester Waterways Museum is a cool place to visit in Gloucester, England. It's located right at Gloucester Docks, next to the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and the River Severn. The museum is inside an old building from the Victorian era, which was a time long ago when Queen Victoria ruled.
This museum is one of many fun places run by the Canal & River Trust. This group helps look after canals and rivers across Britain.
Contents
Discover the Gloucester Waterways Museum
A Journey Through Time
The museum first opened its doors in 1988. It used to be called the "National Waterways Museum, Gloucester". Back then, it was one of three museums that focused on the history of canals in Britain.
Between 2007 and 2008, the museum got a big makeover. New areas were added for visitors to explore. In 2010, its name changed to the Gloucester Waterways Museum. This change helped the museum focus more on the history of the local area. It also meant the museum could get different kinds of support and funding.
What You Can See Inside
The museum has an amazing collection of boats. You can see different types of boats that used to travel on canals and rivers. These include long, thin narrowboats, big river barges, and powerful canal and river tugs. There's even a dredger that used steam power to dig out mud from the waterways.
You can also explore a special area that looks like a canal repair yard. Here, you'll find a steam crane and a large engine that runs on oil. This yard has a working machine shop where tools were made. There's also a forge for shaping metal and a weighbridge for measuring heavy loads.
The museum uses lots of modern and fun ways to teach you. You can enjoy hands-on exhibits that let you touch and try things. One popular exhibit is a model of a canal section with working locks. You can see exactly how boats move up and down the water levels!
The Historic Building Itself
The Gloucester Waterways Museum is part of a very old building called Llanthony Warehouse. It was built in 1873. A person named Capel N Tripp designed this warehouse. It was built for local businesses that sold things like grain.
The warehouse is a tall building with six floors. It's made of red bricks and has a slate roof. The windows have special stone frames. In the past, this warehouse was used to store timber, grain, and even drinks like alcohol.
On December 14, 1971, the building was given a special "Grade II listed" status. This means it's an important historic building that needs to be protected. In 1987, this amazing old warehouse was changed into the museum you can visit today.
