A tourist attraction on Ellesmere Port’s waterfront is seeking recollections from members of the public.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the opening of the National Waterways Museum on South Pier Road.

For four decades the docks, designed by the great civil engineer Thomas Telford, have been open to the public providing countless memorable days out.

To commemorate the anniversary, the museum is hosting a weekend of celebratory activities on July 2 and 3 with volunteers and staff already working on an exhibition which will showcase the last 40 years at the museum.

Di Skilbeck, president of The Boat Museum Society, said: “While we have many photographs, objects and memories of our own we would also like to include some local memories too. Do you remember the hot summer of 1976 when we were plagued with ladybirds? Did you visit the museum on the opening weekend or later? Did you volunteer?

“If you have any memories or press cuttings or objects that relates to the time we would love to hear from you.”

In addition to the new exhibition, the anniversary weekend will be packed full of things to see and do including the opening of the new ‘Window on the World’ experience, performances from the museum’s artist in residence and the one-off chance to venture into the canal lock which will be specially drained for the replacement of two hand crafted oak lock gates.

Head of museums at the Canal and River Trust, Graham Boxer, said: “This is a very exciting time for the volunteers and staff at the museum as we celebrate our 40th anniversary as well as opening the ‘Window on the World’ project.

“We will be inviting visitors to step back in time, meet the characters who worked on the slipway and explore how the historic winch would have raised boats from the Manchester Ship Canal.”

‘Window on the World’ has been made possible thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Wolfson Foundation and AIM Biffa.

It will showcase why Ellesmere Port was a ‘window on the world’ with the opening of the Port’s historic slipway which was used for boat building and restoration between the 1840s and the 1920s.

As part of the project, the Mersey flat Mossdale is being preserved and the Leeds and Liverpool short boat George is being rebuilt.

Anyone with memories is asked to contact Zofia Kufeldt at the museum, email Zofia.Kufeldt@canalrivertrust.org.uk or telephone 0151 355 5017.