A major Ellesmere Port tourist attraction celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend.

Renowned civil engineer Thomas Telford’s fascinating complex on South Pier Road, now the National Waterways Museum (NWM), is marking the anniversary with a packed programme of events planned for July 2 and 3.

The anniversary is said by the Canal and River Trust, which runs the museum, to be ‘an important milestone for the UK’s inland waterways’.

The landmark event will be bursting with things to see and do including the opening of the waterway’s new ‘Window on the World’ experience and performances from artist-in-residence Francesca Millican-Slater.

An image from the opening weekend of what is now known as the National Waterways Museum, from 1976
An image from the opening weekend of what is now known as the National Waterways Museum, from 1976

Not to be missed will be the one-off chance to venture into a deep canal lock at the museum which will be specially drained to enable two large replacement oak lock gates to be fitted.

The new gates, the first to be installed at the complex since 1975, have involved the massive feature being emptied of its 120,000 gallons of canal water allowing visitors a rare chance to venture along the bottom 5.5m below ground level.

A special 40th anniversary exhibition traces the history of the museum back to 1976. It tells the story of the team of dedicated volunteers who brought the derelict site back to life and lovingly restored the historic boats that form part of the national waterways collection.

Head of museums at the charity Graham Boxer said: “Our 40th anniversary gives us the opportunity to celebrate the amazing history of this site, its buildings, boats and waterways. “But most importantly we’re recognising the people who’ve worked here over the centuries, from the engineers, shipwrights, dockers and boat people through to the team of volunteers and staff who dedicate their time to caring for the site and its precious collection.”

The National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port which marks its 40th anniversary in 2016. Pic supplied by Canal & River Trust
Plenty of people will flock to the National Waterways Museum this weekend

Returning for the anniversary weekend will be Francesca Millican-Slater with her sell-out performance of ‘Walking the Shroppie’, devised during Francesca’s 10-month period as Leverhulme Artist in Residence at the NWM.

The acclaimed show followed Francesca recreating a famous walk by workers from Wolverhampton to the Port.

As part of the Window on the World project, the Mersey sailing flat Mossdale has been conserved and the Leeds and Liverpool canal short boat George restored.

During the anniversary weekend the museum will be open from 10am to 5pm each day. For more details and prices visit HERE.