London Canal Museum

London Canal Museum in the King's Cross area of London, England, is a regional museum devoted to the history of London's canals.

London Canal Museum
London Canal Museum is located in Central London
London Canal Museum
Location within Central London
Established1992 (1992)
LocationKing's Cross, London, N1
England
Coordinates51°32′02″N 0°07′13″W
TypeTransport museum
Visitors16,000
ChairpersonMartin Sach
Public transit accessLondon Underground King's Cross St Pancras
National Rail King's Cross
National Rail St Pancras
Websitecanalmuseum.org.uk

History

The museum was opened in 1992.[1] It is housed in a Victorian ice warehouse that was used by Carlo Gatti.[2] The building was constructed between 1862 and 1863 to house ice imported from Norway by ship and canal barge.[2] There are two preserved ice wells under the building, one of which may be viewed from the public area of the museum.[3]

Exhibitions and activities

The museum covers all aspects of the UK's waterways. The main exhibitions in the museum cover the following topics:

  • Carlo Gatti and the ice trade
  • Social history of canal workers
  • Lifting and handling
  • The decorative arts of the canals known as "roses and castles"
  • Water and Locks - canal engineering
  • Boats and Cargoes
  • Methods of traction by horses, internal combustion engines, and miniature tractors
  • History of the London canals

The museum runs guided trips through the Islington Tunnel.[4] In addition the museum sponsors two boats at the National Waterways Museum, Ferret and Ilkeston, that are part of the national collection.[5]

Location

The museum is situated in the King's Cross area of London, on the Regent's Canal. Battlebridge Basin is accessible from the rear of the museum. It is a five-minute walk to King's Cross St Pancras tube station.[6]

See also

References
  1. "The Regent's Canal". London Canal Museum. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  2. "The Canal Museum". Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  3. "The Ice Wells: Underground ice storage wells". London Canal Museum. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  4. "What's on". London Canal Museum. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  5. "Sponsorship of historic boats". London Canal Museum. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  6. "Find us". London Canal Museum. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
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