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
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 access King's Cross St Pancras
King's Cross
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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