This important archive holds a wide range of primary material relating to Britain’s inland waterways and a smaller amount of secondary material from waterways around the world.
The document collection includes boat building plans and working records. Photographic collections include work by Robert Aickman, Michael Ware and Eric de Mare.
We hold extensive collections relating to the Weaver Navigation Trust,
Middlewich Wharf, the Charles Hadfield World Canals Research and the
Manchester Ship Canal.
A wide range of books and periodicals are also available for research use.
Access to the archive is FREE but must be by prior booking of a minimum 24 hours.
The Archive is currently closed and re-opens on Monday 6 April
Research Service
If you are unable to visit the archive we offer a limited research
facility for family historians, academics, students, engineers and the media - anyone with an interest in British waterways history.
Latest news
A comprehensive review of the archives at Ellesmere Port has just been undertaken. The review, known as The Kingfisher Project, was funded by MLA Renaissance North
West and will allow us to introduce a new
cataloguing programme, train staff and increase public access to the collection.
