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£40k boost for historic boats

18th Aug 2006

The Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port is set to benefit from funding from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for its historic boat collection.

The Waterways Trust, which operates the Boat Museum, has been awarded £40,000 by the DCMS to help preserve and interpret its collection of historic waterways crafts.

The Trust is responsible for the largest collection of inland waterway craft in the world. This funding will enable the charity to build on a previous allocation of £100,000 from the Museum Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) which was received in April this year.

Sophie Fowler, Head of Collections for The Waterways Trust, said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding. It is a hugely important step for the Trust in resolving the future conservation of the boat collection.

"Combined with the grant from the MLA, this funding will help the Trust improve access to, and understanding of, these important vessels."

The grant is from the DCMS/ Wolfson Foundation Museums & Galleries Improvement Fund which was established in 2002 to improve the quality of displays, public spaces, environmental controls and access for disabled visitors in museums and galleries across England.

The Waterways Trust historic boat collection is housed at its three museums: Gloucester, Ellesmere Port and Stoke Bruerne in Northamptonshire.

Last updated: 22/10/2008