The Shropshire Union Canal Society has presented Oswestry Town Museum with several articles including glassware from local businesses, ceramics and metalwork from both boats and the tramway found during the restoration of the Montgomery Canal.
They plan to work together to develop further research projects in the coming year. One of the finds at Crickheath Tramway Wharf, was ironwork from a narrowboat, sunk long ago.
“It turns out that the sunken vessel was, almost certainly, the haunted ghost boat, Usk, which had seen the death of her skipper, George Benbow in a terrible accident, way back in 1887 and from that day forward, boatmen refused to work on board, so she was left to sink at Crickheath”. Said restoration project manager, Tom Fulda, “As we bring the waterway back to life, we are also uncovering long forgotten artefacts which all tell a story and finding these stories will be fascinating – and rewarding”.
Mark Hignett, from Oswestry Town Museum said, “We have been involved with a huge range of different projects and programmes over the years and we are very excited to get involved with researching the life and time of the local canals in more detail as I’m sure historical treasures will be found and will shine a light on a lost world”.
The museum will be closed until February, but you can look at www.oswestrytownmuseum.co.uk in the meantime.
Ghost boat in the mist. Picture credit: Graham Mitchell.
Tom Fulda & Mark Hignett discuss the ironwork from Usk, the ghost boat.
Glassware from the canal.
Metalwork from the canal.
Picture credit: Harriet Hignett.
