AN EXHIBITION IS TAKING PLACE of rare maritime artifacts and personal memorabilia of the Manchester Ship Canal.
They are on display for the first time as part of a new public exhibition, Janet Friend reports.
Gone on show
The display is part of a project recalling the industrial history of the Manchester Ship Canal and has gone on show at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery thanks to the work of volunteers from the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society (DAPS).
Colin Leonard, a DAPS volunteer and former ship canal tugman, explained:
"When the bequest was received, our team of volunteers spent many hours sorting and cataloguing an incredible collection.
"We were really touched and were so grateful to receive such a wealth of historical artifacts and personal memories that tell the story of the Manchester Ship Canal.
"We now can’t wait to share them with the public."
Collaboration
The exhibition is a collaboration between museum staff and DAPS volunteers, who formed in 2004 to save The Danny—the steamship Daniel Adamson—from demolition.
The ship was rescued from the scrap yard after a £5m fundraising campaign restored it, earning it a place on the National Historic Fleet alongside the Cutty Sark and HMS Victory.
A model of The Danny, built by a DAPS volunteer, is on display along with a ship’s bell from the Danny’s sister tug, W.E. Dorrington, pressure gauges, photo albums, and postcards.
The display has been made possible following a bequest from the late Pat Brennan, a former member and volunteer of DAPS, who was an avid collector of anything related to the canal and its tugs. Upon his death, Pat also shared with the group keepsakes from his own career in the merchant navy.
A privilege
Craig Sherwood, collections officer at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery, explained:
"It is a privilege to see these items, some of which have been in private hands and have never been on public display.
"It will bring back memories for the older generation in Warrington and hopefully create a shared interest in the past with younger people."
‘The Danny: Bringing the Manchester Ship Canal to the People of Warrington’ is free to view and runs until 22nd February 2026.