THE nostalgic sight of a horse steadily towing a narrow boat will return to the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port on Sunday (August 11).

Heavy horse Bonny and historic boat Gifford will be the centrepiece of the museum’s celebration of all things equine.

The day has something for everyone, whether they are mad about horses, curious about canal history or keen on crafts.

Visitors will see Bonny being harnessed up ready to take the recently refurbished narrow boat Gifford along the Shropshire Union Canal.

There will also be a chance to meet the magnificent shire horses who pull the drays for Stockport’s Robinson’s Brewery. Younger visitors can meet and ride ponies and learn about grooming and diet.

Horses played an important role in warfare and pack horses Castle and Bilbo will be demonstrating the equipment war horses carried in World War 1. And in the medic tent visitors can find out more about life behind the lines during the war.

Walking tours throughout the day will explore the seven acre site. Meanwhile, in the museum’s historic buildings, the team will be on hand to show objects that tell the story of the horses who worked on the docks and canals.

Craft lovers can join Jacqueline and Jane for a rag rug and crochet taster session. Thrifty boaters who worked on the canals re-used every scrap of material to keep their homes, on water or on land, as comfortable as possible. These sessions show how it was done and visitors will be able to make and take home their own crochet dragonfly.

Michelle Kozomara, marketing and communications manager at the museum, said: “Horses played an important role in the history of the waterways. For over 200 years they pulled canal boats, and for much longer the country depended on them for work and warfare.

“Horses at Work is one of the most popular in our calendar, and this year we have even more activities for visitors to enjoy. Whether it’s chatting with our costumed interpreters, learning how our locks work or seeing the wonderful horses in action we promise visitors a day to make memories.”

The event takes place between 10am and 5pm. For more information visit

www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/national-waterways-museum