Also, large poster display panels tell the story of St James Church, Wilne Chapel, the village carnival, the House of Industry, the village schools, the tramway, the Ropery and the Henshall family, and a case study of a site on Aston Lane.

There is a full size replica of a narrowboat back cabin which has been named Swift after one of the Shardlow Boat Company's craft. This displays signwriting by Tony Lewery, roses and castles by Jan Deuchar and water cans lent by the family of Ike Argent.

Children visiting can dress in costume. A grant from the Co-op enabled the Centre to commission clothes of the Edwardian period of canal boating.  Elasticated to fit various sizes of small people they can give our younger visitors the feel of life in long skirts or granddad shirts and ‘weskits’. 

In the exhibition cases and displayed around the walls are items related to rural crafts and industries including blacksmiths and cobblers tools, farming implements, bottles from local breweries, and material relating to the Aston to Shardlow tramway. 

A video presentation provides an introduction to the historical port and the present day village.

Bring your old photographs and documents relating to  Shardlow, Cavendish Bridge and Great Wilne - people, firms, events and buildings - to help us expand our knowledge of the past.

(no tickets, collection after the show - noting that ticket sales are normally £10 for this production)