We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is the London Canal Museum?

By Britt Archer
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 5,136
Share

The London Canal Museum is dedicated to the history of the city’s inland waterways, especially Regent’s Canal. Information presented by the museum pertains specifically to canals, their history, and the goods they transported, as well as the social history of the canal workers and their daily lives. The London Canal Museum also offers information about the ice trade and storage in Victorian times, when ice was brought through the canal system after a voyage from Norway.

This British museum on New Wharf Road in King’s Cross is housed in a building that was constructed around 1860. The museum welcomes children as well as adults to its exhibits, and it is handicapped accessible. There are elevators as well as stairs to allow access to all floors, and electrically powered main doors allow for ease of entry with the push of a button. Handicapped accessible restrooms are available, and audio tours are offered for the blind or visually handicapped visitor.

The London Canal Museum opened its doors to the public in 1992. The museum allows visitors to step into a restored canal boat and learn about the types of cargo and the people who transported the goods. An ice warehouse, constructed for a Victorian ice cream maker, Carlo Gatti, is on view. Old-time stables show where the horses were housed when they weren’t working.

Carlo Gatti is believed to be among the first to sell ice cream as a business. His “penny ice” was a popular treat, and he and his partner also had a chocolate-making machine that was put on view during the Great Exhibition in London. Carlo Gatti was responsible for bringing in 400 tons of ice from Norway when he later started an ice business.

The climate in London was not conducive to natural ice formation. The amount of ice that formed was not enough to meet the public’s demand, and the ice that did form was not of good quality. Before Carlo Gatti began bringing in Norwegian ice, London imported ice from the United States.

The London Canal Museum is run as an official charity and its programs are self-supporting. Private events may be booked there during off hours, with fees going toward the running of the museum. Volunteers perform much of the work at the canal museum.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-the-london-canal-museum.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.