The tag-line, ‘Stories of Boats and Steam’ is somewhat better than the name, ‘Windermere Jetty Museum’, but then perfect is the enemy of the good isn’t it?
Don’t let my smorgasbord put you off going either, but simply treat is a taster.
Viewing then from top to bottom and left to right:
1/ The entrance to the refurbished building that opened in 2019 on the shores of Lake Windermere.
2/ The cafe, sumptuous views and fare, in my case a cauliflower soup with a soupçon of coconut milk.
3/ Triple expansion steam engine… each crankshaft bearing lubricated by its own oil-reservoir!
4/ In those proud days, toilets would often feature a name and this is the legendary “SL”.
5/ A selection of fast boats, nearest of which of wood and linen fabric construction not unlike an airship.
6/ East German hydroplane, fitted with the expansion-box invented thereabouts to boost power output.
7/ A boat was built around its engine, a Rolls-Royce derived from an airship: note the hand-crank.
8/ A lake steamer whose steering wheel appears ideal for reversing, but less so for cruising.
9/ An inboard four-stroke petrol engine: they don’t make them like that any more, fortunately.
10/ The float from a Short Sunderland flying boat, some built here, and converted later into a canoe.
11/ A boat-launched glider built by Slingsby and trialed unsuccessfully by the War Office in WW2.
12/ The way they ferried things across Windermere prior engines of any sort: with oars called ‘sweeps’.
13/ Workshop, where I guess those are thickness measurements in millimetres to check for corrosion.
14/ A glorious 1930s-era Chris-Craft from the US.
15/ Aluminium-bodied Albatross and Coventry Climax engine combination from the UK.
16/ Steamer Osprey used for lake tours, though sadly not today.
17/ A vintage sailboat, still in use today on the lake next door.
18/ Beatrix Potter’s boat: couldn't she have got something better given she owned a matching tarn?
Altogether a great day out with free parking if you spend £5 or more; the only criticisms a paucity of fridge-magnets and substitution of the steamer by a diesel for the cruise I didn't take anyway, what with Storm Amy passing through.