Portland Basin Museum is housed within the restored nineteenth century Ashton Canal Warehouse in Ashton-under-Lyne. The museum combines a modern interior with a peaceful canal side setting. It is welcoming, family friendly and free, with something for all ages.

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Enjoy our temporary exhibition, and step back in time on our recreated 1920s street. Take a look into our old-fashioned kitchen and parlour to find out how we used to live. Explore the area's industrial heritage and discover what life was like down the coal mines or in the cotton mills. Find out more about local crafts and industries and marvel at our historic machines. There are trails and hands-on things for children to do, and younger children will love playing shop in our indoor play area.

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The museum is proud to be rated ‘Excellent’ by visitors on Trip Advisor and is accredited by Visit England as a quality attraction to visit.

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Current exhibition

In the museum entrance space is our temporary exhibition gallery, which we change every 6-8 months. Our current exhibition, The Nine Towns of Tameside, is on until 6 July 2025. The exhibition, inspired by the 50th anniversary of the creation of the borough of Tameside explores the history of each town and is complimented by a display of all things 1970s. We regularly share object stories from this exhibition on our 'In Tameside' Facebook and Instagram pages too.

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Events and Activities

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We have many events and activities across the year, from our children's holiday craft activities, to adult art workshops, to bigger event days. Find out about our upcoming events in the What's On section of this website.

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Our collections

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Portland Basin Museum cares for thousands of objects that were made in Tameside or used by people who lived or worked in Tameside. Many objects are on display and we regularly change our special exhibition to showcase different collections. We’ll be regularly sharing these object stories in the News and Views section so there is always something new to discover.

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