Tooley’s Boatyard
Britain’s oldest working dry dock on the inland waterways, where traditional boatbuilding, blacksmithing and canal heritage continue within a living historic boatyard.
Explore the working dock, historic forge, museum collections, guided tours, boat trips and heritage events at the heart of Banbury’s canal heritage.
A Working Boatyard First
Since the arrival of the Oxford Canal in 1778, Tooley’s Boatyard has remained a place of work. Boats are still docked, repaired and maintained here, and traditional waterways skills continue in daily use within the historic dry dock, forge and workshops.
Today the boatyard remains one of Britain’s oldest continuously working inland boatyards. Alongside this working role, visitors can explore the site through guided tours, boat trips, demonstrations, events, the museum and archive collections.
Matthew Armitage set up Tooley’s Boatyard Limited in 2002. The company operates the working boatyard on the site and is responsible for the day to day operation of the dockyard and the continuation of the living heritage site.
In 2019, Tooley’s Boatyard Trust was established. The Trust took over ownership of Tooley’s Boatyard Limited and was created to help protect and preserve the site for future generations.
The Trust now owns the site and holds a 150 year lease, helping secure the long term protection of the historic dry dock, shops, workshops, collections, archive and traditional waterways skills connected with the boatyard.
Tooley’s is not simply a preserved historic site. It is a living industrial landscape where heritage survives through continued use.
Historic Dry Dock
Experience the historic scheduled dry dock where generations of narrowboats have been repaired and maintained for over two centuries. The dock remains in active use today and forms the centre of the working boatyard.
Guided Tours
Explore the historic workshops, forge, dock and working areas through guided tours which reveal the people, craft traditions and industrial history of Tooley’s Boatyard.
Forge & Heritage Crafts
Traditional blacksmithing and heritage crafts continue within the working forge, helping preserve practical skills connected to Britain’s inland waterways heritage.
Boat Trips
Take a trip along the Oxford Canal and experience Banbury from the water aboard traditional canal boats operating from the historic boatyard.
Events & Open Days
Regular open days, demonstrations and heritage events allow visitors to experience the boatyard in action, with working machinery, visiting craftspeople and traditional skills demonstrations.
Tooley’s Museum & Collections
Discover canal art, historic objects, archive material, tools and artefacts connected to the long history of the boatyard and the inland waterways.
Shop
Browse canal heritage gifts, books, artwork and locally inspired items within the boatyard shop.
VISITING TOOLEY’S BOATYARD
Tooley’s Boatyard is a working site. For more information about visiting, opening times, events, guided tours and boat trips, please visit our websites.