LAMPS stolen from the National Waterway Museum in Ellesmere Port have been recovered.

In February 2024, 11 exhibits were stolen from the museum’s Island Warehouse room including a model boat, several small model engines and three large “Tilley” lamps.

The Trust had recently catalogued the collection and the exhibits were swiftly identified.

The room was temporarily closed while the museum worked with police to recover the items.

Today, Thursday, May 23, The Canal & River Trust, which operates the museum, announced that the three missing ‘Tilley’ lamps have been recovered thanks to the keen eye of one of the charity’s volunteers, who spotted the lamps for sale on eBay.

The charity’s museums team alerted the police, who recovered the items. The seller is now assisting police.

Steven Bagley, manager of national collections a Canal & River Trust, said: “The Tilley lamps are now back where they belong.

“Thank you to our dedicated volunteer who spotted the lamps for sale and acted quickly, to the police for returning the lamps to us, and to the museums team for their diligence in the aftermath of the upsetting theft.

“We have carried out a thorough review and are looking forward to an exciting summer of events and education.”

Anyone with information about the thefts, please speak to the police or contact the Trust directly at the National Waterways Museum.