Portland Basin

Permanent Galleries

Portland Basin Museum opened in 1999 and boasts two main galleries and a changing exhibition space.

Social History Gallery:

The Social History Gallery takes the form of a recreated 1920s street. You will find the kitchen, parlour, back yard and outside toilet of a typical two-up two-down Tameside terrace house. There is also a schoolroom, fish and chip shop, pawnbroker, grocer’s shop, chapel, pub and doctor’s surgery. The street is one of our most popular features, enjoyed by visitors of all ages.

Industrial History Gallery:

Downstairs in the museum you will find the Industrial History Gallery, ‘Made In Tameside’. There are impressive pieces of large machinery from Tameside’s industrial past from companies such as National Gas and Oil Company, Joshua Heap and John Summers Iron Works on display. Other highlights include the stone crusher and moulds from Eli Whalley’s donkey stone factory, tools from Tameside’s hatting and gloving industries and a collection of Jones sewing machines. There are also displays telling the story of cotton, coal mining and agriculture in Tameside.