Day out in Rugby

Saturday 12^th September

Market in Rugby

Webb Ellis Museum

We are off to Rugby today on the bus as the moorings in Rugby are about a twenty to thirty minute walk to the town centre and there aren't that many moorings in Rugby so we didn't want to get there and not be able to moor so we decided to go from here.  We walked up to the bus stop and the bus was just coming so that was good timing.  The bus fare was quite cheap, £3,75 return each and the journey was about 20 minutes. The bus took us right into the town.  We had a look around the shops, there was an outdoor market so had a wander around there, then made our way to the Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum. The weather wasn’t too good, we had quite a few heavy rain showers in the morning, but it dried up in the afternoon and was sunny early evening.

Inside the Museum

The Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum in the centre of Rugby near Rugby School,  It takes it name from William Webb Ellis who is credited with inventing the game of Rugby Football.  The museum opened in 1980, and is housed in the building where the shoe and boot maker James Gilbert (nephew of William Gilbert) first made a rugby ball in 1842.

Gilbert Football

The museum is packed with rugby memorabilia, including a Gilbert football of the kind used by Rugby School that was exhibited at the first World’s Fair at the Great Exhibition in London and the original Richard Lindon (inventor of the rubber bladder for rugby balls) brass hand pump.  Traditional handmade rugby balls are still made at the museum.

Status of William Webb Ellis

We had a look around the museum, it was very interesting.  We had another wander around, saw Rugby school which is near the museum and there is a statue of William Webb Ellis, then we got the bus back to the boat.

We are staying here again tonight, then chugging off tomorrow.