Tag: canals

Getting Involved With the Oral History of Birmingham’s Canal Restoration

Getting Involved With the Oral History of Birmingham’s Canal Restoration

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The Canal and River Trust (CRT) is looking at gathering oral histories about the people who were involved in the post-Second World War restoration of canals in Birmingham and the Black Country.

The aim is to record this important period in the history of Britain’s canals by talking to the people who worked on the restoration projects. CRT are looking to record personal stories to find out which canals people worked on, what they did to restore the canals, their motivations for being involved, the impacts the restoration work had on them, and information about restoration techniques.

This work is being undertaken with inHeritage. inHeritage is a heritage interpretation consultancy delivering innovative and accessible opportunities to communicate your key messages to your target audiences through a range of traditional and new media. They also manage interpretation, community archaeology, and oral history projects.

If you would like to get involved with this project please email Bill Bevan at: bill@inheritage.co.uk

Birmingham canals post restoration. Image courtesy of CRT.
Anderton Boat Lift Awarded £574k for Urgent Repairs

Anderton Boat Lift Awarded £574k for Urgent Repairs

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Britain’s oldest boat lift has received a £574,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant towards essential repairs. This grant will be used to repair the hydraulics and computer system of the Anderton Boat Lift in Northwich, Cheshire, by the Canal and River Trust (CRT).

The lift on the Trent and Mersey Canal was built by Edwin Clarke in 1875 to allow boats carrying salt and coal to move easily between the canal and the Weaver Navigation 15m (50ft) below.

The lift, which is known as “Cathedral of the Canals” and also as one of the “Seven Wonders of the Waterways”, was in operation for more than 100 years until 1983 when it closed due to corrosion. The lift reopened to the public in 2002 after a multi-million pound restoration but has been out of action since August 2022 due to the failure of a safety mechanism.

Andrew Davison, inspector of Ancient Monuments at Historic England, which supported the Canal & River Trust’s application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said the boat was an “extraordinary feat of engineering, an outstanding product of Victorian technical ability and ingenuity…There is no substitute for seeing it in operation or experiencing sitting on a boat which is being lifted or lowered between the canal and the river.”

Rebecca Mason, enterprise manager at the Canal & River Trust, said they were “thrilled” to be awarded this development phase grant. She said the trust would work closely with partners and stakeholders including Historic England over the next 18 months “to ensure we can submit a really robust second-round application to the lottery in 2024”. Further details here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/anderton-boat-lift-visitor-centre

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust are Looking for a New Treasurer

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust are Looking for a New Treasurer

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The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust is looking for a new Treasurer, as the current Treasurer is standing down in the New Year. As Treasurer, you will also be a Trustee. You will work closely with other Trustees, and in particular the Chairman, as well as the part-time Finance Officer to help ensure that the Trust has the resources to continue to promote the Kennet and Avon Canal to the benefit of all its users, the communities through which it passes, and its heritage, in line with its charitable objects.

You do not need to be a qualified accountant, but you will be used to working with numbers and spreadsheets. Some experience of charity finance and charity law would be desirable. KACT is a charitable company, limited by guarantee, so is subject to the provisions of both charity and company law.

If you would like to know more about the role or would like the full recruitment pack, please contact either the Chairman, Chris Sims (chair@katrust.org.uk) or the current Treasurer, Chris Bolt (fd@katrust.org.uk). The closing date for applications is 21 October 2022.