The ambitious restoration of a former waterway between Melksham and Chippenham is one of the projects being celebrated during this year’s Heritage Open Days.
England’s largest festival of history and culture takes place every September and encourages the public to see hidden places and try out new experiences, free of charge.
Locally, the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is hosting visitors at Pewsham Locks, a formerly busy section of the waterway with a flight of locks, lock-keepers cottage, carpenters workshop, dry dock, saw pit and lime kiln.
The open day, this Saturday 13 September, includes a rare opportunity for guided tours of the restoration projects and wildlife habitats.
Visitors can also walk along more than a mile of towpath and canal towards Lacock, with a pop-up café offering refreshments including tea, coffee and home-made cakes.
The event is due to run from 10am to 3pm and has been organised by the WBCT’s Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch.
Spokesperson Dave Maloney said: “We hope people will be impressed by the pace of progress and the variety of work underway.
“Visitors will see the new bridge being built across the locks, and the impressive carpenters workshop where the exterior is almost finished and work is continuing inside.
“They will also see the dry dock nearing completion, which includes more than 200 slate roof tiles along the lower edge which have been sponsored not only by local residents but also supporters from around the world.
“The tiles feature their own personal messages, and many will be in place by this weekend.
“At the other end of the canal we’ll be showing how we’ve created new wildflower meadows, wildlife habitats and woodland, often with the help of corporate workparties from local companies.
“Afterwards, people can sit down and relax outside the pop-up café. It’s going to be a great day out!”
Pre-booking is not required. There is no parking on-site but the locks are a short walk along a footpath from the edge of Pewsham. Visit www.wbct.org.uk/mcc-events for directions.
For further information on the open day, email dave.maloney@wbct.org.uk
The aim of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is to restore the waterway from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon, connecting Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon.
