On Wednesday 23rd July CUCT volunteers spent the afternoon at Froghall to celebrate 20 years since the reopening of the first lock and basin of the Uttoxeter Canal.
The 3 year restoration project that led to the reopening started in February 2002 when we organised and hosted the first visit of volunteers from Waterway Recovery Group to start clearing the many trees that were growing in the filled-in lock chamber and around the silted up basin. Further WRG visits followed, which included excavating plus restoring the lock chamber, and later path-laying and bench installation. Meanwhile contractors built new walls, installed mooring pontoons and undertook specialist stone masonry with stone provided through a bequest from local boater Christine Vernon.
On opening day, 23rd July 2005, there were speeches and unveiling of a plaque. The first boats to use the restored lock carried VIPs and a brass band with hundreds of people looking on.
To mark the 20th anniversary, we had a celebratory picnic and also took the opportunity to survey passers-by on one of the paths built during the restoration. This helps us to better understand the use of the paths and how visitors appreciate the Caldon Canal and the basin 20 years on. Such insights are also important to support campaigning for government to protect and fund Britain’s waterways for future generations.
