St Pancras Lock Open Day

ST PANCRAS Lock Open Day run by Canal & River Trust in conjunction with the London Canal Museum and St. Pancras Cruising Club was a free event over Saturday and Sunday, writes Bill Ridgeway.

The lock is being renovated with the principle work being the gate replacement. This gave CaRT an opportunity to provide free visits in the empty lock chamber. The purpose of the open days  were undeniably public awareness and publicity and to recruit Friends of CaRT. This was a once in a life-time opportunity not to be missed to see the working parts of a lock usually hidden from view.

Explain what was happening

A temporary 'bouncy' towpath took us to the Lock. Access was made very easy (for most visitors) via very stable temporary steps. There were a number of people involved in the renovation on hand to explain what was happening and answer questions.

The London Canal Museum provided guided walks from the 'entrance' to the Museum and also a free boat service between the start point and the Museum—entrance to which was free.

Opened water tower

The St Pancras Cruising Club opened the water tower (which originally supplied water to the railway) from which it was possible to see the surrounding area. Several information panels set out the history of the tower and its removal from its original site (as it was in the way of expansion of St Pancras area for HS1). Hot drinks and home-made cakes (at reasonable cost) were a welcome sight.

It was a well organised event with plenty of people in CaRT 'uniform' (staff or volunteers?) and plenty of handouts.