Princess Anne visits Cotswold Canals

PRINCESS Anne visited a restored section of the Cotswold Canals on Friday 10th February, meeting the people involved and opened a new lock and bridge.

She opened the refurbished Upper Wallbridge Lock and the new Stroud Brewery Bridge, (pictured) taking a trip boat to cut the ribbon, then met the Cotswold Canals Trust executives and volunteers at the Visitor Centre.

Trust sponsors

After this she moved on to the Lockkeepers Bar to meet staff and Canals Trust sponsors, where she revealed a commemorative plaque.

It was in 1789 that the Wallbridge Locks were the first built on the new Thames & Severn Canal, completing the waterway to Lechlade and the Thames, with Wallbridge Basin being the original terminal of the Stroudwater Navigation.

British Waterways pulled out as one of the sponsors of the Cotswold Canals restoration some five years ago.