Canal & River Trust have arranged 12 Open Days throughout the winter maintenance period, when the public will be able to descend into lock chambers to inspect their workings.
Marple Lock Flight
No list of the locks has been given, only that they will include locks on the Marple Lock Flight on the Peak Forest Canal and St Pancras Lock and walking along a 870 yards section of the drained Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.
Each Open Day, we are told, provides the opportunity for local communities to learn about the history and heritage of their area from one of the charity's skilled heritage advisers, engineers and other workers who attend the events and provide free tours. The charity's army of passionate volunteers will also be on hand to share their unique knowledge of the waterways and surrounding area with visitors.
Weird and wonderful items
Last year the Trust's construction teams unearthed some weird and wonderful items when it drained the canals in preparation for the essential works. Items included a bag of bullets, WW2 hand grenade, 16ft dead python and a Volkswagen Camper Van.