Lune Aqueduct enhancement project

Over the last three years, the Canal & River Trust has been working in partnership with Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council, and the Lancaster Canal Trust to secure £1m funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund which will conserve and enhance the Lune Aqueduct in Lancaster.

We are currently investing over £2 million at the Lune Aqueduct, over half of this investment is in maintenance and repair works to the Grade I listed Lune Aqueduct. The project involves the installation of a new canal lining to stop leaks from the aqueduct at its northern end. 

To compliment these repairs we have secured £1m additional funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out a series of enhancements to the aqueduct and its environment, these include; 

• restoring the historic masonry and brickwork
• improving access between the aqueduct and the River Lune
• towpath improvements
• small visitor car park
• Landscaping works to increase the prominence of the aqueduct against the landscape.
• Innovative interpretation scheme
• Educational, training and volunteering activities

Once the works are completed, the aqueduct will be better able to fulfill its role as an important environmental, heritage and educational resource for local residents, schools and tourists.

 Balustrade before heritage refurbishment

 Balustrade following refurbishment

Getting involved in the programme of events

David Hennessey is our project officer and he is working with the local community on a range of activities to celebrate the unique heritage of the Lune Aqueduct and Lancaster Canal. He says: "The restoration work that has taken place over the past two years will safeguard this important piece of local and national heritage for generations to come.

"Over the coming years, visitors to the site will see great deal of environmental enhancements gradually develop, as well as being offered the chance to take part in some exciting community based activities, covering the arts, oral history, bat and bird watching sessions and canal festivals.

"We are so enthusiastic about the plans to enhance and improve such an fantastic structure that we are encouraging the public to join us on our journey."

Our programme of events and activities includes:

• A Digital Memories Reminiscence project
• Performing arts, creative writing, light projection and musical workshops and performances
• Arts workshops with local artist, Chas Jacobs
• Interpretation trail
• A range of multimedia resources, including a website and QR code linked audio trail
• An interpretive map that will lead people around the canal running through Lancaster
• Bat and bird watching events
• Volunteering sessions to work on the landscape surrounding the Lune Aqueduct
• Education volunteers visiting schools in the area to deliver classroom sessions
• Free community boat trips
• A canal festival in 2013

For more information follow this project on Facebook;

http://www.facebook.com/lune.aqueduct