P R E S S R E L E AS E
13 September 2012
VOLUNTEERS RESTORE TWO HISTORIC BRIDGES ON THE OXFORD CANAL
Public Open Days
What: Come along to a series of open days on the Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 September and
Friday 5 to Monday 15 October to find out more about these heritage works.
Where: Along the Oxford Canal Northamptonshire. The works are taking place near the village of
Barby. Postcode is CV28 8UT - all visitors to report to site office before going on site.
Times: Between 11am to 1pm
For more information please contact Jenny Black 01494 783 453 ext 604 or 07710 904 898 for
details
Two 200 year old bridges along the North Oxford Canal in Northamptonshire are about to be
restored by a team of skilled volunteers using traditional techniques in an effort bring these
traditional brick arched bridge back to their former glory.
Bridges 79 and 80, which were built back in the 1770’s and are located near the village of Barby,
are well known traditional landmarks on the Oxford Canal. Over the years these two bridges have
fallen into a state of disrepair and are in need of restoration to safeguard their future.
Volunteers from the Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) working alongside the Canal & River Trust
will help restore these two historic waterway relics and save them from further decline. The
heritage repair works will include totally rebuilding and repointing the brickwork on the bridge
supports as well as a complete restoration of the iconic brick arch. The works will involve using
traditional techniques such as lime mortar and where possible reclaimed bricks will be recycled
and re-used within the rebuild.
Antonia Zotali Project Team Manager from the Canal & River Trust said “We are delighted that
volunteers from the Waterway Recovery Group have agreed to help us restore these two
South East Waterways
Canal & River Trust First Floor North Station House 500 Elder Gate Milton Keynes MK9 1BB
T 0303 040 4040 E enquiries.southeast@canalrivertrust.org.uk www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
Patron: H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. Canal & River Trust, a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales
with company number 7807276 and registered charity number 1146792, registered office address First Floor North, Station House, 500
Elder Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 1BB
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traditional bridges. These bridges have suffered from severe wear and tear as well as movement
which has resulted in some very large cracks in the brickwork so are in desperate need of
attention.
The volunteers from WRG are highly skilled and are totally dedicated in helping us bring these two
bridges back to life, which is just fantastic.”
Using specialist divers, work has already started to underpin the foundations of the bridge to stop
the bridge from moving in the future. The foundations have also been strengthened in order to
prevent further erosion and deterioration.
Jenny Black from the Waterway Recovery Group said “We are really pleased that we can help
restore these two bridges. This restoration is a great project and really demonstrates the work we
do as a volunteer organisation. Some of the brick work has been removed so this will be a real test
of our skills to make sure we get the bridge looking like it did when first built over 200 years ago”
The main aim of this project is to improve working relations with the Canal and River Trust, and
develop a suitable framework allowing volunteers to work on more technical projects with the Trust
in the future and demonstrate what volunteers can do. At the end of the project the Trust and WRG
will work together to create the handbook ‘Bridge Restoration Guide for Volunteers’ so that other
volunteers can take on similar projects in their local area.
The works will take place on the 15 and 16 September and the 5 to 15 October and will involve a
team of between 10 and 15 volunteers all of whom are skilled in heritage restoration and
bricklaying. Members of the public are invited to come along during this time to find out more
about the works, chat to volunteers from WRG and staff from the Canal & River Trust and learn
more about the history of the two wonderful bridges.
ENDS
For media enquiries please contact Sarah Rudy on 01908 302 584 / 07788 691 219 or email
sarah.rudy@canalrivertrust.org.uk
The Canal & River Trust is the guardian of 2,000 miles of canal and river across England and
Wales. The Trust, which is among the largest charities in the UK, has taken over from British
Waterways and The Waterways Trust in England and Wales to become the guardian of the
nation’s third largest collection of Listed structures, as well as museums, archives and hundreds
of important wildlife habitats.
By giving people a greater role in the running of their local waterways, the Canal & River Trust
marks the next exciting chapter in the long history of the nation’s former industrial
waterways. The move is underpinned by a £1bn investment from government, including a
landmark 15-year grant funding agreement, and opens up the potential for attracting new
sources of income.
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Waterway Recovery Group
Waterway Recovery Group has supported restoration of derelict inland waterways by co-ordinating
volunteers and providing expertise and equipment since its formation in 1970. Waterway Recovery
Group organises weekend restoration events and week long Canal Camps on the inland
waterways throughout Great Britain.
Each Canal Camp usually runs for seven days, each volunteer is asked to contribute £56 for the
week (or £8 per day) towards the cost of their accommodation and the three meals a day that are
provided.
Anyone is welcome to volunteer for a Canal Camp; the only restriction is that they must be over 18
and under 70 years of age. No previous skills or experience are required. More details
www.wrg.org.uk