Waterways charity Canal & River Trust is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Grade I Listed Bingley Five Rise Locks and Grade II* Listed Bingley Three Rise Locks on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Yorkshire with a special event on Saturday 23 March, at 10am – 3pm.
Celebrating what makes Bingley Five Rise Locks one of the seven ‘wonders of the waterways’, the event will showcase the past, present and future of Britain’s steepest lock flight on the longest single canal in the country and highlight the modern challenges of looking after this historic working structure.
Ruth Garratt, Canal & River Trust’s Yorkshire & North East heritage advisor, explains: “With just 2.5% of the country’s houses and structures awarded Grade I listing, Bingley Five Rise Locks are of exceptional historical importance and puts these locks in the same category as Buckingham Palace.”
On 21 March 1774, around 30,000 people gathered along the towpath to watch the first boats make the 60-foot descent through Bingley Five Rise Locks. Reported by the Leeds Intelligencer newspaper to be the ‘noblest works of the kind that perhaps are to be found in the same extent in the universe’. Now, 250 years on, they are a much-loved attraction for leisure and well-being and a vital link in the canal’s wildlife corridor stretching over the Pennines thanks to the work of the Trust.
Sharron Bright, youth and community engagement coordinator at Canal & River Trust is organising the event and explained: “We hope people from the local community and beyond will join us in helping celebrate this remarkable wonder of the waterways.
“You’ll have the chance to meet the experts who care for and keep our canals and locks alive and learn how to support your local waterway and even get involved by volunteering. It’s a varied programme, so there should be something for everyone to enjoy – with families, boaters, crafters, and those interested in history and nature.”
This drop-in event is packed with free activities from town to towpath. For the latest programme information visit the Canal & River Trust website and search ‘Bingley 250’ – Bingley Five Rise 250/Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)
Event highlights include:
See the ‘UK’s steepest staircase locks’ in action
Lockkeeper demonstrations and talks by volunteers
Boat trips along the canal
Guided heritage walks & talks
Ecology and environment talks, plus a fish tank display
Bird watching, nature spotting trail and activities at Bingley North Bog
Canoe & SUP sessions – some sessions are pre-bookable through our Eventbrite page
Floating Market and Kennet boat & floating museum
Canal arts & craft activities, bushcraft, sketch walks
Demonstrations, handling sessions and talks
Let’s Fish taster sessions – book for Let’s Fish through our Eventbrite page
Top Of The Locks selfie opportunity
Bell ringing and brass band performances
This event and all activities hosted by Canal & River Trust are free and open to all. Donations are welcome on the day to support the continued work to #KeepCanalsAlive
