Heritage IWA’s new campaign

navvies News

Shake this Navvies, and out will (hopefully) fall a leaflet about the Inland Waterways Association’s Heritage Campaign. Gemma explains...

Support IWA’s Heritage Campaign

As you may be aware (especially if you’ve spotted the insert that fell out of this issue of Navvies),WRG’s parent body the Inland Waterways Association is highlighting the hidden heritage of the waterways as a part of its wider campaign to save waterways heritage – both on the waterways which are already navigable and the abandoned ones that we’re working to restore. This campaign aims to improve the protection of heritage assets along the UK’s rivers and canals through the extension of existing Conservation Areas and by raising awareness of historic waterways features that may be at risk from insensitive development.

IWA is engaging with local communities to promote the importance of waterways hidden heritage as part of their local history and to encourage a sense of pride and ownership of these features, many of which are unique to their particular waterway. We all know that funding is scarce for both local authorities and navigation authorities so active support from the local community helps keep the waterways heritage message on the agenda.

As a part of the campaign, people have been asked to send in photographs of interesting pieces of heritage along the waterways – not necessarily the bigger things like bridges, locks, aqueducts, tunnels etc. but the smaller features that are all too often overlooked such as rope marks on a bridge, mason’s marks on a lock wall, canal company signage or mile posts along the towpath. See waterways.org.uk/campaigns/canal-heritage/ hidden-heritage to see the gallery, or email hiddenheritage@waterways.org.uk with any photos you have to add to it – say where they were taken (use what3words if possi-

Pictures by IWA Atherstone pressure valve sparked a debate Towrope roller on the Leeds & Liverpool page 40

ble) and send both a close-up and a wider picture for context.

Any hidden gems that are uncovered will be recorded for future generations and where required, IWA will lobby the relevant authorities to ensure these features are protected and repaired. In order to carry out this activity, IWA will be recruiting new, and supporting existing, Heritage Champions across its regional branches. As part of their role, IWA’s Heritage Champions will help to safeguard waterways heritage in their area by monitoring any planned developments. Full training will be given.

IWA has put out a call for people to send in their photographs of hidden heritage and has already received a number of interesting photos including one of an ornate pressure valve on the Coventry canal at Bridge 43 (Lock 5) at Atherstone. This valve causes much debate among boaters in the area who often ask what it is. IWA’s Heritage Group is now in agreement that it is an air valve which releases air from a high point to prevent restricted flow on a water main that crosses the bridge.

Alison Smedley, Campaigns & Public Affairs manager, IWA says: “IWA believes that waterways should be protected from inappropriate development, through being included in a Conservation Area or by specific buildings and structures being Listed. As part of our campaign to call for local authorities to better protect waterways heritage, we are asking people to investigate their local canal or river in more detail than perhaps they ever have before and find items of interest. We want to make sure the quirky features of the waterways are retained, ideally in working order and are not forgotten in the future.”

Many thanks to everyone who has already donated to the Save Waterways Heritage campaign. For those of you who are able to support the campaign with a financial donation, please know that your funding will go directly towards three key areas of work.

·Understanding and increasing planning protection for the waterways · Lobbying government bodies where heritage features are under specific threat · Recruiting and supporting heritage champions to safeguard our waterways from poor development

Please see IWA’s insert in this issue of Navvies for more information on how to donate or visit www.waterways.org.uk/restoreheritage. Gemma Bolton