Heritage scheme opens window on town's past

[Josher]

 

Worcester News Tuesday 30th March 2010

 

A HERITAGE scheme to transform Stourport canal basins into a major tourist attraction has taken a step forward.

 

Mayor of Stourport John Holden cut a ribbon to open the newly refurbished Tontine Stable heritage room and unveiled the window on the past at the old ticket office which shows how the basins may have appeared when Stourport was a busy working canal port.

 

Representatives of Stourport Forward and partners were treated to a preview of the latest developments, which will be fully open to the public for the first time on site on Sunday.

 

The new heritage rooms will gradually be staffed by volunteers from Stourport Forward and Stourport Civic Society and details of the opening times will soon be available on the Stourport town website at stourporttown.co.uk.

 

Educational visits to Stourport canal basins are currently being developed through a project with Bewdley Museum and British Waterways.

 

The launch also celebrated the creation of a Stourport basins fact file and trail and four education resource boxes.

 

The event culminated in the launch of the new events and activities programme for 2010 including a May heritage weekend, a pirates weekend in August, heritage open days weekend in September and a Halloween weekend.

 

Pauline Annis, chairwoman of Stourport Forward, said: “This is a preview of our brand new season, which gets under way with our Easter event on Sunday, April 4 and Monday, April 5, from noon until 4pm, when the new heritage rooms will be opened to the public.

 

“The Easter event will also include a chance to go inside the living quarters of a British Waterways heritage working boat, canal boat trips from Stourport basins and a costumed guided walk on Easter Sunday and Monday.”

 

More information is available at stourporttown.co.uk or by calling the Stourport Forward office on 01299 822827.