A charitable trust that was formed to celebrate the heritage of Beeston Canal and its cottages has been given a cash boost by The Wilkins Group who are based in Colwick.
Having restored the historic weir cottages at Beeston Lock, Canalside Heritage Centre opened to the public as a heritage, education and art centre in 2017. It followed seven years of fundraising and hard work by charity founder and Trust chairman, Stuart Craven.
The Wilkins Group has sailed in with a £1,000 donation to further support the charity as part of the firm’s ‘Year of Giving’ campaign, in which the firm supports a different Nottinghamshire charity for every month of 2025.
The trust has documented the history and renovation of the site.
It found that the cottages and lock keepers house opened in 1796 as accommodation for the Trent Navigation Company. In 1839, the first detailed census showed the lock house and three cottages at Beeston were occupied by a total of 21 people.
However, as freight moved away from the canals and the waterways declined, by 1970, the UK’s last regular long distance canal boat carrying contract ended. At this time, the original 18th century side-bridge at Beeston Lock was removed and residents of the weir cottages began to leave. By 1980 the last resident of the cottages moved out. It would never be occupied as a home again.
Stuart Craven, who used to live on a narrow boat nearby, saw the decline of the cottages and vowed to take action. He rallied an army of volunteers, community help, and Heritage lottery funding.
While never lived in again as a home, the cottages came to life as the Canalside Heritage Centre.
Stuart, now chairman of Canalside Heritage Centre Charitable Trust, said: “We are a small charity but have a large, amazing community which has ensured this facility has become a reality and the canal’s history is preserved.
“We have around 60,000 visitors a year and we’re only able to keep doing what we are doing through donations and the help of volunteers. We are so grateful to The Wilkins Group for their donation.”
As well as providing a heritage centre, there is a tea shop, gift shop, community space, exhibition area for artists and stunning gardens to enjoy.
Stuart said: “Educating the next generation about the history of the canals is so rewarding. We recently had a visit from Royal School for the Deaf, and we are reaching out more to local schools and groups who may be interested in visiting the site.”
The centre is open 9.30am to 4.00pm, seven days a week. A special open day event is being held on Saturday, September 13, when there will be narrow boat trips, artists exhibiting in the gardens, and an array of dance groups including Morris Dancers.
Other charities that have been supported by a £1,000 donation so far this year include Gedling Conservation Trust, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, The Nottinghamshire Beekeepers’ Association, Papplewick Pumping Station, Green’s Windmill, in Sneinton, Walesby Forest outdoor activity centre and Stonebridge City Farm.
Picture Caption: Justin Wilkins, joint managing director of The Wilkins Group along with one of The Wilkins Group’s graphic designers, presented the donation cheque of £1,000 to Stuart Craven, chairman of Canalside Heritage Centre Charitable Trust at Heritage Centre, on Friday 29 August