£4.5m boost to secure future of historic Shropshire canal yard
A historic canal yard in Ellesmere is set for repairs and new community spaces after securing a £4.54m National Lottery grant
Plans to secure the future of one of the canal network’s oldest working yards are moving forward after a £4.54 million funding award.
Ellesmere Yard, built in 1806 on the Llangollen Canal, was originally home to the Ellesmere Canal Company’s offices and workshops.
More than 200 years later, the site remains an operational base for the Canal & River Trust’s maintenance teams.
The trust has been awarded £4,540,000 by National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver its Forging Ahead project.
The funding will pay for repairs and improvements to historic buildings, as well as new spaces for community activities, heritage displays and independent heritage crafts and businesses.
The plans also aim to open up more of the yard to visitors, giving people the chance to learn about the people, skills and stories behind its long history.
The award follows a development phase during which the trust worked with local residents, businesses and partners to shape the proposals.
Stuart Mills, chief investment officer at the Canal & River Trust, said: “Ellesmere Yard is a special place because its history is still part of everyday life. It has supported the canal for over 200 years and remains a working yard today.
“This award gives us the opportunity to care for its historic buildings, welcome more people in and create new uses that will help the site thrive for years to come.”
He thanked those who had contributed ideas during the development phase, adding that their input had helped shape plans that respected the yard’s heritage while creating more opportunities for the community.
Liz Bates, director for England, Midlands and East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said the site had provided a base for leading canal-building figures Thomas Telford and William Jessop.
She said the funding would help maintain the yard as a working site while introducing new community and creative uses.
The project will also provide opportunities for local people to get involved as it progresses.