HISTORIC locks along the Stourbridge Canal are having an essential make-over as part of the Canal and River Trust’s £120,000 winter restoration programme.

Eight gates are being changed and brickwork is being inspected and repaired at Locks two, three, six and 13 along the canal which, after being completed in 1779, brought coal and other supplies to the world famous glass industry.

The Canal and River Trust, a charity which cares for 312 miles of waterways in the West Midlands, carries out an annual programme of restoration and repairs to the nation’s waterways during the winter to minimise the inconvenience of navigation closures to boaters during the busy summer season.

The work, which started this week and will continue until March 17, will see both bottom end gates and the top end single gate at Lock three – weighing in at just over five tonnes altogether – replaced, having been working hard for boaters since 1990.

The three gates, which cost a total of £23,000, ended their journey to the lock by boat where they were lifted into place by a crane. After the gates have been fitted, the lock chamber will be drained and the team will be fixing any damaged bricks and stones in and around the lock.

Ian Darby, customer operations manager for the Canal and River Trust, said: “Replacing and repairing the gates at these four locks on the Stourbridge Canal is part of the essential maintenance needed to enable the local canal network to be used and enjoyed by thousands of boaters, cyclists, anglers and walkers every year.”

On Sunday, March 12, between 10am and 4pm, people will have the rare opportunity to walk down into Lock three to see the canal from a very different angle.

Visitors will be able to learn more about the history of the canal and see up close one of the finest examples of working heritage in the world.

Mr Darby added: “We’re delighted to be able to open up Lock three on Sunday 12th to offer a unique chance for visitors to venture to the bottom of the drained lock chamber, letting us showcase the work the charity does by explaining about the repair and restoration works we are doing here.”

For more information about the canal restoration programme and the Stourbridge Canal open day visit https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/open-days