Fantastic Year for Foxton
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| Our Chairman Steve Bowyer poses outside the museum. See Arts Council Grant. |
2014 is the 200th anniversary of the opening of the old Grand Union Canal which takes the canal from its junction with the Grand Junction (now Grand Union) at Norton Junction near Daventry, through to Foxton. There are several celebrations.
Easter when 40 plus historic boats will be visiting Foxton. We have craft stalls and an Easter Egg Hunt!
June 21st and 22nd we have the Foxton Locks Festival which gets bigger and better every year.
August 9 - 10 we have events all along the canal starting at Crick on the 9th with a parade of boats to Foxton for the 10th.
Foxton Locks secures
funding boost from Arts Council
The Trustees of Foxton Inclined Plane Trust were thrilled to
learn of the success of its major Arts Council funding bid. The Arts Council
Renaissance Strategic Support Fund will contribute to a total project budget of
£193,000 that will support a major reinterpretation project to which the Trust
is contributing £10,000. The project will increase the number of visitors to
the site and Foxton Canal Museum, as well as boosting ticket revenues and
visitor spend.
The 'Revealing the Treasures of Foxton Locks' project will
include a new interpretation strategy with trails, guides and audio and digital
enhancements, an interactive website portal, improvements to and full
re-curation of Foxton Canal Museum, interpretation panels installed at key
sites with QR and ER code links, the creation of a 3D digital model of the boat
lift, as well as the installation of a local wifi network.
The Arts Council bid was led by Leicester Shire Promotions
with support from The Canal and River Trust, Foxton Inclined Plane Trust,
Foxton Canal Museum, Leicestershire County Council and Harborough District
Council.
The Foxton Locks project forms part of the 'Blueprint for
Tourism' proposed by Leicester Shire Promotions for the Harborough district.
The Blueprint is being delivered by Harborough Promotions, the local public and
private sector tourism partnership.
Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicester Shire Promotions
said: “An opportunity has been identified to grow the economic impact of
visitors to Foxton Locks by increasing dwell time and encouraging more
overnight stays. This Arts Council funding is a big boost to the recently
agreed ‘digital vision’ for Foxton and will offer a more in-depth experience to
visitors whilst effectively telling the story of the important Inclined Plane.
The deployment of new technologies such as digital modelling, QR and ER codes
will also appeal to new audiences and non-traditional museum visitors.”
James Clifton, enterprise manager for the Canal & River
Trust, said: “This is fantastic news for Foxton Locks and we are delighted that
this money has been awarded. Foxton Locks is really popular with thousands of
people coming to see the locks every year. This funding will help us bring its
history alive in a fun and interactive way and hopefully show visitors why the
locks are so special.”
Councillor Blake Pain Leader of Harborough District Council
said: "News of this funding is extremely exciting. Foxton Locks is a real
jewel in the district and anything that improves the already excellent tourism
offer is to be welcomed."
Steve Bowyer, Chairman of the Foxton Inclined Plane Trust,
was delighted: “This funding will enable us to make great improvements to the
Foxton Locks site and museum with a particular focus on a major piece of our
Victorian industrial heritage, the unique Foxton Inclined Plane Boat Lift.
Whilst ideally we would like to rebuild the boat lift, the use of digital
technology will be a fantastic way of improving the understanding of the role the
boat lift played in the history of the site and surrounding waterways.”
Peter Knott, Area Director, Arts Council England, said:
"I'm pleased that the Arts Council's investment in this project will
support the re-telling of Foxton Locks' industrial history through the use of
creative and digital technology. I look forward to seeing how these digital
developments capture the interest and imagination of new visitors to the
site."
The Dream
Since 1980, FIPT has succeeded in many ways to change
the Inclined Plane from a tree covered wilderness, on the 'Monuments at
Risk’ Register - of interest only to a few waterway enthusiasts - to
something wonderful. Working with its partners, British Waterways (now Canal
and River Trust) local councils and others, it has created a lift
site that can be explored by all.
No longer on the ‘at risk’ register, the site has excellent
interpretation information throughout.
Moving forward, however, there are problems to be faced.
The Lottery Heritage
Fund has informed the Trust that it is unwilling to fund
the lift restoration as it believes that there is insufficient of the
original lift remaining, and any reconstruction would, in fact, be a replica. The
Trust believes that it may still be able to challenge this – and
rules are often changed. However,
it is essential that the Trust proves that a restored lift could pay
for itself. All operating expenses, labour costs and maintenance would
need to be covered. To this end, CRT and FIPT funded a comprehensive study
of the potential finances. The result was that CRT felt it could no longer
offer its support.
For several
months the FIPT team examined the figures in detail, looking to create a
persuasive business case. Unfortunately, they were unable to see how sufficient
income could be generated to meet the significant ongoing operational costs
which, for example, include replacing cables, at least every three years,
at a cost of some £90,000.
With this regrettable fact facing the Trust, it was
decided to change tactics and concentrate on achievable projects involving
hi tech interpretation. Currently under review is a very high quality
digital modelling of the lift which would bring it alive
for a fraction of the cost of building the real thing.
This was not what many members or the Trustees wanted. But the dream is one
thing - reality is another, and we can now see a way forward which is
both worthwhile and achievable.
Who knows? One day some rich friends may visit,
see the digital model, and be inspired to fund the real thing: not only to
restore it but also to put money aside for its future maintenance. If this
happens, FIPT will give the idea unconditional support.
