Historic working canal yard on the Llangollen Canal receives funding to help secure its future

An important base

Ellesmere Yard on the Llangollen Canal was built in 1806. It is an important operational base for us and was the office and workshops of the Ellesmere Canal Company. It is considered a rare example of a historic purpose-built canal maintenance yard and is somewhere that gives a sense of ‘stepping back in time’.

Investment is needed in the historic buildings at the yard, and the award of £409,933 from the Heritage Fund, alongside funding from Historic England and Shropshire Council’s Shared Prosperity Fund, will allow us to develop plans and funding bid which could see the site become a home for more independent crafts people and a visitor destination alongside its role as a working canal maintenance yard.

A vital role in development of the area

Kathryn Woodroffe, our project manager, said: “Ellesmere Yard is a site steeped in history, having played a central role in the development of the area for over two centuries. It remains an active and vital canal maintenance yard, one of the oldest still in operation. We are thrilled to explore new ways these unique buildings can continue to serve the maintenance needs of the canal whilst also being repurposed to support and enrich the local community, ensuring that Ellesmere Yard continues to be a cornerstone of our heritage and future.”

Louise Brennan, Historic England Regional Director (Midlands) said: “We’re so pleased to able to help fund the works at Ellesmere Yard. It played a vital role in the development of the area, and the refurbishment will ensure that it continues to have a central role in the community for years to come – full steam ahead!”

Creating new opportunities

Over the next 12 months, we will use the Heritage Fund to carry out important assessments of the site, including heritage, architectural and access audits. It will consult with local residents, businesses and others to explore the ways in which the site could benefit the local community. Funding for this project has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players.

The agreed plans, which will include the refurbishment of the many heritage buildings on site to make them watertight and fit for purpose, will then be submitted for funding to the Heritage Fund.

The project could open up opportunities to introduce workshops, commercial and shared spaces in unoccupied buildings, improving the visitor experience and making improvement to this important canal side location.