Nine Salford men are about to see their shared dream float on the Bridgewater Canal.
Men from communities along the Bridgewater Canal have spent a year building a boat inspired by those once used in the Duke of Bridgewater’s coal mines in 1761 and will launch it at 1pm on Friday 23 September.
The project, named Minecrafting, is part of Est.1761, a programme of activities to inspire and engage local communities with the story of the Bridgewater Canal in Salford as it undergoes a £5.5million restoration thanks to £3.6million funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and contributions from Salford City Council and Peel Holdings.
Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety at Salford City Council, said: “The men all live in communities along the canal and it has taken them over 700 hours to build the boat in twice weekly workshops.
“This new 20-foot boat uses ash, poplar and beech wood from along the canal and traditional craft techniques in the construction and was inspired by the starvationer boats used in the mines – so called because of their protruding ribs. This new boat is not a replica but is about creating a living piece of heritage and writing another chapter in this history of this remarkable canal.
“The project also aimed to encourage the men to take an active interest in the culture and heritage of their area and make new friendships as part of a shared endeavour. Nationally fewer men than women are involved in arts and cultural activities than women and Minecrafting set out from the start to change that.”
The men were supported by Start Creative, a social and creative enterprise, which helped them learn traditional hand-craft techniques.
Nigel Harris, from Eccles, who helped build the boat said he volunteered after taking early retirement.
“I am really looking forward to the boat being finished and will be immensely proud when it is launched, firstly to see if it floats and then the thought that this will be a lasting legacy for many years to come and may inspire future generations to do something similar,” he said.
Francis Egerton the third Duke of Bridgewater built the Bridgewater Canal to transport coal from his mines at Worsley to markets in Manchester.
Opened in 1761 it was described as one of the wonders of its time and is credited with kick starting the Industrial Revolution. Engineer James Brindley solved major problems with flooding in the mines by creating a network of 47 miles of canal underground to drain the mines and building the Barton Aqueduct to carry the canal over the River Irwell to Manchester and up to one million tons of coal a year.
The boat will be launched at a celebratory event at 1pm on Friday 23 September at the Humpback Bridge, Bridgewater Canal, Worsley.
At the event Jennifer Reid, the pre-eminent broadside balladress will perform a new ballad penned in response to the project and the stories of the boat builders, and in keeping with the wood theme of the day will treat the crowds to some clog dancing. There will also be an accompanying clog making workshop and an opportunity for visitors to make their own wooden heritage craft memento.
Launch event: 1pm-3pm, Friday 23 September, Bridgewater Canal, opposite the Bridgewater Hotel, Barton Road, Worsley, Salford M28 2PD.
