Town celebrates canal heritage
DETAILS have been announced for events taking place throughout the annual Burscough Heritage weekend this weekend (June 18-19).
This year’s festival will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal.
Burscough Heritage Group has organised activities all around the village.
Over the weeks leading up to the weekend, volunteers from the Burscough Heritage Group have been visiting local schools with a programme of events telling the history and diversity of the area.
The prize-giving for the schools competition on the theme of canals will be taking place at the wharf on Saturday.
The group is also running a pop-up heritage centre at the Grove, Young Peoples Centre on the station approach.
The heritage centre will be open from 10-4pm this Saturday and Sunday and features an eclectic mix of heritage displays from the Burscough Heritage Group and other local heritage organisations covering subjects as diverse as military history, church records and family history research.
There will be performances of traditional singing, book and poetry readings with the chance to purchase vintage tiles, lace and jewellery.
A plaque has been commissioned to commemorate the 200 years of the completion of the canal and local boating families and will be positioned on the canal side of the Wharf.
BHG Press officer Colin Wareing said: “The unveiling of the plaque will take place at 2om this Saturday (June 18) by a local lady who is walking the length of the canal to celebrate her 70th birthday.
“The wharf will be full of colourful stalls and stands, the village full of vintage vehicles, and the canal full of colourful old working boats.
“It will be a great weekend for all the family and thanks to funding from Burscough Parish Council it’s all free!”
People are also looking forward to the raft race on Sunday.
Organised by Burscough Heritage Group and sponsored by Burscough Parish Council and Thomas Guy Ltd, the race will start from the Slipway pub, in Burscough, and finish at the wharf.
Prizes will be awarded for the Best Themed Raft and Most Recyclable Raft and for the first time this year there will be a junior race.
Burscough Wharf site manager Ray Eckersley said: “We’re excited about this year’s race, there’s already been lots of interest, but we want to make it bigger than ever to mark the 200th anniversary.
“We’re hoping to see some really creative contributions. The only condition is the rafts have to be man-made.”
For more detail call Nick Eckersley on 01695 576884 or email nickeckersley@nreltd.co.uk
EVENTS INCLUDE:
FRIDAY 6pm – Canal History Walk – from interpretation board, outside Burscough Wharf. SATURDAY
11am Canal History Walk – from interpretation board outside Burscough Wharf.
12pm Vintage Vehicle Procession from Booths to Burscough Wharf.
1.45pm School presentations for Best Heritage Project at Burscough Wharf.
2pm Unveiling of Heritage Plaque and Bench on the towpath beside Burscough Wharf.
4pm Canal History Walk – from Interpretation Board, outside Burscough Wharf. SUNDAY
2pm Fun Raft Race from The Slipway Pub to Burscough Wharf.
All timings may be subject to amendment on the day.