TARDEBIGGE Lock Flight has been honoured with a prestigious award celebrating its contribution to Britain’s transport history.
A Transport Trust ‘Red Wheel’ plaque was unveiled at Tardebigge Top Lock in honour of the site’s importance to the area and to the waterways restoration movement.
Now a popular visitor destination, Tardebigge is cared for by the Canal and River Trust – the charity that looks after 2,000 miles of waterways throughout the country – with the support of local volunteer groups, in particular the Worcester, Birmingham and Droitwich Canals Society.
It is the longest flight in the UK, made up of 30 narrow locks on a two-and-a-quarter-mile stretch of water.
David Viner, heritage advisor at the Canal and River Trust, said: “Tardebigge was where it all turned around for the canals, so it’s fantastic to see its important history marked with a Red Wheel.
“The Worcester & Birmingham Canal is celebrating its 200th birthday this year, so it’s a perfect time to be looking back at how important the canal was to the area.
“We’re very grateful that nowadays the site has a great team of volunteers helping to look after it who recognise how special it is and give up their time to keep it that way.”
Visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/heritage to find out more on the heritage on the UK’s canals.
