British Waterways cares for almost 3,000 listed buildings and over 130 scheduled ancient monuments, together representing one of the UK's best collections of industrial heritage.
Structures ranging from humble warehouses and cottages, to grandiose bridges and soaring aqueducts make up a 2OO-year old network which still works to its original purpose.
The fact that inland waterways are a 'working heritage' sets them apart from other historic structures and demands a unique approach to their management and conservation. British Waterways aims to achieve a balance in protecting the historic integrity of the waterways whilst allowing them to flourish. The most successful waterside regeneration schemes for instance combine the old with the new ˜ retaining or refurbishing historic canal buildings and using good, complementary modern design.
The British Waterways Heritage Policy sets out guiding principles for waterway heritage work of all types, including education and interpretation as well as the actual maintenance of historic structures. The policy includes: keeping intervention to a minimum, retaining as much historic fabric as possible; recognising the value of the various stages of a structure's history; ensuring new work is clearly differentiated from historic work; and respecting local materials, styles and appearances.
ln association with English Heritage, British Waterways has produced the first ever Architectural Heritage Survey of the canal network, featuring a photographic record and analysis of all its buildings and structures. In conjunction with parallel environmental and landscape assessments, the survey informs British Waterways' management of its canals and rivers and helps to identify candidates for listed status.
To preserve the skills needed to maintain a working system of l8th and l9th century locks, sluices, watercourses and reservoirs British Waterways runs specialist courses at its dedicated Heritage Skills Centre at Hatton, Warwickshire ˜ the only one of its type in Europe. The Centre, which is open to staff and non-staff, runs courses in crafts such as masonry, brickwork, metalwork and building conservation, ensuring that traditional skills and good working practices are passed on.
Leisure is a major part of British Waterways' business, and improved funding has allowed it to restore some of the country's finest industrial monuments, such as the Anderton Boat Lift and Standedge Tunnel. British Waterways also opens up many of its buildings to the public each year as part the European Union's Heritage Open Days.