A 30-year restoration project has seen the Droitwich barge canal returned to its former glory. Matt Lloyd reports.

In its heyday between the late 18th century and into the 20th, the region’s canal system was the backbone of West Midlands industry.

The waterways enabled goods and materials to be loaded from factory doors and straight onto barges for delivery all over the country.

However with the growth of the railway and road networks, industry’s love affair with the canal came to an abrupt end.

Droitwich’s two canals were first opened in 1771 and were described by engineer James Brindley as one of his “proudest achievements”.

But by 1939, no longer needed by business, they were officially closed and fell into disrepair with lock gates rotting and the cut filling up with tons of silt and rubbish. It was only in 1971 when a rallying cry for people power attracted more than 1,000 people to help begin digging out the canals which run into the town to a central basin, now Vines Park.

At the time nobody could have known it was the first step on a journey lasting nearly 40 years.

Vaughan Welch, chairman of Droitwich Canals Trust, says it was the dedication of the volunteers that allowed the restoration of 21 miles of canal to be completed.

In that stretch four new locks were built, nine were restored, a new tunnel under the A449 was built, towpaths were upgraded and moorings were improved and reed beds were planted.

Vines Park, a linear park along the canal was also created as a focal point for visitors.

Vaughan says: “Without them (the volunteers) we would not be celebrating the opening and our thanks go to them all.”