We were delighted to be contacted by Lizzie Dealey from the Canal & River Trust back in Summer 2017. She’d heard about Rusticus (which is always good) and wanted to talk about an exciting project at Pocklington Canal.
Lizzie is working with the Pocklington Canal Amenities Society thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. As part of this ambitious project, they will be restoring sections of the canal itself, whilst restoring the special wildlife habitats along the canal and running a series of exciting community events and activities to showcase the rich heritage of this idyllic rural East Yorkshire canal. And that’s where we come in! Rebecca visited with Lizzie at the Melbourne Arm of the canal in September – which is a beautifully tranquil spot at the end of a gentle walk from the Melbourne Arms a few miles south of Pocklington. It was a beautiful Autumn day and it was easy to see the allure that boating on these rural waterways through open farmland has had with people of generation after generation.
What struck us is how these people are central to Pocklington Canal’s story – from its origins as a man-made concept, to its creation, and it continuing usage for industry and for pleasure. So we are delighted to be bringing some of those people to life in a series of special events in 2018! The first performances on Sunday 20 May are part of the Heritage Open Day, and we will be back at the Melbourne Arm for the Bicentenary Festival and Boat Rally over the weekend of 28 and 29 July. There will be lots to enjoy for audiences at both events, including food, stalls, rides and boat trips as well as discovering more about the heritage of this lovely place.
So come and join us for Rusticus Adventure – Time Travellers! as we celebrate the vision of engineers, the graft and skill of craftsmen and the passion of users down the ages. Drawing on archive material of the original construction of the canal, locks and bridges, whilst celebrating the present-day restoration work of a dedicated team of volunteers – our adventure will bring to life the people of the canal in our robust Rusticus style!
