A historic canal lock hidden for more than100 years will be opened to the public for the first time.

The lock, near Lechlade, has been restored by the Waterway Recovery Group over the last few years and is now finished, apart from the gates. Cotswold Canals Trust (CCT) volunteers have also cleared the quarter mile of dry canal channel above the lock.

“This is a big moment in our history,” says CCT Chair Jim White. “It’s the first opportunity to access the Cotswold Canals off the River Thames for over 100 years.

"Now that work on restoring the Western end of the canal is well underway, our focus now turns to the canal between the River Thames and the Cotswold Water Park. This Open Day is just the beginning.”  

Inglesham Lock dates back to 1789 and was the first on the Thames & Severn Canal after leaving the River Thames. It had been derelict since the 1920s. 

The Open Day begins at 10am and finishes at 4pm on Saturday, July 23, where visitors will be able to access it via the Cotswold Canal Trust's trip boat leaving from the Riverside Car Park in Lechlade, or on foot via the river and bridge approximately a mile.