HERITAGE barge Kennet will help mark 250 years of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal over the Easter bank holiday weekend in Skipton.
On April 8, 1773, two barges loaded with coal set off from Bingley to Skipton where the coal was sold at half the price previously charged. They were the first boats to carry goods on the canal and the reduction in cost shows how important the waterway was to be to the growing economy of Yorkshire.
On Easter Saturday, April 8, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Society will recreate the journey with its barge Kennet. With more recent boats in tow, Kennet will leave Bingley at 9.15am and is due to arrive in Skipton at around 3.45pm where it will be met by the mayor, Rick Judge.
Kennet will be moored in the canal basin where she will be open to the public on Sunday, April 9 and Monday, April 10 from 11am to 4.30pm.
On board will be an exhibition about canal people and boats on board and photos of events from the 200th anniversary of the canal in 1973.
Society volunteers have looked after Kennet for 15 years. Volunteers will be at the open days to answer questions. Find out more at: www.leedsandliverpoolcanalsociety.co.uk
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