In a project spearheaded by Scottish Canals in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the former AG Barr Irn Bru factory in Camelon, Falkirk, on the Forth & Clyde Canal is being transformed into Lock 16 – Scotland’s Centre of Excellence for Canals and Traditional Skills.
On Saturday 20 September, as part of Doors Open Days 2025, from 11am to 4pm, visitors will get the opportunity to step behind the doors of the former factory and find out more about the plans for the project ahead of the centre opening next year, as well as seeing demonstrations of the types of traditional skills training that the centre will offer.
Visitors will learn about what it is like to work with stained glass, how ancient skills like thatching and stonemasonry are being brought forward into the future, and how HES works with both old and new technologies to conserve and protect Scotland’s historic environment. For those who prefer to learn by doing, HES will also be offering soap carving activities to teach both young and old visitors about stone carving techniques and the history of the practice.
Scottish Canals will be providing information about the site and their plans to revitalise the neglected area of the Forth & Clyde Canal into a thriving waterside centre focussed on community (volunteering), heritage skills, training and local employment.
The centre will look to address some of the growing challenges of sustaining Scotland’s historic environment by supporting the development of specialist skills critical for its future. Lock 16 – Scotland’s Centre of Excellence for Canals & Traditional Skills is funded by the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF), Scottish Canals and Historic Environment Scotland.
Visitors will also get the opportunity to hear firsthand from Scottish Canals about the major engineering works currently being undertaken along the Falkirk Flight ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Millennium Link Project.
Younger visitors will be able to enjoy Science, Engineering,Technology and Mathematics (STEM) activities and a hear from the local canal associations, educational establishments and community groups.
Several other organisations will have stalls on the day, including Forth Valley College, Safer Communities Scotland and Falkirk Council.
Scottish Canals’ Chief Executive Officer John Paterson said:
“Scotland’s Centre of Excellence for Canals and Traditional Skills will support workplace learning and apprenticeship training programmes developing new opportunities for the people of Falkirk and beyond. We are looking forward to creating new and exciting opportunities and invite you to come inside our building to see and hear how we are going to do just that.”
David Mitchell, Director of Cultural Assets at HES, said:
Traditional skills are not just part of Scotland’s past, they are key to our future. The new Centre of Excellence for Canals and Traditional Skills will be a much-needed hub for the conservation and training of these at-risk skills, and we are delighted to give people the chance to learn about the project and the space ahead of its transformation.
The Doors Open Day is a great opportunity for locals and visitors alike to come along and see how blacksmithing, stonemasonry, and other traditional skills are being done today, and even to get up close and personal with some of the materials and techniques these professionals use.”
About Scottish Canals
- Scottish Canals is responsible to the Scottish Government for the management and development of five of Scotland’s canals as well as the surrounding estate and The Falkirk Wheel.
- Built two hundred years ago to fire the Industrial Revolution, today the canals contribute to the Scottish Government agenda of developing a Greener; Healthier; Smarter; Safer and Stronger; and Wealthier and Fairer Scotland by acting as a catalyst for sustainable economic development, regeneration and tourism; contributing to education, biodiversity, heritage and promoting active living and healthier lifestyles.
- Today Scottish Canals is utilising these 18th century assets along with innovative technology to tackle modern problems. Through working with partners to create pioneering systems, Scottish Canals is helping to combat flooding and driving positive transformation in some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas.
- The Forth & Clyde, Union, Monkland, Caledonian and Crinan canals are recognised as Scheduled Monuments and attract 20 million visits per year.
About Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
- We are the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. It is at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future, investigating and recording architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes across Scotland and caring for more than 300 properties of national importance. We are also the lead on delivering Scotland’s strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.
- Historic Scotland, trove.scot, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, Edinburgh Castle and Stòr are sub-brands of HES.
- View our press pack and keep up to date by registering to receive our media releases. Already registered? You can unsubscribe at any time by following the unsubscribe link, included in every email.
Follow HES
Facebook: @HistoricEnvScotland | @VisitHistoricScotland
Instagram: @HistEnvScot | @historicscotland
Blog
LinkedIn
For further information, please contact:
Robin Kepple
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
07881 512 379
communications@hes.scot