VISITORS to Stourport Canal Basins this weekend will be able to learn more about the role of the historic Georgian area in the development of the town.

As part of national Heritage Open Days Weekend, visitors can explore a historic working canal boat where volunteers will be on hand to provide information about what it was like to live and work on the vessel.

The boat will be open from 10am until 4pm on Saturday, September 13, during its brief visit to the town.

On the afternoon of Sunday, September 14, both the Old Ticket Office Heritage Room, in York Street, and the Tontine Stable Heritage Room will be open for talks, where anyone with memories of the canal basins can also share them in a memories book.

The weekend’s events are being organised by Stourport Forward, a non-profit voluntary organisation which develops and delivers projects for the benefit of the town.

Pauline Annis, chairman of the group, said “Heritage Open Days Weekend provides a great opportunity for local people and families to learn more about their local heritage.

“For anyone living and working in Stourport it is very easy to forget the importance of the canal basins to the development of the town.

“We want to encourage people to take time out this weekend to come to Stourport Canal Basins and imagine what the canal basins and town would have been like in the early nineteenth century.”

Also as part of the weekend, members of Stourport Methodist Church, on High Street, are opening its doors on Friday and Saturday from 10am until noon to talk about the history of the church.

For more information call Liz Sheerin on 01299 822827 or visit stourporttown.co.uk