Lock gate 'finishing touch' for cottage restoration

The lock gate was donated by the Canal and River Trust

A crane has lifted a lock gate into place on Derbyshire's Cromford Canal as part of the restoration of a lock-keeper's cottage built by Florence Nightingale's uncle.

Volunteers have spent the past five years renovating the Grade II listed Aqueduct Cottage, which is now owned by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, and this is one of the final parts of the project.

The lock gate was put on a pontoon and dragged down the canal by a team at the start of September.

Ron Common, the trust's volunteer project manager, said fitting it was "very special".

"For all those five years we have dreamt about finding a lock gate - so it is something that we are very excited about and immensely proud to put in place," he said.

Ron Common, from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said visitors had been 'delighted' by the renovation

The lock gate was donated by the Canal and River Trust, which also provided advice on how to install it.

Harnesses were placed on it and a small "spider crane" with extendable legs moved the gate into position.

Aqueduct Cottage was built near Cromford in 1802 but has stood empty since 1970.

It is being refurbished by the trust after £100,000 was raised for the work.

The lock gate was installed using a small crane with extendable legs

Mr Common said: "People have been following the project for the last few years from around the world and a number of them, especially from the UK, are now visiting and are being delighted by the work that has been done.

"We have been thrilled by the feedback we have had from visitors."