FAMILIES enjoyed half term fun learning all about life on Wiltshire's historic waterways at two Canal Days.

This was the fourth year of the event, organised by Chippenham Museum and volunteers from the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust.

The sessions at the Yelde Hall on Tuesday and Thursday, with children and parents dropping by to learn more about Chippenham's canal history and to try their hand at a variety and fun and creative activities.

"It is one of our most successful educational events," said Chippenham Museum curator Melissa Barnett. "We have one every February and each time it gets better!

"The hall was full all the day."

Activities included making plates decorated with flowers in the traditional barge style, learning how to tie special knots in rope, and dressing up in historic costumes to take photographs in a special canal photo-booth.

The Wilts and Berks Canal had a branch line that went right to the centre of the town, to Timber Street.

The Wilts and Berks Canal Trust is working towards the restoration for navigation of the canal which was abandoned in 1914 just before the outbreak of the First World War, though traffic had ended in 1901due to the collapse of Stanley Aqueduct.

The canal ran from the Kennet and Avon Canal near Semington in Wiltshire to the River Thames at Abingdon via Melksham and Swindon, with branches constructed to serve Chippenham and Calne. The line at the western end was one of the first stretches to be completed when the canal was built in 1797.

When the canal was closed, the ownership of the land was lost and now the trust's work depends on the permission of some 400 landowners across whose land the canal runs.

Restoration has picked up a pace in the past few years and around 1200 metres of canal has been dredged and is in water at Pewsham.

Current local projects include Pewsham Top Lock which is under restoration, and fundraising is also underway to rebuild a lock keepers cottage, and a further 80 metre stretch is currently being cleared as part of a three year environmental plan.

Trust volunteers have also been busy improving the towpath between Chippenham and Lacock.

Chippenham Museum has plenty more to offer for people interested in local history and heritage - a Goldiggers Remembered day is planned for Saturday March 16, from 10am till 4pm.

If you can remember rocking out to Iron Maiden or dance with Devotion, come to the museum and talk to Wiltshire College staff and students, as they will be collecting memories and memorabilia relating to Chippenham’s most famous music venue.

For more information on the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust, visit wbct.org.uk.