Volunteers from the Canal & River Trust have completed a vibrant large-scale mural at Doncaster Lock to celebrate the city’s rich heritage and to encourage more boaters to experience this part of the charity’s waterway network.
Created by local artist Kate Rhodes, with assistance from volunteer lock keeper and ex-boater Jan Miller, the mural measuring over 10 metres long was recently officially unveiled by Canal & River Trust and Doncaster Council.
Local artist Kate Rhodes lives in Doncaster and volunteered over several weeks to create the mural. She explained: “I really wanted to give something back to the local area and having been a boater for over 20 years I wanted to the do something to help celebrate the waterways, to brighten up Doncaster Lock and hopefully put it on the map.
“We’ve had such a positive response already from the local community, which has helped bring a real sense of pride to the area. We hope boaters and passers-by will enjoy seeing it.”
Lizzie Dealey, partnerships and funding manager said: “The passion and commitment from our volunteers is truly amazing. From helping boats through locks, to restoring centuries old heritage structures, the impact of our volunteers is huge. It’s amazing to see the sheer scale of this mural, with a great example of how canals can bring people and communities together.
“Best viewed from the water we have several large-scale murals in the area, and along with Alex Chinneck’s striking Looping Boat sculpture in Sheffield, we hope eye-catching artworks like this will help to encourage more people to explore this special stretch of the nation’s waterways, especially by boat. Volunteering with the Canal & River Trust is flexible, fun, and a wonderful way to learn new skills, meet new friends and make a real difference. There’s lots of ways to get involved depending on what you enjoy doing and how much time you have and we’d love to hear from anyone interested.”
Glyn Jones, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing and Safer Communities at City of Doncaster Council, said: “This tremendous piece of art is a fitting tribute to Doncaster’s storied history and its exciting present, capturing everything that makes it such a vibrant place.
“Whether you’re fascinated by our city’s industrial past, proud of its rich heritage in rail, or just want to marvel at detailed representations of iconic Doncaster landmarks like the Mansion House and the award-winning Corn Exchange, I’d encourage residents to come and see this beautiful mural for themselves. It’s a really eye-catching piece and helps brighten up one of our most significant waterways. My thanks go out to Kate, Jan and all of the wonderful volunteers from the Canal and River Trust for the hard work and incredible community spirt they have shown here.”
Doncaster’s rich heritage is brought to life through a series of iconic symbols, led by the Mallard and Flying Scotsman, celebrating the city’s world-famous railway legacy. Key local landmarks also feature from St Leger, St George’s Minster, the Corn Exchange, the Mansion House to the former coking plant, Handley’s flour mill, and the surrounding historic coal pits.
The design also reflects Doncaster’s industrial strength, with a green Ford Popular car signifying Briggs Motor Bodies and a red tractor representing International Harvesters. The legendary Vulcan Bomber, once based at Finningley Airport, sits alongside Paddington Bear, originally created in toy form by Doncaster’s Shirley Clarkson. Local wildlife and the Yorkshire Wildlife Park highlight the area’s strong connection to nature.
Doncaster’s waterways are also celebrated with several locally known boats included in the design. From freight vessel, the Exol Pride, a regular visitor to Doncaster Lock as it transports cargo between Hull and Rotherham, to Waimarie narrowboat, owned by well-known canal figure Ray “Chalky” White, and volunteer’s own previous narrowboats Oak Apple and Fantasia Felice. A Canal & River Trust van reflects the charity’s daily work caring for the city’s waterways and the role of local volunteer lock keepers.
Doncaster Lock sits on the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation, an 18th-century freight waterway that links Sheffield, Rotherham, and Doncaster with the River Trent and the wider canal network. Crucial to the city and region’s industrial growth, the waterway is still used by freight today and is a valued space for leisure.
For more information on the Canal & River Trust, including how to donate or volunteer, visit: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk.
For more information about how you can volunteer for the Canal & River Trust in Yorkshire & North East visit: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer
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