The project
The project, carried out at Diglis Island in Worcester, has seen repairs made to the cab and the motor of a Scotch Derrick crane which has been a distinctive feature on this section of the river for over 70 years.
Visitors will discover more about the role the crane has played on the manmade island in the middle of Britain's longest river through new interpretation boards.
The restoration has been funded by the Association for Industrial Archaeology, which works to promote the study, preservation and presentation of industrial heritage both in the UK and abroad.
Built by Butters Brothers in Glasgow, the crane spent time at Cardiff Docks before it moved to Diglis Island during the 1950s. It served a vital role in lifting heavy loads, including lock gates and timber beams to and from boats on the Severn.
In over 60 years it had just four operators and remained in use until 2005. Listed on Worcester City Council's local list of heritage assets, it still stands at Diglis as a local landmark.
A widely recognised landmark
Morgan Cowles, our heritage & environment team manager, explained: "The restoration of the crane cab is part of a long-term project to conserve this magnificent example of our industrial heritage, to secure it for the future and to enable people to appreciate and understand the role it has had in the history of Diglis Island.
"We are very grateful to the Association for Industrial Archaeology for their grant to undertake the works, without which this project would not have been possible.
“We are also grateful for the support from historic crane experts Lloyds British in fixing the electric motor, and to our specialist contractor Sharpness Shipyard Ltd in their painstaking work carefully restoring the cabin where they've managed to retain as much as the original historic material as possible.
"Along the way we've been supported by many individuals whose passion for our heritage has played a part in helping to make this restoration happen, including Joe Underhill, who first worked on the crane when he was 17 and is still involved today.
"The crane is a widely recognised landmark in this part of Worcester, and this work will ensure its historic importance and presence continues to stand out for decades to come."
Since it was first created as a manmade island, Diglis has been a key location for navigation on the River Severn, used for lock gate construction, boat building and weir maintenance. Today it's also home to the Trust's Unlocking the Severn project, which has seen the installation of a 100-metre-long fish pass to enable the twaite shad to return to their natural spawning grounds for the first time in nearly 180 years.
