Young trainees from a Government sponsored Future Jobs Fund project have unearthed an old canal wall in Middleport, last seen when the Burslem Canal burst it’s banks nearly 50 years ago.

Working under expert guidance from Project Managers from PM Training of Hanley the young men helped reveal 200 yards of the capping of the original canal wall, including the top of an overflow weir which was not previously known about.  The base of the wall was built over 200 years ago when the canal, opened in 1805, was first built and has now been seen to be in good condition.

This discovery is part of the continuing ground investigations taking place as part of the plan to restore the old canal under the name of Burslem Port and the work was funded by Renew North Staffordshire.

Further exploratory work will be taking place over the next few months and it is hoped that there will be more exciting finds to come.

Burslem Port’s Project Officer, David Dumbelton, stated that “Despite being filled in and covered over with soil for so long the old canal remained, hidden from view, waiting for us to re-discover it.  It is now giving up its secrets and we can see very clearly the original line of the canal.  It’s very exciting for us”.

The capping of the wall has been left uncovered and local people, with memories of the original canal, are visiting the site to see the result of the young trainees efforts