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Lock, Stock and two Steaming Coffees at Foxton

10th Aug 2005

It was a case of ‘back to the future’ at Foxton Locks at the weekend, when a character from Leicestershire’s watery past paid a visit to a former lock keeper’s cottage – to find that the building had been restored to its former glory and was now serving up fresh coffees!

The newly-opened Coffee Stop is now open for business to visitors of Foxton Locks, one of Leicestershire’s most popular tourist destinations, offering a range of refreshments in the pleasant surroundings of Top Lock Cottage.

The cottage received a prestigious regional award from RICS earlier this year, in recognition of British Waterways’ work to restore the building, with the help of generous funding from emda.

Chris Stanley, marketing & communications manager for South East Waterways, commented: “It’s not every day you get someone from the 19th century turning up and ordering a coffee! The gentleman in question was a “number one” – the term used for an owner boatman, which regularly used to pass through Foxton Locks transporting all sorts of freight on their boats.”

However, it turns out the visitor was not a ghostly apparition but an actor playing the part of a 19th century boatman! He was just one of the individuals involved in a series of guided tours for visitors to Foxton Locks at the weekend.

The next “Tales from Foxton” guided tours will take place on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September. Booking is essential - call 01908 302500 for more information and to book. The guided tours are part of a series of fun, family events planned at Foxton Locks over the next six months.

Last updated: 22/10/2008