20 September 2025 (11:00 - 16:00)
The Lock 16 Community Open Day is a free event hosted by Scottish Canals and Historic Environment Scotland, the partners in a project to transform this area of the Forth & Clyde Canal into a thriving waterside centre focussed on community (volunteering), heritage skills, training and local employment.
There will be an exhibition about the plans for the centre and demonstrations of the types of traditional skills training that will be offered there. There will be a stall providing information about Scottish Canals ongoing engineering works along the canal, featuring STEM activities for children. Local canal associations, educational establishments and community groups will also have stalls to promote their local initiatives. The new centre will provide educational and training opportunities for people of all ages living locally and from across Scotland. From thatching and blacksmithing to stonemasonry and conservation, maintaining these skills across generations will be vital in sustaining Scotland’s historic environment and architectural heritage.
Historic Environment Scotland Trainees and Craft Fellows will showcase a range of traditional materials and craft skills including stonemasonry, analysis, stained glass and blacksmithing. The Digital Documentation and Innovation Team will provide demonstrations of their work in action, as well as virtual tours of HES properties, providing insight into how these techniques are used to conserve Scotland’s historic environment. HES collections and archives teams will also be on hand to share information on how the public can access archive material of the local area. There will also be demonstrations of traditional crafts and skills by sector professionals throughout the day.
The Climate Change and Responsible Tourism Team will lead a litter pick in the local area whilst sharing information on the local area’s industrial heritage and the relevance this has to a just transition.
Confirmed exhibitors so far include:
The factory sits amidst the Glenfuir Works at the end of Portdownie Road. Signage will be in place along Glenfuir Road and the bridge over Lock 16 showing the route cars and pedestrians need to take to access the building. Parking is available on the site, but we encourage visitors to use public transport or active travel routes where possible.
Construction works are ongoing along the canal with the site compound in the Union Inn car park near to the factory. The road and pedestrian route along Portdownie Road will be clear and the route to the factory fully accessible.

Address
Lock 16, Portdownie Road, Falkirk, FK1 4QY