About the Trust (FIPT)

 The Foxton Inclined Plane Trust (FIPT) is a Registered Charity run by volunteers drawn from its membership. We have some very experienced and knowledgeable people who love our canals, and in particular love Foxton's unique Inclined Plane Boat Lift. FIPT runs the  Foxton Canal Museum which is also our headquarters. 

  Foxton Locks are at the center of Britain's inland waterways network.  The canal locks north of Foxton to Leicester, the River Soar and the Trent, are wide (14 feet) as are the locks south of Watford Gap, down to the Thames. The locks at Foxton and Watford (Gap) were constructed at just 7 feet wide to save water and money. In 1900, the Foxton Inclined Plane Boat Lift was opened to widen the canal, speed up traffic and save water. The Lift is a unique piece in the jigsaw of boat lift and canal history. Times have changed and, with modern traffic, it is time to restore the lift,  this time for holiday boats rather than commercial carriers.

   The Foxton Inclined Plane Trust was founded in March 1980 and since then volunteers have been working hard on the site.  The original aim was to reconstruct the former boiler house as a Canal Museum and this was completed in 1989. We have a full-time Museum curator, and excellent links with the County's Education and Museum Services.  Trust volunteers are tackling the dereliction of the Incline site itself and improving public access.  We work closely with the other members of the Foxton Locks Partnership. 

  The Trust's current challenge is to raise the £20,000 which it has promised as its contribution to various studies needed to satisfy a wide range of bodies (e.g. English Heritage, British Waterways, and potential funders) that full restoration of the lift to working order is not only feasible but desirable!  From the Trust’s point of view it is the engineering study which is the most important.  However studies will also be needed to cover other aspects of restoration including:

• Environment and wildlife impact.
• Visitor numbers.
• Mitigation measures.
• Sustainability.
• Car parking and transport.
• Boat traffic, and much more that we probably haven't even thought of yet!

  To archive our aims we work with the Foxton Locks Partnership who’s membership includes The Old Union Canals Society, British Waterways, The Inland Waterways Association, and Local Authorities. 

  The Partnership was responsible  for the recently completed lottery funded restoration works on site. You can help by joining FIPT, supporting the restoration fund and, perhaps, working as a volunteer. 

  The Trust organises educational visits and site tours from its museum, under the banner of 'Edutainment'.  We encourage school parties, U3A's and other organisations to learn about Foxton and the canals of Britain. Go to Edutainment to find out more.