About us What we do What we do The historic weir cottages at Beeston Lock were once the family homes of people who made their living on the canal. They were occupied for two hundred years but unfortunately, after the last family moved out in the 1990s, were left abandoned and derelict. Established by a group of dedicated local people, passionate about telling the story of the waterways, the aim of the Canalside Heritage Centre Charitable Trust has been to renovate and restore the weir cottages at Beeston Lock into sustainable use as a heritage, education and arts centre for all. Thanks to the generous support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Canal & River Trust and other partners and volunteers, the cottages were sensitively renovated and the Heritage Centre was successfully opened to the public in June 2017. Today the Canalside Heritage Centre is a vibrant hub for visitors to enjoy and explore, with an enticing tearoom, welcoming gift shop and interpretation centre, as well as a tranquil community garden with fantastic views across the River Trent. We also offer a range of events and activities throughout the year for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. See our Special Events and Regular Activities pages for more information on what's coming up. As a Charitable Trust (Registered Charity No: 1155914) we want people to discover the amazing heritage of the waterways. We also believe interacting with the waterways can be hugely beneficial for people's health and well-being and work closely with Nottinghamshire County Council's Co-production team, Nature in Mind and Cooperative Funeralcare to help some of the most disadvantaged groups in the local community. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has been instrumental in the establishment of the Canalside Heritage Centre and we would like to extend our warm thanks for their support. Manage Cookie Preferences