Link to town's fishing past to be restored

An historic canal building, thought to be a link to a town's fishing heritage,will be restored.

The "Black Shed" on the Water Lane car park in Newport, Shropshire, was built in 1840 and is believed to be one of the few remaining wharf sheds in the country.

The town council sees it as a link to the town's fishing heritage, which is still remembered in its heraldic symbol. It is thought the town was an important inland fishery at one point as it was surrounded by rivers and pools.

Telford and Wrekin Council has granted permission to replace gutters and various other damaged parts of the shed building, including some of the bricks.

The Black Shed sits in the town's conservation area and the council said the work would be "in keeping with the character and appearance of the site".

The building was used by Newport in Bloom, the Newport and Shrewsbury Canal Trust and the local history society before being taken over by the town council.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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