From derelict boatyard to community hub

Finsely Gate Wharf sits at the end of the Burnley embankment, one of the Wonders of the Waterways, and within Burnley’s Weavers Triangle. A collection of Grade II-listed buildings dating from 1801, the site was used as a canal maintenance yard until the 1980s before falling into a long period of disuse.

The Canal & River Trust appointed us in 2019 to sensitively restore the buildings whilst simultaneously creating a sustainable and economically viable future for the site. Finsley Gate is now a thriving business, offering a waterside leisure destination while promoting the heritage of the town's industrial past.

A sustainable community asset

Following a series of public engagement sessions during the design stage, each building was restored with community use in mind. The crumbling warehouse complex was converted to a restaurant-bar and function room. The former stable block and forge now serve to educate, functioning today as a visitor centre and working hearth used by blacksmiths for demonstrations. The external area of this once-abandoned site now provides one of the largest open spaces in Burnley town centre directly fronting the canal.

The project sensitively integrated energy-efficient boilers and underfloor heating throughout to ensure breathability for the historic fabric, which exiting materials reused where possible. Adjacent to the conservation project, the Canal & River Trust undertook 3.5km of nature enhancements to the canal. 475sqm of floating reed beds were installed alongside wildflowers, shrubs, and climbers to encourage the growth of new species.

The transformation of Finsley Gate has since been included as a case study in the ‘Heritage Environment Forum Heritage Responds’ – taking positive action on climate change report.