This innovative idea is part of a wider redevelopment of Foxton Locks and is designed to not only bring the Inclined Plane back to life, but also to engage, educate and inspire visitors of all ages with a new Museum experience integrated with the existing Foxton Locks Trail. When it goes live at Easter 2015, the project will create a new visitor experience at Foxton Canal Museum as well as boosting ticket revenues and visitor spend. We are renaming the FCM the new name will be announced, along with our new logo, in the weeks leading up to the reopening. 

Visitors to Foxton Locks, Leicestershire, will once again be able to see the boats using the old Inclined Plane, albeit virtually, through the development of an Augmented Reality (AR) app. 

Virtual reality specialist Holovis will be developing and delivering the AR app as well as a new curved screen theatre which will immerse visitors into history of the locks and an interactive experience for children and families, challenging them to simulate the stoking of the boiler to drive the massive boat lift”.

The project began on the Holovis Innovation Campus in nearby Lutterworth, where a 3D model of the Inclined Plane is being created in augmented reality.  Using a fiducial marker system at Foxton Locks, visitors will be able to use their smart phones and tablets to view the Inclined Plane working, all in the exact position boats would have made their actual journeys and all in real time.  

The interpretation project is supported by the Arts Council Renaissance Strategic Support Fund. The successful bid to secure this funding was led by Leicester Shire Promotions with support from The Canal and River Trust, Foxton Inclined Plane Trust, (FIPT operate the canal museum) Foxton Canal Museum,   Leicestershire County Council and Harborough District Council.

Stuart Hetherington, CEO of Holovis explained:

“We are delighted to be deploying our knowledge and expertise to preserve this fantastic piece of local history by bringing it back to life using the latest technology. Usually, we use virtual and augmented reality to help our commercial clients create sophisticated 3D design environments within the automotive, manufacturing, defence, and theme park industries. Saving them time, costs and labour, so creating the conditions whereby they only need to commit to building physical models or actual prototypes when they are certain about the final design.

“We’re excited to be using these cutting edge technologies in a different way, giving the public a chance to explore Foxton Locks as it once was through an interactive, immersive experience.” 

Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicester Shire Promotions, the tourism organisation for Leicester and Leicestershire said: 

“We’re privileged to work with Holovis as the key delivery partner for this project. As well as bringing a different perspective to the brief, they have also supported the technology hardware requirements of the project.”

In preparation for the refurbishment of the museum the collection has now been packed away museum into store with the help of volunteers and a couple of specialists from the Leicestershire Museums Service

In addition to this FIPT are spending a considerable amount of money to improve the environment in the museum. The old ceiling is being removed along with the old insulation and a modern hi-tech insulation is being put above the flat roof. As part of the main project automatic sliding doors are being fitted to the main entrance so that the interior atmosphere can be regulated in a much more efficient way to protect the collection. All new lighting will be LED which is much better for the environment as it uses much less power.ere's where you write more text.