Lock no.4

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single chamber lock, the fourth on the system, and the third on the inland section. The walls are of large finely-dressed granite blocks laid in regular courses. There are recesses at both ends for the gates; there is also a vertical wall slit to each side immediately above the top set of gates (presumably for the insertion of planks during lock maintenance). The chamber measures 21.60m (70ft 10in) long from gate hinge to hinge, by 4.52m in width (14ft 10in). No traces of the gates survive. There are the remains of a modern post and wire fence around the chamber.

At the bottom end of the chamber, just beyond the bottom gate emplacement, are the remains of an accommodation bridge. It originally had a single horizontal timber span but this has been removed, leaving only the short approach ramps on either side. The abutments are a continuation of the lock chamber, although here mostly in granite rubble brought to courses. The approaches have random rubble parapets coped with coarsely dressed granite blocks of saddleback profile. These walls terminate in metal posts of L profile, and to which the handrail wires were affixed.

Immediately beyond the bridge, to the south of the lock, the bank has been revetted and swings around in a quarter turn to the line of the canal (which is wider than the lock chamber). The south parapet of the west ramp to the bridge continues around this line of walling.

The towpath runs along the west side of the chamber. Just beyond it is the Bessbrook River, here canalised.

No trace of the lock keeper’s house which formerly stood to the west side of the lock.

Historical information

The Newry canal opened in 1742 and was the first summit level canal in Britain and Ireland. The locks on the entire system were extensively refurbished by John Brownrigg in the period 1801-12 and it is probable that the present structure dates to this period rather than the first phase of construction. The canal last worked in 1936 and it was officially abandoned in 1949. Newry & Mourne District Council has recently assumed responsibility for the section lying within its area.

Source:

1. E.R.R. Green, 1963, The industrial archaeology of Co. Down, p.69 (Belfast: HMSO).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This canal is primarily of historical interest in being the first summit level canal in Britain and Ireland. This is one of 14 locks to survive (including the ship lock beyond Newry). It is given added interest by the remains of the accommodation bridge.