Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Newry Canal
Drumalane, Newry, Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Record only (not listed)
- Grade
- Record Only
- Type
- Canal Structure
- Date of construction
- 1840 - 1859
- Address
- Newry Canal, Newry, Co Down
- Townland
- Drumalane
- Council
- Newry, Mourne and Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.16435, -6.33762
- Date of survey
- 25 September 1997
- HB reference
- HB16/29/026
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1838 "Ireland, north sheet." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
Wide stretch of open water embanked on east side.
Historical information
The ship canal provided a navigable channel between Carlingford Lough and Newry and was built 1842-50 under the direction of Sir John Rennie. The original ship canal (built 1765 as an extension of the 1740s' canal from Newry to Lough Neagh), of which this is a stretch, entered the Newry River at Lower Fathom, 3 km south of the town. However, as the tidal channel downstream of these locks was prone to silting, large boats could not be accommodated. The canal was therefore extended 2.5 km to enter a deeper section of the river at Victoria Locks in Upper Fathom townland. Now used for recreational purposes.
References
J. Rennie (1851), 'On the improvement of the navigation of the River Newry', in Proc. Institution Civil Engineers, vol.10, pp 277-93.
PRONI VAL 12E/125/1/22.
W.A. McCutcheon (1980), The industrial archaeology of Northern Ireland (Belfast: HMSO).
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
Not listed
Criteria for listing: historic interest
Not listed
Evaluation
An integral part of the Newry canal, the first summit level canal in Britain and Ireland, the ship canal was of particular economic benefit to the town during the later 19th and early 20th centuries.
General comments
See also HB16/30/029 (Albert Basin)
Nearby in the register
- 69-79 Dublin RoadHouse - Terraceunder 1 mi
- 51-61 Dublin RoadHouse - Terraceunder 1 mi
- Drumalane MillFactoryunder 1 mi
- Ivybrook LodgeOfficeunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.