Survey Data
Reg No
11810016
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Historical, Social, Technical
Original Use
Canal (section of)
In Use As
Canal (section of)
Date
1783 - 1795
Coordinates
267769, 219409
Date Recorded
12/06/2002
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Section of Grand Canal (Athy Branch), built 1783-1795, with grass banks to canal having gravel tow path to south-east.
Appraisal
One of the focal points of Rathangan (and for many years an important factor in the economic survival of the locality) this section of the Grand Canal (Athy Branch) is of considerable historical, social and technical significance, having been built as a means of providing an alternative route linking the east of Ireland to the west, and vice versa. The presence of the Grand Canal encouraged the building of structures of technical/engineering merit, such as Rathangan Bridge (11810015/KD-17-10-15) and Spencer Bridge (11810017/KD-17-10-17), together with attendant locks (11810021/KD-17-10-21), and also encouraged the industrialisation or commercial development of urban centres, such as Rathangan.