Reg No
50060188
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Social, Technical
Previous Name
Binns Lock
Original Use
Lock
In Use As
Lock
Date
1790 - 1800
Coordinates
315895, 235980
Date Recorded
31/07/2014
Date Updated
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Double canal lock, constructed c.1795, having dressed limestone chamber walls with dressed limestone coping with recesses for lock gates. Replacement timber and mild steel lock gates and timber balance beams. Truncated timber balance beams to centre gate. Lower chamber located underneath Binns Bridge. To east and west of lock canal expands to provide mooring areas. Twin recesses for stop gates to eastern end. Sculpture of Brendan Behan to northwest end.
This forms part of a group of three double canal locks (2nd Lock, 3rd Lock and 4th Lock) located between Binns Bridge at the southeast and Westmoreland Bridge at the northwest. Construction of the Royal Canal began in the late eighteenth century to provide freight and passenger transport between the Dublin and the River Shannon. The chambers exhibit good quality stone masonry with fine joints. The well-built double locks have attractive sloping edges to cope with the change in height between the lower, middle and upper levels. On either side of the lock, the canal expands in width to provide a mooring place for waiting boats. The 2nd Lock is complemented by the nearby Binns Bridge to the east.