The gates of Victoria Lock, on the Newry Ship Canal, have some interesting features; the gate recesses have even more. This should be a Google Map of the lock:
The lower gates from below
Possible stop-plank groove below lower east gate
There is a ladder in what may be a stop-plank groove on the west side
Lower gate recess (west side). Note the cut-outs in the stone. Do they suggest that there was once different gear for operating the racks (paddles)? Or that the current gear was mounted lower down? What else might explain the cut-outs?
Lower gate recess (east side). Note that the upstream cut-out differs from the other two
There are recesses for centre gates too, although no centre gates are now fitted. This is the east-side recess. Note the cut-outs here too. And what is the vertical pipe for?
Centre gate recess (west side). Note that there were timbers in two places. What were they for? There is a vertical pipe here too
Even the upper gate recesses have cut-outs. This is the eastern gate
Here is the western upper gate recess
There is nothing on the backs of the present upper gates that would require cut-outs. What are the chains for?
There are chains on the downstream faces of the gates too. Why?
There are depth markings on the upper east gate recess
There are also depth markings below the upper east gate
The mitre of the lower gates
The lower gates, like the upper, have chains whose purpose I do not know
The downstream face of the lower gates
What is the purpose of the bent pipe under the walkway? John Ditchfield says that it is probably an air vent: that the lock gate is hollow and its buoyancy can be adjusted by adding or pumping out water, hence the need for a vent
- Walkway and chains on lower gate
How the gates are held to the walls (lower east side)
Close-up
Lower west gate
Hydraulic hoses under the walkway?
Kilroy was here
Return to the top-level Victoria Lock page.
Irish waterways history 