Blockhaus de Narrows Blockhouse

The construction of the Narrows blockhouse began in 1832 by William H. Tett, a prominent Newboro merchant. This blockhouse is one of four constructed on the Rideau Canal. Its architecture is a typical design utilized throughout British North America. The 24-foot square (7.3 metres square) building with 3-foot (0.9 metres) thick walls was designed to be strong enough to withstand small canon fire with a pyramidal tin sheathed roof to withstand torching. The upper level overhang, derived from medieval fortifications, allows for machicolated defence (holes cut in the overhang allowing for downward fire on an enemy). The loopholes cut in each hewn square timber wall are long and narrow but tapered within allowing the defender a greater angle of fire. A stairway from the embankment led to the second floor, the only access into the blockhouse., Originally, small defensible lockmasters houses, such as those constructed around 1841 at various lock stations on the Rideau Canal, were to be built; however, Lieutenant Colonel John By, the Royal Engineer in charge of construction on the Rideau Canal, thought these insufficient. Lt. Col. By's proposal for 22 large blockhouses was rejected by the Board of Ordnance because of the exorbitant cost. In 1831 Lt. Col. By of his own accord started construction of four blockhouses that were completed by 1833., A blockhouse positioned at the Narrows Lock was imperative to the defence of through navigation at Newboro Lockstation located 8 kilometres (5 miles) south. A 1.9 kilometre (1.2 mile) channel was dug connecting the two watersheds, the Rideau and Cataraqui. If the Narrows lock, waste weir or causeway were damaged or destroyed, the 1.5 metre (5 foot) depth required for navigation within the channel would be eliminated disrupting traffic until repairs could be undertaken., A matching blockhouse was constructed at the Newboro Lock, 8 kilometres (5miles) distant, for similar reasons. These two buildings could each house a garrison of 20 men., These blockhouses were used as lockmasters residence for many years. The first lockmaster was Archibald Sands, formerly a Corporal in the 15th Company of the Royal Sappers and Miners., As was common on the Rideau Canal, canal positions were handed down from son to son. The lockmaster pictured, Michael Edmund Mooney, was a third generation lockmaster at this site. Today, two other blockhouses, at Kingston Mills and Merrickville, are open to the public., , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . ,