[99453] Newark Town Lock

Newark, Nottinghamshire.

The River Trent Navigation - Newark Town Lock.

 

Over 90ft long and 32ft wide,

this lock was constructed in 1952 to

accommodate four barges at a time. At

the time of construction, numerous

petrol tanker barges regularly passed

through to discharge their loads at

Colwick. In the 1960s a pipeline grid for

the transport of oil took over this role

and the traffic in large barges virtually ceased.

 

The River Trent and its Devon tributary

have played an important role in Newark’s

life for many centuries. Before highways,

canals, railways and finally motor transport

were established, the rivers were the only

practical means to transport large and

heavy goods over long distances; rivers also

provided access to the sea for international

trade. Newark was built at the lowest

fording point on the Trent, which was

eventually protected by the castle and then

bridged, so it was natural that it should

become a centre for river-borne

commerce, particularly trading in wool.

The river banks hosted a thriving inland

port with wharves, warehouses, mills,

maltings and breweries bringing people,

employment and wealth to the town.

Done