Even today, there is much local pride that the Newry Canal[1] – more formally known as the Newry Navigation – pre-dates all of the famous English canals of the industrial revolution era. For example, the first of these, the Duke of Bridgwater’s canal, did not begin operating until 1761, almost 20 years after the Newry canal.
Even 300 years ago, canals were far from being a new technology. The Romans had built very long canals to transport grain across the flat fenland of East Anglia, but these had no need for locks. The canal lock – more strictly speaking, the pound lock – was invented (as was so much else) by the Chinese some 1000 years ago. Inland canals in other parts of Europe, e.g. France, significantly predated those in the British Isles.
[1] There are many articles about the history of the canal in the Society’s journal, including:
“Working On The Canal” by Peter Campbell, BIF Vol 16, 2021
“The Last Voyage of The Nora” by Frank Watters, BIF Vol 13, 2015
“The Lighter Side of The Newry Canal” by Mick Waddell, BIF Vol 4, 1990