Blockhaus de Narrows Blockhouse

Construction of the Narrows blockhouse began in 1832 by William H. Tett, a prominent Newboro merchant, and it became one of four blockhouses built on the Rideau Canal. Built in a typical British North American style, the 24-foot square building had 3-foot-thick walls strong enough to withstand small canon fire, a pyramidal tin-sheathed roof to resist torching, an overhanging upper level with machicolated defence for downward fire, loopholes cut to give defenders a greater angle of fire, and a stairway from the embankment to the second floor as its only entrance. Although small defensible lockmasters houses had originally been planned, Lieutenant Colonel John By, the Royal Engineer in charge of Rideau Canal construction, considered them inadequate; his proposal for 22 large blockhouses was rejected for cost, but in 1831 he began four blockhouses on his own initiative, completed by 1833. The Narrows blockhouse was vital to protecting through navigation at Newboro Lockstation 8 kilometres south because a 1.9 kilometre channel connected the Rideau and Cataraqui watersheds, and damage to the Narrows lock, waste weir, or causeway would remove the 1.5 metre depth needed for navigation and disrupt traffic until repairs were made. A matching blockhouse at Newboro Lock, also 8 kilometres away, served similar purposes, and each could house a garrison of 20 men. These blockhouses later served for many years as lockmasters' residences; the first lockmaster was Archibald Sands, formerly a Corporal in the 15th Company of the Royal Sappers and Miners, and Michael Edmund Mooney was a third-generation lockmaster at this site.

Ontario · Canada