Katherine Bickford

Narrows Lock – Lock 35 on the Rideau Canal

When trying to excavate the canal cut through the watershed divide at Newboro, hard bedrock was encountered. In order oo speed up construction and reduce the amount of excavation at Newboro, Lt. Colonel By decided to build a dam and lock here, at a natural narrowing of the lake. This raised the level of the portion of Rideau Lake on the west side of the Narrows, creating Upper Rideau Lake.

Narrows lock is North of Crosby on Highway 14.

Narrows Blockhouse

The Blockhouse at Rideau Canal Narrows Lockstation overlooks the Rideau Canal. The lower storey is constructed of thick, stone masonry while the upper storey is built of squared timbers. Defence features include loopholes and a second-floor entrance accessed by an exterior stairway.

Construction of the Narrows Blockhouse began in 1832, during the period in which the Rideau Canal fulfilled a defence role for the United Canadas. The blockhouse building type was an essential element in the defence strategy for the canal, which included a major defensible building at each lock-site. The Blockhouse is one of only four that were completed on the Rideau Canal.

Part of the Rideau Canal National Historic Site, the Narrows Blockhouse is a recognized Federal Heritage Building