Tolls and Regulations of Barrow Navigation

Humphrey Michell was the Clerk and Inspector for the Barrow Navigation in 1787. After a Board meeting of the Barrow Navigation held on September 7th, 1787 at Carlow, to decide on future tolls and regulations for the company, the following advertisement appeared in the local paper.

The new tolls and regulations were to come into effect on October 1st, 1787.

Lock gate on Barrow at Carlow

Lock gate on Barrow Navigation at Carlow showing portion of tow path. The lock gate controls the amount of water in a section of the Navigation. Today these important features of the Barrow Navigation can be viewed on a pleasant waterside walk.

Carlow County Library

Lock gate on Barrow at Carlow
Carlow County Library

Lock gate on Barrow at Carlow

Lock gate on Barrow Navigation at Carlow showing portion of tow path. The lock gate controls the amount of water in a section of the Navigation. Today these important features of the Barrow Navigation can be viewed on a pleasant waterside walk.

Carlow County Library

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"A Toll of 2s 2d. on every Boat carrying Loading, and plying between the Town of Athy and City of Waterford, up or down the River.

A Toll of 1s. 1d. on every empty Boat plying between the Town of Athy and City of Waterford, up or down the River.

The Pay-Gates for collecting the Tolls, viz.

Down the River, loaden Boats, Aughnagasha Lock 1s. 1d. – Graiguenemanagh Lock 1s. 1d.

Up the River, loaden Boats, St. Mullin's Lock 1s. 1d. – Lodge Lock 1s. 1d.

Down the River, empty Boats, Aughnagasha Lock 6 ½ d. – Graiguenemanagh Lock 6 ½ d

Up the River, empty Boats, St. Mullin's Lock 6 ½ d. – Lodge Lock 6 ½ d.

N.B. Any boats plying between the stated Stages must take out a ticket at the first Lock they pass through, and pay, which carries them no further than to the next Pay-Gate.

Weir on the Barrow at Carlow

A calm early winters day on the River Barrow near Carlow. It shows the weir and a range of buildings on the river banks.

Carlow County Library

Weir on the Barrow at Carlow
Carlow County Library

Weir on the Barrow at Carlow

A calm early winters day on the River Barrow near Carlow. It shows the weir and a range of buildings on the river banks.

Carlow County Library

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All Owners of Boats which ply on said Navigation, are required to number their Boats and the Owner's Name with Letters and Figures of at least an inch in length, at their own expence, on the most conspicuous Part of their Boats, and to register the same with the Clerk and Inspector of this Board, under Penalty of being double tolled; and for the better Regulation of said Navigation, all Lock-Keepers are furnished with proper Books and Tickets for entering and passing Boats, and are required to keep and Account of the Date, No. Owners' Names, where shipped from, and bound to, Quality of Loading, Burthen (Burden), and computed Value of all Boats passing their Locks; and the Masters of all Boats are required to give satisfactory answers, and to produce their tickets, which are to be indorsed by the different Lock Keepers between the Pay-Gates, and to give them up at the last Lock they are to pass through. And the Act of Parliament provides against any Person or Persons obstructing or destroying any Work, Wiers, or Matters relative to navigations, to be deemed guilty of Felony, and punished accordingly".

By Order,
Hum. Michell, Clk. & Insp.
Carlow, September 8, 1787.