The Starr era turbine. Note the large pipe that supplied water from Sullivan’s Pond. A shaft protrudes from the top that drove the machinery on the floor above.

Archaeologists work to expose the top of the outside lock wall.  The site is complicated due to the various manufacturing processes used since the 1860’s. Sandstone grinding wheels from the Starr era are a constant feature. Star shaped mason’s marks can be seen on some lock stones. Scottish and Irish masons were employed to build the locks.

In the first photo, we are seeing the underground stonework of the turbine chamber. The wall on the left is the remains of  Lock 3  which was part of the first phase of the Canal and dates back to the 1826-1831 period.

Some interesting finds are skate blades and grinding wheels from the Starr Manufacturing period. Starr used the power generating system that originally drove the Inclined Plane that brought barges from the harbour to Sullivan’s Pond. The grinding wheels were re-purposed as stone building materials.