Monument MPM52 - Milton Locks

Remains of the sea lock of the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal. The portsmouth section was opened in 1823, but by 1831 the traffic was negligible and the arrival of the railways in the 1840s caused its closure.

Remains of the sea lock of the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal. The portsmouth section was opened in 1823, but by 1831 the traffic was negligible and the arrival of the railways in the 1840s caused its closure. [1]

The canal extended to the western end of the present day Arundel Street and roughly followed the same route as the present day Goldsmith Avenue, Canal Walk and Upper Arundel Street. See record MPM1347 for more information about the canal.

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Sea lock and basin. 1823. Probably by Josias Jessop. Red brick in English bond. Roach bed Portland stone dressings. North and south walls have 2 narrow recessed panels at east and west ends, which housed gates and posts. Gates and posts missing except for part of the original oak posts at west end. The upper iron post holding straps are set in the stone coping. West end has curved wall on each side at entrance to basin. Stone rusticated quoins and deep coping stones at ground level. Areas of coping are missing. East projection into Langston Harbour is foreshortened with brickwork rakes down at ends, late C20. Later cranked iron bridge at west end of lock. Sides of basin recently partially restored. This is the only surviving section of the Portsea Canal which was part of the Portsmouth and Arundel canal. (Vine PAL: London's Lost route to the Sea: David & Charles N. Abbot: 1956-1973: 58-65). [2]

<1> Portsmouth City Council, n/a, Portsmouth City SMR Cards (Index). SPM1.

<2> Historic England, The National Heritage List for England (Index). SPM35.