Also known as Horne’s Lock, Lock 6 is located in the Horne Settlement area of Enfield. It is the first lock that boats would encounter after entering the Shubenacadie River from Grand Lake. It was built in 1857 using American construction methods. Although its rubble stone walls are largely intact, they would have been lined with wooden planks while the canal was in operation. If you look carefully, you can still see the remains of one upper gate just below the surface of the water.

Lock 6, like Lock 7, is called a bypass lock. Historically, this portion of the Shubenacadie River was known for having powerful rapids that made navigation difficult. To remedy this situation, a 152 m (500 ft) channel was dug around the rapids, with Lock 6 located within it. Next, a weir dam was built across the river on the site of a rocky ledge. This dam raised the water level in the river upstream, flooding the rapids and diverting water into the lock. The lock itself operated much like any other lock on the system, albeit with less of an emphasis on elevation and more on ensuring calm water on either side.

Today, the area of Lock 6 is a public park called Lock 6 Park. It features wooded walking trails and a network of boardwalks to allow visitors to view the nearby wetlands.

Robert Walsh Photographs

Below, you are able to see Lock 6 through the lens of photographer Robert Walsh.