Schleuse Neukirchen, Lock structure in Essen, Germany
Schleuse Neukirchen is a lock structure in Essen measuring approximately 43 meters long and 5.7 meters wide. The chamber handles a water level difference of around 4.2 meters, connecting waterways at different elevations.
The lock was built between 1776 and 1778 as part of a system of 16 structures that enabled coal transport from the Mark region to the Rhine. This network played a key role in the region's industrial growth.
The former grain mill building on the lock island, called the White Mill, now serves the Folkwang University and shapes the character of the site. The structure shows how this place was once an important economic center.
The site is freely accessible with viewpoints overlooking the working lock and surrounding industrial landscape. A visit is best enjoyed by watching barges pass through and observing how waterways shape the area.
The wooden swing gates originally came from the neighboring Horst Lock but were removed after severe flooding in 2021. This exchange shows how the locks in this network shared technical components and resources.
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