The Four Pots are a unique structure in Ireland and part of our national heritage. They are known as the Big Pot, Little Pot, the Boolan and the Skillet
This unusually named piece of architecture on the Grand Canal, situated close to Digby Bridge built in 1784, consists of circular basins inter connected by tunnels and connected to the canal through a land rack. Built as an overflow, the water entered the outer ring from the canal, then it spilled over each ring to break down the force of the water so it would not cause any damage to the bank when it exited into the river.
Waterways Ireland received a grant from the Historical Structures Fund, to carry out work to ‘ensure water tightness of the structure and to commission specialists to reinstate, repoint and consolidate the structure so it can be reused as part of heritage outreach initiatives’. This work took place over the Winter of 2022/2023; the results are shown in the 2023 photos below.
This excellent drawing from the Helpful Engineer in 2013, shows the design of the Pots.
Four Pots March 2019 © John Moloney
Four Pots March 2019 with Grand Canal in background © J Moloney
Four Pots old Map
Four Pots March 2022 © J Moloney
Four Pots March 2022 © J Moloney
Four Pots Feb 2023 © D Wright
Four Pots Feb 2023 © D Wright
Four Pots Feb 2023 © D Wright
Digby Bridge Landenstown KCC Planning 2018