Picture the scene. You stand before the Novena Esclusa del Real Canal de Manzanares. Its weathered stones whisper tales of ambition and ingenuity. This isn’t just any lock. It’s a key piece in a grand forgotten dream.
The Novena Esclusa is the ninth lock along the Royal Canal of Manzanares. It’s a testament to the ambitious project to make the Manzanares River navigable. King Carlos III envisioned a waterway linking Madrid to Aranjuez. This grand plan eventually reached Vaciamadrid. The project started in 1770 but it faced setbacks. Funding dried up. Work was abandoned.
The Novena Esclusa’s construction took the longest. Planned as early as 1777 work stalled due to lack of investment. It was only resumed under King Fernando VII. The canal was finally completed in 1821. This lock however wasn’t fully operational until then. Years of neglect caused silt to accumulate. The canal was clogged between the ninth and tenth locks. Fernando VII’s reign saw the clearing of the waterway. The lock was completed and made fully functional.
Madoz a prominent 19th-century geographer noted the 1821 completion date. He documented the leveling works carried out between the Mingómez stream and the Jarama River in Vaciamadrid. The impressive Puente del Congosto bridge was also built that same year. The bridge crosses over the canal itself.
Today access to the Novena Esclusa is tricky. It sits within a private property. Its condition is surprisingly good. There has been some material theft though. The upstream side of the lock is almost gone. Only the base remains. The downstream side is much better preserved. A significant issue is the foundation’s erosion. This has caused a visible crack near the bridge’s arch. It’s a constant reminder of the passage of time and the battles this historic structure has endured.
Despite its hidden location the Novena Esclusa remains a remarkable feat of engineering. It stands as a silent witness to the dreams of kings and the tenacity of those who built this ambitious project. A project that although ultimately fell short of its initial grand vision left behind remarkable evidence of the era’s ambition. Its story is one of both triumph and neglect a reflection of Spain’s rich history. A history waiting to be discovered at this very spot.