I was interested to read Martin Ludgate's account of the Fourteen Locks at Newport in the latest *Canal Boat*: we had visited them earlier this year, en route to Maldon, but without such good access to the locks that are being worked on (account of our UK trip on the Heritage Boat Association website at http://heritageboatassociation.ie/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=317&Itemid=43)
Martin discusses the "mysterious shelves" in Lock 11, shelves whose purpose is unknown and the subject of many "fanciful guesses". I did wonder whether the shelves might have had some function in loading or unloading boats: I noted that the lime kiln is nearby. It might well have been supplied by water and there is no obvious quayside nearby. Any other offers? bjg
