Description

The monument comprises that length of inland waterway forming part of the Forth and Clyde Canal falling within the boundary of the civil parish of Glasgow and the boundary of the City of Glasgow District.

The length of the monument is 4 miles (6.5 km) and runs from immediately west of the Cleveden Road culvert (on the west) to the western side of Bishopbriggs Golf Course (on the east). The monument includes the entire length in water together with the banks on either side and the towing path running along one side. In addition, the monument includes the following canal structures:

[1] The Kelvin Aqueduct;

[2] Lock 25;

[3] lock 24;

[4] Lock 23;

[5] Graving Dock at Maryhill;

[6] Lock 22;

[7] Lock 21;

[8] Maryhill Road Aqueduct;

[9] Stockingfield (or Lochburn Road) Aqueduct;

[10] Hallowe'en Pend Foot Aqueduct;

[11] Lambhill Railway Tunnel Aqueduct;

The monument does not include either the Cleveden Road Bridge culvert, or the Maryhill Footbridge or the Lambhill (or Balmore Road) Bridge, or any (modern) fences or walls, but does include an area to either side of the area in water in which traces of activities associated with its construction or use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because, as an integral part of the Forth and Clyde Canal, it is a superlative example of Georgian civil engineering. It was the first of Scotland's great inland waterways to be constructed (between 1768 and 1790) and even at the time of its opening in the 1770s it was christened 'The Great Canal', a recognition of its undoubted national importance even then. The particular stretch of canal covered by this schedule represents the work of two eminent engineers, John Smeaton (responsible for the original works east of Stockingfield Junction) and Robert Whitworth (who oversaw the western extension that followed immediately on).

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

References:

Hume, J. (1976) The Industrial Archaeology of Scotland: The Lowlands and Borders.

Lindsay, J. (1968) The Canals of Scotland.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland