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Latitude: 55.7821 / 55°46'55"N
Longitude: -5.106 / 5°6'21"W
OS Eastings: 205322
OS Northings: 658675
OS Grid: NS053586
Mapcode National: GBR FFRF.KWW
Mapcode Global: WH1LS.JXSR
Entry Name: Thom's Water Cuts, aqueduct (drain), Ardscalpsie to SW of Scalpsie
Scheduled Date: 5 January 1998
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Source ID: SM7114
Schedule Class: Cultural
Category: Industrial: inland water
Location: North Bute
County: Argyll and Bute
Electoral Ward: Isle of Bute
Traditional County: Buteshire
The monument comprises a stretch of aqueduct, part of the Scalpsie or Barmore Cut.
The length of this stretch is very approximately 750m and extends from the farm road to Ardscalpsie Farm on the W in a NNE direction to a point where the aqueduct is cut off by the public road (A844). The aqueduct, now largely dry, measures 10m in width overall and the scheduling includes the arched bridge taking the farm road to Ardscalpsie farm across the aqueduct and three further arched bridges along the length of aqueduct.
The area to be scheduled includes the aqueduct and bridges as described above and an area on either side in which traces of activities associated with their construction and use may survive, with a width of 20m centred on the mid-channel line of the aqueduct. The length of this stretch is very approximately 750m and extends from the farm road to Ardscalpsie Farm on the W in a NNE direction to a point where the aqueduct is cut off by the public road (A844). The area to be scheduled is marked in red on the accompanying map extract.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
The monument is of national importance because it forms part of a series of aqueducts, or water-cuts, designed by the distinguished Scots engineer, Robert Thom. He died, and was buired, in Rothesay. The aqueducts and dam were constructed between 1811 and 1822 to provide a workable water-supply to Thom's cotton mills in Rothesay, and the ingenius way in which he wrung every last drop of water from off the landscape of central Bute is physically demonstrated by these remains and a lasting testimony to one of Scotland's notable engineers and inventors.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Bibliography
References:
Earls, A 1945, 'Robert Thom and his work on water power for the Rothesay cotton mills', Trans Buteshire Natur Hist Soc, vol.13, 129.
Ferrier, J 1966, 'Robert Thom's water-cuts', Trans Glasgow Archaeol Soc, New, vol.15, 3, 129.
Sharp, R, 'The Cotton Industry in Bute', Trans Buteshire Natur Hist Soc, vol.2, 12.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
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