Description

The monument comprises that stretch of the inland waterway almost 8 miles (12km) long, forming that part of the Union Canal falling within the boundary of the former county of Stirlingshire.

The monument runs from the east end of the aqueduct over the River Avon (on the east) to the original terminus (Port Maxwell) at Greenbank, Falkirk (on the west), and includes the entire stretch of canal in water together with the banks on either side, the towing path running along one side, all overflows, distance markers and kicking stones.

In addition, the monument includes the following canal structures (in order from east to west):

[1] Avon Aqueduct;

[2] repairing dock W of the Avon Aqueduct;

[3] Bridge 49;

[4] Slamannan Dock (Causewayend Basin);

[5] Bridge 50;

[6] Aqueduct over the Manuel Burn;

[7] Bridge 52 (Kirk Bridge);

[8] Bethankie Bridge Aqueduct;

[9] Bridge 53;

[10] Bridge 54;

[11] Wharf W of Bridge 54;

[12] Aqueduct over the Polmont Burn;

[13] Bridge 56;

[14] Aqueduct over the Westquarter Burn;

[15] Bridge 57;

[16] Bridge 58;

[17] Bridge 59;

[18] Aqueduct over the Glen Burn;

[19] Bridge 60;

[20] Bridge 61 (Glen Bridge) carrying B8028;

[21] Falkirk Tunnel;

[22] Bridge 62;

[23] Locks 7 - 11 (now infilled) forming part of the link to the Forth & Clyde Canal.

The monument excludes all modern fences, walls and landing stages, as well as the following structures:

[1] New road bridge (Bridge 51A) carrying Vellore Road over canal;

[2] New road bridge (Bridge 52A) carrying A801 over canal;

[3] Pedestrian bridge W of Victoria Place, Polmont;

[4] Road bridge (Bridge 55A) at B805 road ;

[5] Swing bridge at Redding Business Park;

[6] Seagull Trust building W of Bridge 62.

The scheduled area has an overall width varying from 25m to 85m, as marked in red on the accompanying map extracts.The modern ground surface above the Falkirk Tunnel is specifically excluded from the scheduling.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because, as an integral part of the Union Canal, it represents a superlative achievement of Georgian civil engineering. Designed by the noted Scots engineer, Hugh Baird, and built 1818-23, its continuous watercourse, over 31 miles long, was without need of a single lock, and was graced by three major aqueducts inspired by another great Scots civil engineer, Thomas Telford.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records this monument as NS87NE 31.

References:

Lindsay J (1968) THE CANALS OF SCOTLAND, Newton Abbot.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland