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The Union Canal is a 50 km (31.5 mile) contour canal in Scotland, from Lochrin Basin in Edinburgh to Falkirk, where it meets the Forth and Clyde Canal. It was originally known as the Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal, to celebrate the uniting of the two cities by the new canal network, but this name is rarely used today.
The canal, including Scotland's only canal tunnel, was designed by Hugh Baird who oversaw the engineering work while it was being built between 1818 and 1822. Two of its construction workers were the famous body snatchers Burke and Hare.
The soliton was first demonstrated on the Union Canal in 1834. The new aqueduct over the Edinburgh City Bypass was named after discoverer John Scott Russell.
Originally used for transporting coal, competition from the railways caused it to close to commercial use in the 1930s. The locks connecting it to the Forth and Clyde Canal at Falkirk were filled in and built over.
The canal is now used recreationally by canoeists at the Forth Canoe Club and rowers from schools and St Andrew Rowing Club. The Edinburgh, Ratho and Linlithgow Canal Societies promote general use of the canal and hire rowing and narrowboats.
The Millennium Link (a project to restore both the Union and Forth and Clyde Canals) saw the two canals joined once again at the Falkirk end of the Union Canal, in the year 2000, by the Falkirk Wheel. The other end, Lochrin Basin, is currently being redeveloped as Edinburgh Quay for commercial and residential use.
The Union Canal is a contour canal - originally the only locks were those at Falkirk to make the link to the Forth and Clyde canal. Now there is one lock just before the Falkirk Wheel and a double lock just above. There is also a new tunnel where the canal crosses the Antonine Wall.
Bibliography
- Lindsey, Jean, The Canals of Scotland. Published by David & Charles.
See also
- Canals of the United Kingdom
- Charles Baird, Hugh Baird's brother
External links
Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Scotland | Canals in Scotland | Transport in Edinburgh | Transport in West Lothian | Transport in Falkirk
"Union Canal (Scotland)"