Gairlochy, Caledonian Canal, Swing Bridge Oblique view of south-west side of bridge from south

Description Gairlochy, Caledonian Canal, Swing Bridge Oblique view of south-west side of bridge from south

Date 6/5/1999

Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

Catalogue Number D 48090

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 801424

Scope and Content Gairlochy Swing Bridge, Caledonian Canal, Highland, from south This shows the south-west face of the swing bridge, built in the early 20th century, which can be moved into an open position to allow large boats passage along the canal. Wheels attached to the underside of the bridge run along the track (left) during the opening and closing operation. The mooring post with the white-painted top (right) would have been used to secure boats as they waited either for the bridge or the adjacent lock gates to open. Originally, another movable bridge spanned the canal at this point which probably became out-dated or too weak for traffic. The bridge-keeper has to operate the controls for this bridge in the open air unlike other bridges on the canal which have adjacent bridge-keeper cabins. The Caledonian Canal was designed by Thomas Telford (1757-1834) and built between 1803 and 1822 at a cost of £840,000. It was the first example of a transport network funded by the government in Great Britain. The 96.5km-long canal provides a route for boats travelling between the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean as it runs from the Beauly Firth at Clachnaharry, Inverness, to Loch Linnhe at Corpach. Only 35.4km of this length is man-made while the other 61km runs through four lochs: Loch Dochfour, Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. Unfortunately, at 4.2m deep, the canal was too small for most sea-going ships which led to it being altered and deepened between 1844 and 1847. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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