Laggan, Swing Bridge over Caledonian Canal View from south looking along deck of bridge, with barriers in foreground, and control cabin (centre)

Description Laggan, Swing Bridge over Caledonian Canal View from south looking along deck of bridge, with barriers in foreground, and control cabin (centre)

Date 6/5/1999

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

Catalogue Number D 48280 CN

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 801431

Scope and Content Laggan Swing Bridge, Caledonian Canal, Highland, from south This shows the deck of the swing bridge which was built in 1932 by Sir William Arrol & Company. To either side of the deck there are movable barriers with octagonal-shaped 'STOP' signs which warn road users when the bridge is open. There is a pedestrian walkway to the right of the control cabin which has tapering windows. Originally, a drawbridge spanned the canal at this point but was replaced by this swing bridge when the main road through the Great Glen was upgraded in the 1930s. The bridge-keeper had to operate the controls for the bridge in the open air before the cabin was added in the late 20th century. 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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