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Fort Augustus, Swing Bridge over Caledonian Canal Detail of the control cabin, showing that the Bridgekeeper for that day was Eddie Sloggie
D 64036
Description Fort Augustus, Swing Bridge over Caledonian Canal Detail of the control cabin, showing that the Bridgekeeper for that day was Eddie Sloggie
Date 29/3/1999
Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
Catalogue Number D 64036
Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images
Copies SC 799666
Scope and Content Control cabin, Fort Augustus Swing Bridge, Caledonian Canal, Highland, from north-north-west This shows the pedestrian walkway and control cabin on the east side of the bridge which was built in 1932 by Sir William Arrol & Company. The tapering windows of the cabin and the wire mesh on the parapet are later replacements. The sign on the window shows that the bridge keeper on duty was Eddie Sloggie. Originally another swing bridge spanned the canal at this point but was replaced by this bridge when it became too small for increased vehicle usage in the 1930s. The new stronger and wider bridge was similar in design to other bridges (Auchinstarry Swing Bridge, North Lanarkshire, and Hillhead Bridge, Kirkintilloch) being built on The Forth & Clyde Canal at this time. 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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