Inverness, Clachnaharry, Caledonian Canal, Clachnaharry Lock View from the east of the top lock gates of Clachnaharry Lock with the Canal Workshops beyond

Description Inverness, Clachnaharry, Caledonian Canal, Clachnaharry Lock View from the east of the top lock gates of Clachnaharry Lock with the Canal Workshops beyond

Date 30/3/1999

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

Catalogue Number D 64131

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 799629

Scope and Content Clachnaharry Lock, Caledonian Canal, Inverness, Highland, from east This shows the western lock gates of the lock, built around 1807 by John Simpson and John Cargill, with the main canal workshops in the background. The workshops were probably built around the same time as the lock but were greatly rebuilt around 1850. A bellcote surmounts the workshops and the control room for the lock is located in the projecting bay with the bay window. The lock gates are topped by railed pedestrian walkways. Boats would move into the centre of the lock, and water would either be added or drained till the water was at the desired level for the boat to continue its journey. Carpenters and blacksmiths would have been employed in the workshops to build and carry out repairs on lock gates and other structures along the canal. The workshops are still owned by British Waterways Scotland. 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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