Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Union Canal, Hermiston
Milestone (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Union Canal, Hermiston
Classification Milestone (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 318683
Site Number NT17SE 392
NGR NT 17749 70435
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/318683
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Currie
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
Field Visit (29 September 2011)
The Union Canal, originally the Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal, was constructed (1818-22) to link the centre of Edinburgh (Lochrin Basin) to the Forth and Clyde Canal at Falkirk, a distance of 31½ miles (almost 51km). At half-mile intervals along its northern (towpath) side there were stone markers indicating the distances to Edinburgh and Falkirk. Many of the original stones still survive, though in varying states of preservation, and of those that are now missing many have modern replacements.
The milestone on the canal at Hermiston is original, comprising a sandstone block which appears to have a shallow pyramidal top but with steep bevelled corners. At several points on the stone chunks have been knocked off. It measures 0.25m square by 0.72m in height and bears an incised ‘26’, the distance to Falkirk on its SW face, and ‘5½’,the distance in miles to the eastern terminus at Lochrin Basin, on the SE face.
Visited by RCAHMS (JRS, ARG) 29 September 2011.
