Scheduled Monument

Union Canal, Fountainbridge to River AlmondSM11097

Status: Designated

Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

Summary

Date Added
15/12/2003
Supplementary Information Updated
24/10/2018
Type
Industrial: inland water
Local Authority
Edinburgh
Planning Authority
Edinburgh
Parish
Currie
NGR
NT 17551 70387
Coordinates
317551, 670387

Description

The monument known as the Union Canal, Fountainbridge to River Avon comprises that stretch of the inland waterway 9.6 miles (15km) long, forming part of the Union Canal falling within the boundary of the former county of Midlothian. The stretch of waterway runs from the site of the former Lochrin Basin (on the east) to (on the west) the west end of Lin's Mill Aqueduct over the River Almond.

The monument includes the entire stretch of canal in water together with the banks on either side, the towing path running along the north side, all distance markers and kicking stones. The monument also includes the infilled remains of the stretch of inland waterway, 0.6 mile (1km) long running from the culvert at Dumbryden Road (on the east) to the culvert at the Wester Hailes Education Centre (on the west), and includes the entire bed of the canal together with the banks on either side, the towing path running along one side, any distance markers and kicking stones.

In addition, the monument includes the following canal structures:[1] Leamington lifting bridge;[2] Bridge 1 (Viewforth);[3] Bridge 4; [4] Slateford Aqueduct; [5] Aqueduct, Redhall; [6] buried remains of Bridges 6 and 7 [7] Aqueduct at Murray Burn; [8] Bridges 8-12; [9] Aqueduct at Gogar Burn; [10] Bridge 13 (Jaw Bridge); [11] Bridge 14 (Gogar Moor Bridge);[12] Bridge 15; [13] Aqueduct over B7030; [14] Bridges 16-18; [15] Lin's Mill Aqeduct.

The monument excludes all modern fences and landing stages and also the following structures:[1] Road bridge at Yeaman Place; [2] Road bridge at Harrison Road; [3] Road bridge at Ashley Terrace; [4] Railway tunnel, Colinton Road; [5] Road bridge E of Bridge 4 at Meggetland; [6] Prince Charlie Bridge (aqueduct); [7] Footbridge W of Slateford recreation ground; [8] Road bridge at Stoneypath; [9] Railway bridge at Longstone; [10] Culvert at Kingsknowe Road [11] Road bridge (A71) at Calder Road;[12] Scott Russell Aqueduct (over Edinburgh city by-pass);[13] Road bridge (10A) at East Hermiston.

In addition, all modern surface features, including buildings, roads, paths, fences and walls, and all modern buried cables and pipes, within the infilled remains of the stretch of inland waterway, 0.6 mile (1km) long running from the culvert at Dumbryden Road (on the east) to the culvert at the Wester Hailes Education Centre (on the west), are excluded.

In addition, the monument includes an area to either side of the canal in which traces of activities associated with its construction and use may survive, giving an overall width of from 25m to 55m, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because, as an intergral part of the Union Canal, it represents a superlative acheivement of Georgian civil engineering. Designed by a noted Scots Engineer, Hugh Baird, and built 1818-23, its continuous watercourse was without need of a single lock, and was graced by three major aquaducts inspired by another great Scots civil engineer, Thomas Telford.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT17SW 97.

References:

Lindsay J 1968, THE CANALS OF SCOTLAND, Newton Abbot.

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

Images

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Printed: 28/03/2024 20:47