Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A railway passes under before the Temple Locks, another runs along the left bank and a
third formerly passed under the canal. In the centre of this railway triangle is the Lock 27
where the public house's benches are set out on both sides of the towpath so that it is neces-
sary for those on land to pass between the tables of drinkers.
At the foot of the flight of five Maryhill Locks, ending the 48m climb from the River Clyde
to the start of the 26km top-level pound, is the Kelvin Aqueduct, which has four 15m span
round arches. Robert Whitworth's 120m long stone structure, with its scalloped faces acting
as lateral arches, passes 21m high over the River Kelvin and was the largest structure of its
kind in Europe when it was built in 1790.
It has an unusual number of masons' marks on the stonework. Contractor William Gibb
was believed to have made a massive loss meeting his contract price. A tower block domin-
ates one side of the flight. The Kelvin Dock liquor store overlooks the dry dock. The dock
built ships from 1789 to 1949, including the first Puffer and D-Day landing craft. This group
of canal features is one of the finest in any urban setting in Britain.
The Glasgow Branch runs south-east from Stockingfield Junction and formerly connected
with the Monkland Canal. A floating bridge used to carry the towpath across the junction but
this is now routed under the aqueduct. Also gone is the Maryhill ironworks, its place taken
by small businesses. From here there are views to the centre of Glasgow; the British Celtic
glas cau
, green hollow, no longer applies.
The canal passes an 1820 church at Cadder, built on the site of a 13th century place of wor-
ship, complete with watchman's house and mortsafe, an iron coffin to deter body snatchers.
At Glasgow Bridge, a slipway is almost opposite the Stables public house, former canal
stables, and moorings for several boats, including the canal society's craft.
Adjacent is the high-level concrete A803 Glasgow Road Bridge on the line of what was
once a steel swing bridge. Construction of this section of canal plays a central role in Mar-
garet Thomson Davis'
The Glasgow Belle
. The canal crosses the line of the Antonine Wall
and passes a Roman fortlet, camp and fort.
From its position to the south of the Campsie and Kilsyth Fells, Kirkintilloch was an agri-
cultural and weaving town until the arrival of the Forth & Clyde Canal, when it became in-
dustrialised by iron foundries as the pig-iron could be exported by canal. The Barony Cham-
bers were built in 1815 as the town hall. The Auld Kirk of 1644 is now a museum covering
the social and industrial history of the area, including canal displays.
A recent boathouse is built on a slipway used when Kirkintilloch was a shipbuilding centre
from the 1860s to the Second World War. It was another source of Puffers, apparently includ-
ing the
Vital Spark
. The 40-berth Southbank Marina is in the former shipyard. The dominant
building is the red sandstone church of St Mary of 1912-1914, looking even more impressive
because of its position high above the canal. The A8006 viaduct follows.
