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Scotland: harbours and canals, roads and churches

Telford’s skills were much in demand. In 1801 he surveyed a new Caledonian Canal, linking lochs across the Scottish mainland to save the dangerous voyage around the Orkneys and Cape Wrath. He was appointed principal engineer in 1802 with his colleague William Jessop as consulting engineer. The canal was begun in 1804 at Corpach near Banavie where the basin was constructed. Situated at the end of Loch Eil this basin was 90 feet lower than Loch Lochy. To overcome the problem Telford built a massive flight of 8 locks which he called Neptune’s Staircase. The canal was finally opened in 1822.

The staircase locks at Banavie on the Caledonian Canal in 1900, men are using long wooden rods to wind the lock mechanism.

While working on the Caledonian, Telford was called upon by the government to make a survey of Scotland, inspecting the roads and bridges as well as the harbours used by the East and West coast fishing communities. His report was presented to parliament in 1803, leading to the legislation that would open up the Highlands to communication and business. Over the next 18 years Telford would oversee the construction of 920 miles of road connected by no less than 1200 bridges including Tongland Bridge crossing the Dee opened in 1805 and Craigellachie Bridge crossing the Spey which opened in 1814.

Tongland Bridge in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, in 2004. Although the bridge was engineered by Telford, the aesthetic design was by Alexander Nasmyth, so although it is a heavy gothic design, underneath it is an advanced engineering structure. Photograph courtesy of Chris Morris.

As soon as progress was underway on the new roads and bridges, Telford’s attention turned to Scottish Harbours. Most importantly Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dundee where over £150,000 was spent on the works between 1814 and 1834.

Craigellachie Bridge in Moray, Scotland in 2005. A plaque on the bridge tells us that its castings were made in Ruabon, North Wales. Photograph courtesy of Chris Morris.

Later in his life, Telford’s skills as an architect were called upon by a commission set up to build churches and manses in the Highlands. He arranged specifications and drawings and in all more than 40 communities benefited from his works, most of these survive today.

Portnahaven Church on Islay, Scotland, in 2003. This is a thriving parish church used by the communities of Portnahaven and Port Weymiss. Photograph courtesy of Chris Morris.