Kelvin Aqueduct
Aqueduct in Glasgow, Scotland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Kelvin Aqueduct is a navigable aqueduct in Glasgow, Scotland, which carries the Forth and Clyde Canal over the River Kelvin.
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Kelvin Aqueduct | |
|---|---|
The Forth and Clyde Canal passing over the Kelvin Aqueduct | |
| Coordinates | 55.89240°N 4.30179°W |
| Carries | Forth and Clyde Canal |
| Crosses | River Kelvin |
| Locale | Glasgow |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Stone |
| Longest span | 50 feet (15 m) |
| No. of spans | 4 |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1787 |
| Construction cost | £8,509 |
| Opened | 1790 |
Listed Building – Category A | |
Official name | Forth And Clyde Canal Aqueduct (adjoining Skaethorn Road Bridge) |
| Designated | 9 July 1989 |
| Reference no. | LB32316 |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Kelvin Aqueduct | |
History
It was designed by Robert Whitworth, one of John Smeaton's supervising engineers on the Forth and Clyde Canal project.[1] The contractors were William Gibb (founder of the engineering dynasty that led to Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners) and John Muir, who also built the nearby Maryhill locks.[1] A foundation stone was laid on 16 June 1787 by Archibald Spiers, the chairman of the canal committee.[2]
When opened in 1790 it was Britain's largest aqueduct,[3] and onlookers were impressed at the sight of sailing boats crossing above them.[4] The entire project cost £8,509, exceeding the original estimated cost of £6,200.[2]
It was protected as a category A listed building in 1989.[5]
Design
It is 445 feet (136 metres) long, with four arches of 50-foot (15 m) span, and 62 feet (19 m) high above the surface of the river.[3] According to measurements by John Rennie as the canal was nearing completion, there was around 3 feet (0.9 m) of puddle clay at the bottom of the canal.[3] The aqueduct was designed to carry a depth of 8 feet (2.4 m) of water.[6]
The piers are buttressed in such a way as to resemble cutwaters, but only one pier sits in the river.[2] The sides of the aqueduct are arched in order to transfer the outward pressure of the water onto the buttresses, an effect which can clearly be seen from above.[7][8] This design feature is also present on the Luggie Aqueduct at Kirkintilloch, which opened in 1773.[9]
The aqueduct is built from rustic masonry at the lower levels and polished ashlar above.[3] Underneath it is the Kelvin Walkway, which runs through an area of green space around the river.[2][8]
