Sites and Monument Record: Bo'ness Canal (SMR 796)

Description
Never completed.
 See full details

Object detail

Site type
Site
canal structure
Site history notes
The development of a port at Grangemouth at the eastern terminus of the Forth & Clyde Canal threatened maritime trade at Bo'ness. To appease the traders there the Act of Parliament authorising the Great Canal in 1768 made provision for a branch to Bo'ness. In August 1771James Watt surveyed the ground and in the following January submitted a report. The canal was to start just above the first lock of the Forth & Clyde Canal and end adjacent to the harbour at Bo'ness. There were two options for crossing the River Avon. The first involved a wooden aqueduct (see Avon Aqueduct) and the second a dam allowing barges to cross on the 18ft contour. The canal was to be 16ft wide at the base and 5ft deep. The cost was put at £3,210 via Jinkabouts or £2,932 by Bearcrofts.
Some construction work was undertaken and the aqueduct constructed.
A new survey was made in 1789, by Robert Whitworth, and it was estimated that the scheme would cost £17,000 to complete. It was abandoned in 1796.
Site grid ref
NS 9545 8055 - NS 975 805
Conservation status
Georgian

Share

My shortlist

Image auto tags

Explore other objects by colour

Public comments

Be the first to comment on this object record.

Google reCaptchaThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.