Gazing at this colossal stone structure prompts a question. What stories could the Maryhill Road Aqueduct tell if it could talk? Today we will delve into the aqueduct’s past. This aqueduct stands as a testament to Glasgow’s industrial ingenuity. It is a vital part of the Forth and Clyde Canal.
The Maryhill Road Aqueduct we see today isn’t the first. The original aqueduct was built in the 1780s. Robert Whitworth designed it. By the late 19th century Maryhill had grown. The original aqueduct became too small. Glasgow’s tramway system needed a larger structure.
So in 1881 this massive replacement was built. It is a solid masonry structure. The new Maryhill Road Aqueduct is similar to the Possil Road Aqueduct. The canal had to be re-cut for the new aqueduct. It angled around a sharper bend to accommodate it. During construction, the banks burst. The local Police Chief saved the day using an upturned kitchen table as a boat. The re-aligned canal even passed through part of the Gairbraid Church grounds.
The Forth and Clyde Canal itself has a rich history. People considered linking the Firths of Forth and Clyde since the 17th century. A commercial craze for canals began in 1761. This led to pressure for a canal in the Forth and Clyde area. Three groups emerged each with different interests.
John Smeaton penned a report in 1763. He included estimates for a seven or five foot deep canal. Glasgow merchants hired Robert Mackell and James Watt. They made surveys for a four foot deep barge canal. An Act of Parliament was passed in 1768. This enabled the construction of the canal.
Work began in June 1768. The canal was to be seven feet deep with a branch to Glasgow. Whitworth later increased the depth. Construction included making the canal watertight. Locks, embankments, and aqueducts were built. Reservoirs and towpaths were also part of the project.
By 1773 the canal reached Kirkintilloch. In 1775 it was completed to Stockingfield. Glasgow raised capital for the branch to the city. This improved the city’s commercial prosperity.
The Government advanced funds in 1784. Work recommenced taking the canal to Bowling on the Clyde. Robert Whitworth replaced Smeaton as engineer. His work included the aqueduct over the River Kelvin at Maryhill. The first vessel completed the Forth to Clyde passage in August 1790. The Glasgow branch extended to Port Dundas.
The canal’s prosperity gradually increased. It provided a shorter route between the East and West coasts. It also furnished a commercial avenue for Central Scotland. The Forth and Clyde Canal benefited from the Monkland Canal. Industries were attracted to the canal. These included shipbuilding, foundries and distilleries.
By 1830 the canal was booming. Experiments were undertaken such as haulage by chain. However, the railway system diminished this prosperity. In 1867 the Caledonian Railway purchased the canal.
Traffic was greatly affected by World War I. The canal never fully recovered. In 1962 Parliament decided on its closure. The canal obstructed road construction. All rights to navigation ceased in 1963.
However, in the early 1970s a campaign for restoration started. In 1980 the Forth and Clyde Canal Society was founded. The Glasgow Canal Project of 1988 saw restoration operating on a commercial basis. In 1994 British Waterways applied for a grant to restore the canal. The Millennium Link scheme was set in motion.
The Maryhill Road Aqueduct is more than just stones and arches. It represents a time of great change and innovation. It is a reminder of Glasgow’s industrial past. It also shows the city’s ability to adapt and rebuild. Next time you pass by take a moment to appreciate this remarkable structure. Consider its place in Glasgow’s story.