Kelvin Aqueduct

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The Kelvin Aqueduct is a navigable aqueduct in Glasgow, Scotland, which carries the Forth and Clyde Canal over the River Kelvin.

History

File:Kelvin Aqueduct by James Hopkirk.jpg
An etching by James Hopkirk of a sailboat crossing the aqueduct

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 Script error: No such module "convert". long, with four arches of Script error: No such module "convert". span, and Script error: No such module "convert". high above the surface of the river.[3] According to measurements by John Rennie as the canal was nearing completion, there was around Script error: No such module "convert". of puddle clay at the bottom of the canal.[3] The aqueduct was designed to carry a depth of Script error: No such module "convert". 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]

See also

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References

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