Description

Circa 1806-8, rectangular white washed rubble store with central segmental-headed entrance and double leaf plank doors in south elevation; deep rubble eaves course; piended slated roof.

The interior was visited in 2013. There are some setts to the floor of the building.

Statement of Interest

The largely externally unaltered early 19th century stables building at Corpach was built to stable horses and store equipment for the masons, who were responsible for constructing this section of the canal. It is remarkable for its survival. The building has a low profile, typical of small industrial buildings of the period and is unusual in having no later extensions and in retaining one single opening. It is situated at the western entrance to the canal, surrounded by other canal-related structures, including offices lock-keepers' houses and a light house. This situation is important in placing the building in its original canal context.

The whole of the Caledonian Canal is a Scheduled Monument which identifies it as being of national importance to Scotland and its construction was a major feat of early 19th century engineering. For this section of the Caledonian Canal see Scheduled Monument No 5297.

The former stables was built specifically to aid its construction by storing materials and stabling horses and this direct association is important to the history of the canal. Jean Lindsay, in The Canals of Scotland, notes that the Caledonian Canal Commissioners report for 1808 mentions that a stable has been built at Corpach, and so the date is likely to be around this time. The horses stabled here were used to haul stones up to Banavie, to construct the locks there.

Horses were primarily used on the Caledonian canal to pull wagons of building material and equipment during the time of its construction and specially made wagons were built for the purpose.

A number of single storey workshops, stables and stores were built along the canal at various points to house materials and provide stabling for horses during the construction of the canal. These were situated not only at locks, but also at other strategic points where significant construction was taking place, including basins. A number of these buildings survive and their continued existence helps to better understand the construction process of the canal. They also add significantly to the character of the Caledonian canal.

The Caledonian Canal is one of five canals surviving in Scotland but is unique among them as being the only one entirely funded by public money. The canal was part of a wider infrastructure initiative across the Highlands to facilitate trade and the growth of industry and, most importantly for the Government, to tackle the emigration problem resulting from the Highland Clearances, by providing much-needed employment. The experienced engineer Thomas Telford submitted a report in 1802 to Government commissioners which detailed the route and size of the canal. The canal connects Inverness in the north to Corpach, near Fort William in the west, by linking four lochs: Loch Dochfur, Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. The total length of the canal is 60 miles, but only 22 miles are man-made.

Built to take sea-going ships, including the 32-gun and 44-gun frigates of the Royal Navy, the Caledonian Canal was designed on a much larger scale than other canals in Britain and the locks were the largest ever constructed at that time. This combined with the remoteness of the location and the variable ground conditions, make it a great feat of engineering and construction.

Telford was appointed principal engineer to the commission with William Jessop as consulting engineer. Although work began in 1804 rising costs and the scale of the project resulted in slow progress and the first complete journey was made on 23-24 October 1822. Whilst the Canal was constructed for commercial use it was never a commercial success. Since its opening it was beset by problems and had to be closed for repairs and improvements in the 1840s. However the canal became popular with passenger steamers with tourism increasing following a visit by Queen Victoria on 16 September 1873.

Previously listed as 'Caledonian Canal, Corpach, Former Storehouse'.

Statutory address and listed building record updated as part of Scottish Canals estate Review, (2013- 14).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17825654

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide