Description

Early 19th century. Single storey and basement, gabled, rubble store with external stone stair to east, situated on the canal side and with a chimney stack to the south gable. There is a basket-arched door opening to the north and a pair of rectangular window openings to the west overlooking the canal. The windows are predominantly 6-over 6-pane timber sash and case.

The interior was seen in 2013. There are a number of rooms, one with a stone fire surround. The building is currently unoccupied (2013).

Statement of Interest

The store at Laggan Locks dates from the construction of the Caledonian Canal around 1804-1821 and is a crucial part of the infrastructure required to build what was the largest canal in the United Kingdom. It was most likely erected to provide storage for materials and accommodation for horses during the canal's construction. The simple gabled, single storey style of the building is typical for utilitarian buildings of the period. The building is unusual in having been little externally altered since the time of construction and the original footprint, continuous roofline and few additional window openings ensure its character is retained.

The store is situated on the canal side and this emphasises the structure's connection to the canal. It is one of a group of buildings around the Laggan Locks which include some cottages, a workshop and the lock keeper's control booth.

A number of single storey workshops 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

Laggan locks forms part of the section of the canal which joins Loch Lochy to Loch Oich. This is the highest point of the canal at 106 feet above sea level and it took from 150-400 man years to construct. The terrain was difficult to work with and cutting the canal was hard and often unrewarding work. The locks were ready for use in 1821. Once completed, the locks leaked periodically and had to be repaired at various points over the years.

The whole of the Caledonian Canal is a Scheduled Monument which identifies it as being of national importance. For this section of the Caledonian Canal see Scheduled Monument No 5295.

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.

Listed as part of the Scottish Canals estate review (2013-14).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56561102

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.

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