Leamington Lift Bridge
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox bridge
| bridge_name = Leamington Lift Bridge
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| image = Leamington Lift Bridge, Union Canal - geograph.org.uk - 1436125.jpg
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| caption = The bridge raised to allow a boat to pass
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| crosses = Union Canal
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| designer = Armstrong Whitworth
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| material = Steel
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| complete = 1906
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| coordinates = {{coord|55.941309|-3.211048|display=inline,title}}
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The Leamington Lift Bridge is a lift bridge that crosses the Union Canal near its terminus at Lochrin Basin in Edinburgh.
History
The bridge was installed around 1906 where Fountainbridge crossed the canal replacing a previous bridge built in 1869.{{cite web |url=http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/178600/details/edinburgh+union+canal+fountainbridge+lifting+bridge/ |title=Edinburgh, Union Canal, Fountainbridge Lifting Bridge |publisher=canmore.rcahms.gov.uk |accessdate=30 January 2015}} When the canal was shortened in 1922 to make Lochrin Basin the terminus it was moved to its present site to replace a wooden drawbridge. It fell out of use by the 1960s, but as part of the Millennium Link project to restore the Union Canal, it required to be restored at least to allow boats to pass. A report published in the year 2000 had suggested fixing it permanently open, but the decision was taken to restore it to full working order.{{cite book|last=Fleming|first=George|title=The Millennium Link: The Rehabilitation of the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X9XmZQZB0pIC&pg=PA9|year=2000|publisher=Thomas Telford|isbn=978-0-7277-2945-3|page=9}}
The restoration involved removing the deck and the top member of the bridge to access the inner workings. It opened for the first time on 16 May 2002, followed by an official opening ceremony on 24 May.
In July 2021, a Red Wheel plaque was unveiled at the bridge. Red Wheel plaques are installed by the National Transport Trust to identify sites of significant transport heritage. The one at the bridge is the first to be awarded on a Scottish canal.{{cite web |last1=Stephen |first1=Phyllis |title=A Red Wheel installed at The Leamington Lift Bridge |url=https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2021/07/a-red-wheel-installed-at-the-leamington-lift-bridge/ |website=The Edinburgh Reporter |access-date=19 July 2021 |date=17 July 2021}}
Design
File:Leamington Lift Bridge September 2014 07.jpg
File:Boats at Lochrin Basin Fountainbridge 2.jpg
File:Leamington Lift Bridge plaque.jpg plaque on the Leamington Lift Bridge]]
The bridge is constructed from a wooden deck that can be raised between two gantries to give a clearance of {{convert|9|ft}} below.{{cite web |url=http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/52717/details/edinburgh+gilmore+park+union+canal+lifting+bridge/ |title=Edinburgh, Gilmore Park, Union Canal Lifting Bridge |publisher=canmore.rcahms.gov.uk |accessdate=30 January 2015}} The bridge crosses between Gilmore Park and Leamington Road, but is not open to cars.{{Google maps |url=https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.9412886,-3.2111539,236m/data=!3m1!1e3 |title=Leamington Lift Bridge |accessdate=30 January 2015}} A permanent lattice girder footbridge allows pedestrians to cross when the deck is raised.
It is formed from riveted steel, with more substantial columns on the southern side where the motors and counterbalances are housed.{{cite web |url=http://www.gentles.info/link/Leamington/Leamington_description.html |title=Leamington Lift Bridge |publisher=gentles.info |accessdate=30 January 2015}}
The bridge can be opened by canal users after appropriate training from Scottish Canals.{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/media-centre/photo-gallery/leamington-lift-bridge-training |title=Customers take control of Leamington lift bridge! |publisher=Scottish Canals |accessdate=30 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130222904/http://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/media-centre/photo-gallery/leamington-lift-bridge-training |archive-date=30 January 2015 |url-status=dead }} It is only the width of a single canal boat.