Stockingfield Junction
{{Short description|Canal junction in Glasgow, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox Canal
|name = Stockingfield Junction
|image = File:Stockingfield Junction and the Bridges, Forth and Clyde Canal. View East.jpg
|image_caption = Stockingfield Junction looking towards Port Dundas in 2022
|date_use =
|date_completed = 1777
|date_closed = 1963
|date_restored = 2022
|elev =
|elev_note =
|status = Active
|navigation_authority = Forth and Clyde Canal
}}
Stockingfield Junction is a canal junction which lies between Maryhill and Ruchill in Glasgow, Scotland. It opened in 1777,Hume, p.162 and closed in 1963, followed by restoration and a re-opening in 2022.[https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/heritage/forth-clyde-canal/ Forth & Clyde Canal], Scottish Canals At first a terminus it formed the junction for the Port Dundas branch off the Forth and Clyde Canal main line from 1777.[http://canalplan.eu/gazetteer/ur06 Waterway Gazetteer{{dash}}Stockingfield Junction] canalplan.eu
History
File:Stockingfield Junction 'Stop Gates', Forth and Clyde Canal, Glasgow, Scotland.jpg
The canal from Edinburgh built by John Smeaton first reached Stockingfield in 1775 and due to the lack of funds work halted for two years and Stockingfield Basin and wharf became the terminus of the canal. The canal was filled with water, opening for the transport of goods traffic on 10 November 1775.[http://static.visitscotland.com/pdf/scottish-canal-walking-guide.pdf Scottish Canals Walking Guide], Visit Scotland The branch was completed to Hamiltonhill Basin by November 1777 and to Port Dundas by 1779 upon which date the main line to Bowling was also opened and Stockingfield's status as a junction was completed. The construction of the aqueduct seems to have obliterated the site of the original canal basin and wharf.[http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-1633-1/dissemination/pdf/SC08_-_KA_2009_-_Stockingfield_Desk_Based_Assessment.pdf Stockingfield Desk Based Assessment], Archaeology Data Service
Later survey maps of the 19th century show a new building called the Lochburn Road House standing above Stockingfield House on the canal towpath close to the floating bridge that seems to have been used by canal staff involved in the 'opening and closing' of the bridge in relation to the requirements of passing canal traffic.[http://maps.nls.uk/view/74427695 Lanarkshire, Sheet VI (includes: Glasgow; Govan; Rutherglen) Survey date: 1858. Publication date: 1865] maps.nls.uk It was demolished by the British Waterways Board in 1958.
=The Floating Bridge=
=The Safety Gates=
File:Stockingfield Junction, Forth and Clyde Canal, Glasgow, Scotland.jpg
In 1942 two massive steel safety gates were constructed on the Edinburgh side of Stockingfield Junction at what is known as the Stockingfield Narrows. The purpose of these two hand cranked steel gates was to hold back the waters of the Forth and Clyde Canal to prevent serious flooding in Glasgow in the event of bombing destroying the Stockingfield Aqueduct. A second set of safety or stop locks were also installed in World War II at Firhill and form the Firhill Road Narrows[http://canalplan.eu/gazetteer/ifkk Waterway Gazetteer{{dash}}Firhill Road Narrows] canalplan.eu on the Glasgow Branch.[https://canmore.org.uk/site/167058/glasgow-forth-and-clyde-canal-firhill-basin Firhill Basin], Canmore and a third set were built at the Craighall Road Narrows near Spiers Wharf. The nearest lock on the Edinburgh main line that could control the water loss after a breach is {{convert|17|mi|km|abbr=off}} away at Wyndford, Lock 20, whilst the Maryhill Locks 21 to 25 are close by.
=Stockingfield or Lochburn Road Aqueduct=
File:Stockingfield Junction aqueduct, Forth and Clyde Canal, Glasgow, Scotland.jpg
Designed in the 1780s by Robert Whitworth and built between 1784 and 1790 the original Stockingfield Aqueduct (NS57126899) and road tunnel arch survive, carrying the main line of the canal over Lochburn Road. At the end of the nineteenth century a ferry operated here for the convenience of pedestrians wishing to cross over to the other towpath to Bowling or to Port Dundas.[https://canmore.org.uk/site/44011/glasgow-forth-and-clyde-canal-stockingfield-junction-aqueduct Stockingfield Aqueduct], Canmore A floating bridge had also existed here to allow easy access of horses and pedestrians to the towpath on the other side of the canal junction.
=Stockingfield Bridge=
A permanent, three-way footbridge suspended from the outstretched arms of a 'Big Man' designed by sculptor Andy Scott was proposed for installation at Stockingfield Junction in the 2000s before being shelved then revived in mid-2010s,[http://www.lightfolio.co.uk/the-big-man The Big Man, Maryhill, Glasgow], Lightfolio[https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/100ft-bigman-statue-kelpies-sculptor-earmarked-new-canal-bridge-1465384 100ft '˜Bigman' statue by Kelpies sculptor earmarked for new canal bridge], The Scotsman, 8 October 2016 but did not proceed due to economic circumstances. A cheaper, less ambitious crossing on the site, named simply Stockingfield Bridge, was completed in 2022 to connect the communities of Ruchill, Gilshochill and central Maryhill and improve the canal path network.[https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/stockingfield-bridge/ Stockingfield Bridge], Scottish Canals. Retrieved 29 October 2022[https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/19940483.newest-north-glasgow-bridge-stockingfield-bridge-will-connect-communities/ Newest North Glasgow bridge Stockingfield Bridge will connect communities], Eszter Tárnai, Glasgow Times, 21 February 2022[https://www.scape.co.uk/news/2022/stockingfield-bridge-wins-ice-peoples-choice-award-2022 Stockingfield Bridge wins ICE People’s Choice Award 2022], Scape Scotland Civil Engineering, 25 October 2022
Location
The small estate of Stockingfield gave its name to the canal junction. The Stockingfield Junction lies four locks, {{convert|20|mi|4|furlong|km|abbr=off|1}} east of the Union Canal Junction near the Falkirk Wheel. {{convert|9|mi|4|furlong|km|abbr=off|1}} and twenty locks west is the Clyde Canal Junction, where the Forth and Clyde Canal reaches the Clyde Estuary at Bowling. Two locks and {{convert|2|mi|6+1/2|furlong|km|abbr=off|1}} south is the Port Dundas Basin, which was also the terminus of the Monkland Canal.[http://canalplan.eu/gazetteer/ur06 Waterway Gazetteer{{dash}}Stockingfield Junction] canalplan.eu
The Stockingfield Narrows[http://canalplan.eu/gazetteer/f7vu Waterway Gazetteer{{dash}}Stockingfield Narrows] canalplan.eu are the pair of 'safety or stop gates' built in 1942 to reduce flooding if German bombing hit the Stockingfield or Lochburn Aqueduct No 14.[http://canalplan.eu/gazetteer/3b3c Waterway Gazetteer{{dash}}Stockingfield Aqueduct] canalplan.eu
See also
=References=
;Notes
{{Reflist|2}}
;Sources
- Hume, John R. (1976). The Industrial Archaeology of Scotland. 1. The Lowlands and Borders. London : B.T.Batsford. {{ISBN|0-7134-3234-9}}.
External links
{{Portal|United Kingdom|Transport}}
{{commons category|Stockingfield Junction}}
- {{commons category-inline}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2YhnvbvwfQ Video footage of the new Stockingfield Junction Bridges]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ-0acAHE34 Video footage of the Stockingfield Junction WWII 'Stop or Safety gate'.]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBHU5eyi4t4 Video footage of Stockingfield Junction.]
- [https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Unlocking-the-Story-Glasgows-Canals-Heritage.pdf Glasgow's Canals Unlocked], tourism publication by Scottish Canals
{{Coord|55.89260|-4.285987|display=title|format=dms|region:GB_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stockingfield Junction}}
Category:Canals opened in 1775