Bridge over the Union Canal at Leamington Road

Category

Library Item

Item no

4972

Title

View of the old wooden bridge over the Union Canal at Leamington Road

Description

A walkway leads round to a wooden footbridge at the Union Canal, Edinburgh. There is a wheel mechanism attached to the bridge. A gatehouse is on the far side of the bridge with a gas lamppost beside it. Tenement houses and a church spire can be seen in the background.

Artist / maker

Chrystal, Francis M.

Date

1920

Size

11.5 x 15.5 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

This image has been chosen for the Edinburgh - Past and Present Exhibition by John McLellan, Editor of Edinburgh Evening News - "I live by the canal and so I'm naturally interested in anything to do with its past. With the exception of the old bridge, until very recently this view of the canal at Leamington had changed very little although the church has been derelict for many years. Now modern flats are being built on the canal edge as part of the transformation of the basin and it's not before time that new life is being breathed into the area" John McLellan.

The Union Canal was opened in 1822. It ran from Tollcross in Edinburgh to meet the Forth and Clyde Canal at Falkirk, thus linking the capital to Glasgow. After extensive renovation in the 1990's the Canal is now a popular area for recreation, with non-commercial craft using the waterway and many cyclists, walkers and runners using the towpath.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Places > Edinburgh areas > Fountainbridge

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Canals

Transport > Infrastructure > Trails and paths

Transport > Infrastructure > Wooden bridges

(55°56′28″N, 3°12′39″W)

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