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Prospect Hill Canal Tunnel [N Portal]

Falkirk, Hallglen, Stirlingshire.

Canal tunnel (19th Century).

The tunnel is 636m in length, 5.5m wide and at least 3.6m in height. Lights were installed as part of the Millennium Link project in 2002, and improved in 2016. [GfS]

Built 1818-22, designer Hugh Baird. This 600m long rock-cut tunnel takes the Union Canal through a ridge W of Callendar Park. It is patched with masonry and brickwork and at either end there is a round arch set in a concave masonry facing. The tow-path inside the tunnel has been renovated and provided with a handrail for the use of pedestrians. This tunnel is of some interest in that it is earlier than the railway-tunnels and therefore, presumably, the oldest tunnel in Scotland. Each of the entrances was finished with dressed masonry, and lined for a short distance internally. This tunnel is striaght on plan, unlined for the most part, of generally square section, and of considerably larger section than most canal tunnels. The construction shafts are not indicated on the 1961 edition of the OS 1:2500 map. [Canmore]

NS 88141 78983 (N entrance) to NS 88390 78400 (S entrance).

Alternative Names: Union Canal Tunnel, Prospect Hill Tunnel, Prospecthill Tunnel

Notes: The Union Canal tunnel was built mainly because the trustees acting for the Forbes family of Callendar House objected to their view being spoiled by the canal and insisted that it be hidden under Prospect Hill. This forced the cutting through solid rock of the only canal tunnel in Scotland. [Feel Falkirk]

The story began in 1813 when the engineer Hugh Baird produced a plan for a waterway between Edinburgh and Falkirk but the proposed route upset the formidable William Forbes of Callendar House, Falkirk's richest and most powerful landowner. He was annoyed that the canal would pass quite close to the House and that the passengers would be able to gaze down into his private gardens.He kicked up such a row, and enlisted the support of so many powerful friends, that the planners were forced to devise a new route which would take the canal away from the house and park. The great bulk of Prospect Hill stood in the way and the only choice was to cut a tunnel 690 yards long through the solid rock. [Falkirk Herald]

Not to be confused with new tunnel (NS 85257 79848 to NS 85264 79684, immediately above Falkirk Wheel.

Hydrographic Feeds: Union Canal

Hydrographic Resurgences: Union Canal