History of the Monkland Canal

In 1769, at the height of Canal Mania, James Watt planned out a waterway to bring coal from the Monklands coalfields to Glasgow. The North Lanarkshire area was rich in coal deposits, and the project was well supported.

Work began at Sheepford, Coatbridge, in 1770 but stopped in 1774 for lack of funds. The project was halted for nine years and nearly abandoned. But in 1782, work began again toward Blackhill and into the centre of Glasgow. The canal and locks required more water, and an act was passed in 1790 authorising an extension to the River Calder at Woodhill and the Forth & Clyde at Glasgow. The canal was completed by 1793.

The canal competed successfully with the railways through the 19th century. At its peak, one million tonnes of coal and iron were transported annually.

In 1867 the Monklands Canal was taken over by the Caledonian Railway, and by 1935 the last coal shipment passed along the canal. The canal was still needed as a water feed to the Forth & Clyde Canal until 1950, when it was largely abandoned.