Maryhill exhibition brings 240 years of canal engineering history to life
A new exhibition, entitled Every Picture Tells a Story, opened at Maryhill Burgh Halls on Thursday 13th August.
Organised by Maryhill Burgh Halls and Scottish Canals, the exhibition traces the development of the Forth & Clyde Canal through Maryhill, from the excavation of the canal and construction of the Maryhill Locks and Kelvin Aqueduct in the late eighteenth century to today’s engineering works and the development of the Glasgow Smart Canal.
At the heart of the exhibition is a painting by Linlithgow-born artist and lithographer A.W. Law that depicts life on the canal near to the Kelvin Aqueduct in 1879 and incorporates remarkable details of local scenery, industrial infrastructure and the daily life of canal workers at that time.
The painting provides the starting point for a wider exploration of life and engineering along this historic section of the canal. Visitors will be able to learn more about the work of lockkeepers, the vessels and industries once served by the canal, and the construction of the Maryhill Locks and Kelvin Aqueduct.
The exhibition will also explore how the Forth & Clyde Canal continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of Glasgow and its communities. Current and planned engineering projects in Maryhill include emergency repair and maintenance work at the Kelvin Aqueduct and the installation and commissioning of bypass system at Lock 21. These works will improve water management and support the further development of the Glasgow Smart Canal. The Smart Canal uses weather forecasting technology and automated water controls to lower canal levels ahead of heavy rainfall, creating additional capacity for surface water and supporting regeneration and housing development across north Glasgow.
Richard Millar, Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Canals, said:
“Maryhill has been at the centre of canal engineering since the 1780s. The Maryhill Locks and Kelvin Aqueduct were exceptional feats of eighteenth-century engineering and remain vital parts of the canal network today.
“This exhibition allows us to celebrate that history while explaining why we continue to invest in the canal and how it is being adapted to support modern needs, including climate resilience, economic regeneration, ecology and active travel."
Aurora Segnan, Heritage Coordinator at Maryhill Burgh Halls, said: "We're proud custodians of this painting for the people of Maryhill, and on its own, it's a fantastic piece. But the moment we started looking closely, it became something bigger: a painting that vanished from the record for 138 years before turning up at auction, and, with good timing, a chance to dig into the history of The Whitehouse and its surroundings.
"This is exactly the kind of story we want to keep telling, using our local heritage to bring people together and build something new for Maryhill's future."
The exhibition will run from Thursday 13th August until Sunday 11th October.
As part of Glasgow Doors Open Days, Maryhill Burgh Halls and Scottish Canals will also host a programme of activities from Thursday 17th to Saturday 19th September.
On Saturday 19th September Scottish Canals Heritage Manager Chris O’Connell will lead a free, guided heritage tour through Maryhill, starting at The Whitehouse at 10.30am (sold out). Within the Halls, there will also be an opportunity for the community to share and record their memories of the canal and learn more about canal engineering from 1.30pm to 4pm in the Garden Room.
Learn more about our current projects
A taster of images in the exhibition, from left to right: Launch of the Puffer Neptune, 1892 (East Dunbartonshire Council); Diver accessing the Forth & Clyde Canal at Dundashill (Scottish Canals Archive); Millennium Project engineering works in Maryhill, photo courtesy of David McRoberts; Plan of the lands occupied by the Forth & Clyde Canal through the estate of Gairbread (Scottish Canals Archive).
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