Description

Early 19th century. Single storey, 3-bay symmetrical cottage with gabled timber porch to centre. Harled with painted margins. Lean-to to north gable. Enlarged outshot to rear elevation. Predominantly 3-pane glazing in timber frames. End stacks. Pitched; slate roof

Statement of Interest

Ivy Cottage is a former lock keeper's cottage that is likely to date from the early 19th century. The cottage is situated on the north-west bank of the canal adjacent to a pair of mid 19th century lock-keepers' cottages (see separate listing) and Laggan Locks which were completed in 1821. Ivy cottage is therefore the earliest lock keeper's cottage associated with the locks and this functional relationship and its proximity to the locks adds to its interest. Lock keeper's cottages are an integral and important part of the Caledonian Canal, which at the time of its construction was the largest canal in the United Kingdom. Ivy Cottage is largely unaltered to its principal elevation and roofline and together forms part of a good group of buildings around Laggan Locks. The cottage has been extended to the rear, however such extensions are typical for lock keeper's cottages of this date.

The whole of the Caledonian Canal is a Scheduled Monument which identifies it as being of national importance to Scotland. For this section of the Caledonian Canal see Scheduled Monument No 5295.

The primary role of a lock keeper was to maintain and operate the locks and cottages were constructed adjacent to them for convenience. Cottages were usually single storey with accommodation comprised of a living room and a bedroom. As living standards improved these have generally been enlarged for increased accommodation. The cottages were often set in a garden to grow vegetables and keep poultry and animals.

Laggan locks forms part of the section of the canal which joins Loch Lochy to Loch Oich. This is the highest point of the canal at 106 feet above sea level and it took from 150-400 men a number of years to construct. The terrain was difficult to work with and cutting the canal was hard and often unrewarding work.

The Caledonian Canal is one of five canals surviving in Scotland but is unique among them as being the only one entirely funded by public money. The canal was part of a wider infrastructure initiative across the Highlands to facilitate trade and the growth of industry and, most importantly for the Government, to tackle the emigration problem resulting from the Highland Clearances, by providing much-needed employment. The experienced engineer Thomas Telford submitted a report in 1802 to Government commissioners which detailed the route and size of the canal. The canal connects Inverness in the north to Corpach, near Fort William in the west, by linking four lochs: Loch Dochfur, Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. The total length of the canal is 60 miles, but only 22 miles are man-made.

Built to take sea-going ships, including the 32-gun and 44-gun frigates of the Royal Navy, the Caledonian Canal was designed on a much larger scale than other canals in Britain and the locks were the largest ever constructed at that time. This combined with the remoteness of the location and the variable ground conditions, make it a great feat of engineering and construction.

Telford was appointed principal engineer to the commission with William Jessop as consulting engineer. Although work began in 1804 rising costs and the scale of the project resulted in slow progress and the first complete journey was made on 23-24 October 1822. Whilst the canal was constructed for commercial use it was never a commercial success. Since its opening it was beset by problems and had to be closed for repairs and improvements in the 1840s. However the canal became popular with passenger steamers with tourism increasing following a visit by Queen Victoria on 16 September 1873.

Statutory address and listed building record updated as part of the Scottish Canals estate review (2013-14).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56616392

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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