Editing Forth and Clyde Canal (section)

==Contemporary description==
Priestley wrote in 1831,

<blockquote>Besides the fine rivers above-mentioned [the Forth and Clyde, the canal], is joined by the [[Union Canal (Scotland)|Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal]], near [[Falkirk]]; with the [[Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway]] at its summit, near the last-mentioned village; and with the [[Monkland Canal]] and the [[Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway]], at [[Port Dundas]], near the city of Glasgow.

This magnificent canal commences in the River Forth, in [[Grangemouth]] Harbour, and near to where the Carron empties itself into that river. Its course is parallel with the Carron, and in nearly a westwardly direction, passing to the north of the town of Falkirk, and thence to Red Bridge, where it quits the county of Stirling, and enters a detached portion of the shire of Dumbarton. Hence it passes to the south of [[Kilsyth]], and runs along the south bank of the [[River Kelvin]], and over the [[Luggie Water]], by a fine stone aqueduct, at [[Kirkintilloch]]; it then approaches within little more than {{convert|2|mi|km|0|spell=in|disp=sqbr}} of the north-west quarter of the city of Glasgow, to which there is a branch communicating with the Monkland Canal at Port Dundas, near that city. The remaining part of the line is in a westwardly direction, crossing the Kelvin River by a noble aqueduct, and thence to the Clyde, into which, after running parallel with it for some distance, it locks down at [[Bowling, Dunbartonshire|Bowling's Bay]], near Dalmuir Burnfoot.

The canal is {{convert|35|mi|km|0|spell=in|disp=sqbr}} in length, viz, from Grangemouth to the east end of the summit pool, is ten miles and three quarters [{{convert|10.75|mi|km|0|disp=out}}], with a rise, from low water in the Forth, of {{convert|155|ft|m|disp=sqbr}}, by twenty locks. The summit level is {{convert|16|mi|km|0|spell=in|disp=sqbr}} in length, and in the remainder of its course, there is a fall to low water, in the Clyde, at Bowling's Bay, of {{convert|156|ft|m|disp=sqbr}}, by nineteen locks.

The branch to the Monkland Canal at Glasgow is two miles and three quarters [{{convert|2.75|mi|km|1|disp=out}}]; and there is another cut into the Carron River, at Carron Shore, in order to communicate with the Carron Iron Works.

Though this canal was originally constructed for vessels drawing {{convert|7|ft|disp=sqbr}}, yet by recent improvements, sea-borne craft of {{convert|10|ft|disp=sqbr}} draught may now pass through it, from the Irish Sea to the [[North Sea|German Ocean]]. The locks are 74 feet long and 20 wide [{{convert|74|x|20|ft|m|0|disp=out}}]; and upon its course are thirty-three draw-bridges, ten large aqueducts and thirty-three smaller ones; that over the Kelvin being {{convert|429|ft|m|disp=sqbr}} long and {{convert|65|ft|m|disp=sqbr}} above the surface of the stream. It is supplied with water from reservoirs; one of which, at Kilmananmuir, is {{convert|70|acre|disp=sqbr|spell=in}}, and {{convert|22|ft|m|disp=sqbr}} deep at the sluice; and that at Kilsyth is {{convert|50|acre|disp=sqbr|spell=in}} in extent, with {{convert|24|ft|m|disp=sqbr}} water at its head.<ref name = priestley/></blockquote>