Telford House East, Neptune's Staircase, Banavie Locks, Caledonian Canal

Telford House East is an early 19th-century lock keeper's house, built circa 1808–11 to house the lock keeper and around 30 workers during the construction of Neptune's Staircase on the Caledonian Canal at Banavie. The house is now divided into two properties.

The building is a 2-storey, 5-bay symmetrical structure with a distinctive 3-bay projecting curved bow front facing west towards the canal. It is finished in white harling with contrasting black-painted raised ashlar margins, a base course, eaves course, and deep overhanging eaves. A large central 8-can chimney stack rises from the grey slated piended roof. Slate hanging has been added to the south-west gable, probably for additional protection against prevailing westerly winds. The windows are predominantly timber 6-over-6-pane sash and case. Both entrance doors to the two properties are positioned on the west side, facing away from the canal—an unusual arrangement for canal-side buildings, where principal entrances typically face the water.

Internally, the property retains narrow curved staircases, some timber fire surrounds, and 4-panel timber doors, though some alteration has occurred. It was inspected in 2013.

Neptune's Staircase, constructed between 1809 and 1811, is the longest staircase lock in Britain, comprising 8 locks and 9 lock gates. The workers were initially housed in turf huts before stone houses, including this one, were built. After the canal opened, the house served as the lock keeper's residence. The lock keeper required support from multiple staff to operate the staircase safely and efficiently; the system originally had 36 capstans requiring strict coordination, and passage through all locks could take up to half a day, with boats potentially waiting a full day for access. The staircase was mechanised during the 20th century.

This house is an important and unusual example of domestic canal architecture, distinguished by its scale, quality of design detail, and the prominent curved bay—a feature understood to be unique to the Caledonian Canal. The majority of domestic buildings on Scotland's canals are simpler single-storey cottages; this 2-storey structure with wide bays and large multi-pane windows reflects a more fashionable architectural approach. The property retains its unbroken roofline, distinctive central stack, and traditional glazing pattern, with little external alteration. It sits within its own grounds, maintaining a direct connection to the canal.

The Caledonian Canal itself, connecting Inverness to Corpach near Fort William across 60 miles (with only 22 miles man-made), was designed by Thomas Telford and William Jessop to accommodate sea-going vessels including Royal Navy frigates—requiring locks far larger than any previously constructed. The canal was part of a Government infrastructure initiative to stimulate Highland employment and address emigration resulting from the Clearances. Entirely funded by public money, it remains unique among Scotland's five surviving canals. Work began in 1804, but the first complete journey was not achieved until 23–24 October 1822. Though built for commercial use, the canal never achieved commercial success; it became notable for passenger steamers and tourism, particularly after Queen Victoria's visit on 16 September 1873. The entire Caledonian Canal is a Scheduled Monument (No. 3530) of national importance.

A previous listing record from 1971 attributed the house to Thomas Telford and dated it to 1815; however, there is currently no documentary evidence to support this claim.