Canal Workshops, Clachnaharry Lock, Caledonian Canal, Inverness

The complex comprises a former smithy and workshops constructed circa 1810, with enlargements circa 1840-50, during the early years of the Caledonian Canal’s construction. Matthew Davidson, the resident engineer, was responsible for their creation. The buildings are rubble-built with slate roofs, facing the Caledonian Canal.

The workshops are a long, roughly L-plan rectangular building with predominantly blocked window openings. A modern viewing tower has been added to the canal-side elevation. A hinged door with curved ashlar jambs remains in place. A small bellcote, a modern replica of an earlier 19th-century design, sits at the junction of the return. A lanterned ridge ventilator is present, along with a high-level loading door to the street elevation. The courtyard elevation is largely timber-boarded, partially replaced by blockwork encasing cast iron columns with bell capitals; the interior is visible through this replacement. Fenestration on the courtyard elevation consists of a variety of irregular timber casements. Internally, a long workshop features kingpost roof trusses and a later 3 ton Wharton travelling crane.

The smithy is roughly rectangular in plan with a canted south end and entrance door, situated adjacent to the workshops and returning to Clachnaharry Road. Five timber-shuttered bays face the canal. A lean-to extension with a gabled “taking in” door to the loft is present at the north, along with two modern windows and a ridge ventilator to the southeast. External brick chimney stacks have been removed, and the slate roof to the northwest appears modern. The interior is divided into two areas: a disused smithy currently used as storage, and a modern office. Two large hearths for forging remain, one with a stone hearth, stone and brick chimney, and a cast iron hood; the other with a stone chimney, cast iron hearth and hood marked 'Keith Blackman Ltd, London'. Two anvil blocks of different heights are positioned between the forges, and there are workbenches against the northeast wall. The internal walls are covered in wooden battens with hooks originally for blacksmith’s tools, which have been removed. Large timber boards partially cover the forge area floor. A floored attic space is accessed via a stair from the forge area, and timber windows are throughout.

The interiors of both buildings were inspected in 2013 and are relatively unaltered, with whitewashed rubble walls. The former smithy is disused, and the workshops were in use by joiners at that time. Some alterations and upgrading were carried out to the workshop buildings in 2004.