Edinburgh Union Canal Society Facts for Kids

The Edinburgh Union Canal Society Boathouse

The Edinburgh Union Canal Society is a special group that helps look after the Union Canal in Edinburgh, Scotland. They are a charity, which means they work to help the community. Their main home is the Ashley Terrace Boathouse, located near Harrison Park in the Polwarth area of Edinburgh.

This society started in 1985. They were one of the first groups to join the Scottish Inland Waterways Association. For many years, the Edinburgh Canal Society worked with other groups like the Forth Canoe Club and the Linlithgow Union Canal Society. Their big goal was to get the Union Canal fixed up and open again.

Their hard work paid off when the Union Canal was connected to the Forth & Clyde Canal. This connection was made possible by the amazing Falkirk Wheel. The Edinburgh Canal Society was an important partner in this huge project, called the Millennium Link.

Boats and the Boathouse
Canal Journeys and Events
Images for kids
See also

Boats and the Boathouse

The society owns a historic wooden boat with special Kelvin engines. This boat actually sank in the early 1990s during a storm! Luckily, a society member saw it just as it was about to be taken away. The boat was saved and later restored in 1999. This restoration happened at Mackay's boatyard in Arbroath, with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This same boatyard had also restored Robert Scott's famous ship, the RRS Discovery.

Finding the right Kelvin engine for the boat seemed impossible at first. But by chance, they found a Kelvin E2 engine in a warehouse all the way in Kuwait!

Patrick MacGill, "The Navvy Poet"

The society also used to have a copy of this boat, but they no longer do. They also have many wooden rowing boats that people can rent or use for special trips.

The society's boathouse is a well-known building on the Scottish Lowland Canals. It was first located somewhere else, but in 1987, it was taken apart and rebuilt at its current spot. The boathouse is always being improved, and it's a popular spot for photographers.

In 2008, the Boathouse and one of its rowing boats were used for filming. They appeared in a documentary about Patrick MacGill, an Irish journalist, author, and poet. He was known as "The Navvy Poet" because he used to work on canals.

In 2009, members of the society helped start the first Edinburgh Canal Festival. This event took place between Edinburgh Quay and the society's boathouse. It became an annual event, happening every year.

However, in July 2015, the society had to stop renting out rowing boats. This was because their boathouse was found to be unsafe and needed big repairs.

Canal Journeys and Events

The Edinburgh Union Canal Society has been involved in many exciting journeys and events on the canals. These trips often celebrate the opening of new sections or special canal gatherings.

Here are some notable events:

2001: The Kelvin boat made its first trip under the Forth Bridge.
2001: The Forth & Clyde Canal officially opened.
2002: The Kelvin boat traveled to the Falkirk Wheel for its official opening by HM The Queen.
2003: The society participated in the World Canals Conference in Wester Hailes.
2005: The official opening of Edinburgh Quay took place.
2006: Regular Sunday shuttle trips began from the society's boathouse to Edinburgh Quay.