Robert Thom – the prominent Scottish engineer who designed the Greenock Cut 200 years ago has been honoured by ICE Scotland with a permanent plaque at the popular visitor attraction.
Barclay Chalmers, Chair of ICE Glasgow and West of Scotland handed over the plaque and said: “I am delighted that we are able to officially recognise the phenomenal feat of engineering undertaken at the Greenock Cut by Robert Thom. The construction of the Cut was ahead of its time, not only because of the ingenuity with which it was constructed but also because it featured green credentials well before environmental concerns were on the agenda.
“Scotland has an unrivalled heritage in civil engineering and it’s only right that we recognise the achievements of those in the past and celebrate their contribution to the society we live in today. Robert Thom’s legacy at the Greenock Cut and his work on creating sand filters to remove bacteria from water are great examples to the engineers of the future of what can be achieved.
The site has now become a popular attraction following a multi-agency £1 million partnership project, completed in 2010. This saw the historic Greenock Cut canal system restored, with pathways and bridges repaired and upgraded to be more wheelchair friendly and the whole route made more accessible to the urban communities nearby.
The Greenock Cut Visitor Centre has an exhibition that explains how Robert Thom designed and built the aqueduct in the 1820’s to provide power for the industries and mills in Greenock. In this Year of Natural Scotland 2013 it is very fitting to celebrate the life and work of Robert Thom with a plaque donated by the Institution of Civil Engineers.
At the event the plaque was unveiled by Inverclyde Provost Robert Moran, who said: "The Cut has been a part of the social fabric of Greenock for nearly 200 years bringing water for industry and a clean water supply into people's homes for the first time. Its impact on the economic growth and the health of Greenock's inhabitants was immeasurable. Today it is one of the top tourist attractions in Inverclyde gaining national and international recognition for its natural beauty and stunning walks and I am delighted that we are able to recognise Robert Thom's contribution."
At the event Cllr Gilmour, Chair of Clyde Muirshiel Park Authority, added “Robert Thom has undoubtedly contributed and left a legacy for Clyde Muirshiel. The Cut provides a variety of habitats from wetlands to dry stone walls, each with its own biodiversity. It has become a site where people can get the benefits to body and mind of peaceful countryside recreation."