Whalley Viaduct by David Barker
The longest and largest railway viaduct in Lancashire, Whalley Viaduct’s 48 brick arches stride across the valley of the River Calder, dominating the landscape.The viaduct was built for the Bolton, Blackburn, Clitheroe & West Yorkshire Railway and it carries the line 21.3m above the river for a distance of 620m. Plain in appearance, the southern side of the arch nearest the remains of Whalley Abbey bears its only decorative treatment. Flanagan used some Gothic elements here to try to harmonise the structure with the ruins.More than seven million bricks and 12,338 cubic metres of stone were used to construct the viaduct. Some 3,000 metres of timber was used for the arch centering, temporary platforms and the permanent foundation piles.During construction, on 6th October 1849, two of the 41 arches then completed collapsed. Sadly, three men lost their lives.Resident engineer: J. Withers
Main contractor: Nowell Hattersley & Shaw
From -Engineering Timelines
Canon EOS500D and 18-55mm lens
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Comments
Where did you take it from ?, I was looking for a spot and couldn’t get it in properly . Great shot and a fave x
If you go out of Whalley towards Blackburn just as you go over the bridge
( River Calder) there is a small lane called I think Moorland lane.It climbs quite steeply and about half a mile up oN the left hand side you can pull over and get a good view of the whole valley.
– David Barker
I know where you mean . thanks x
Good lol
– David Barker
Great work David.
Thank you Peter
– David Barker
Lovely landscape view David, it raises my spirits to see so much greenery not too far away!
Thnaks Akkra
Thanks Dawn x
Great shot David, amazing that this structure was built one little brick at a time.
Thanks,I had to hunt about a little to find a decent place to take that shot,was a little off the beaten track :-)
It is certainly an impressive structure and so long .
– David Barker