Building record M2295 - Bennerley Viaduct
Summary
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 47340 43887 (212m by 136m) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | SK44SE |
| District | Broxtowe |
| Civil Parish | Awsworth, Broxtowe |
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
One of the two remaining wrought iron lattice girder bridges in the British Isles. Built in 1887-8, it crosses the Erewash valley on sixteen spans for 484 yards, carried on piers 56ft high. The GNR line it carried from Nottingham Victoria to Derby Friargate is now abandoned. (3)
Railway viaduct. 1877. Designed by S. Abbot for the Great Northern Railway Co. (4)
Erected in 1876/7 to span the Erewash valley by the Great Northern Railway. (6)
The viaduct is largely built of wrought iron, in itself a feature of considerable interest. The use of the material for railway bridges began in the 1840s. By the time the viaduct was built it was still in common use although it was begining to be challenged by steel. The structural form of the viaduct derived from the fact that it needed to be built cheaply and quickly across a valley prone to mining subsidence. The techniques used are the most interesting features of the structure, especially since coming at the end of a period of development of bridges of its kind, it demonstrates them in their ultimate and most sophisticated form. (7)
Bennerley Viaduct. Railway viaduct, now disused. 1878-9 by Richard Johnson, made by Eastwood Swingler, for the Great Northern Railway. Grade II*. (9)
Bennerley Viaduct, railway, built in 1877. Designed by S Abbot for the Great Northern Railway Co. Wrought iron, prefabricatedlightweight construction as patented by J. Warren and W.T. Manzoni in1848. Grade II*. (10)
Listed 1974. Photos of plans in SMR. Half of the viaduct is in Derbys.
Data Held (Document). SNT2647.
Photos of plans, PP1A-21A, SMR, (2), Ind Arch file
Data Held: Ground Photograph (Ground photograph). SNT2646.
40 BW print, SMR
Listed buildings slides, 12 slides (Photograph). SNT2648.
R. Wood, 1980, Nottinghamshire Industrial Archaeology Society J 6.1 Sept 1980 13-16 (Published document). SNT6121.
Historic England, 2021, National Record of Historic Environment (Digital archive). SNT5271.
<1> CBA, Industrial Survey (Published document). SNT184.
Other Refs: IA4 93/1
<2> Reedman K, 1977, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT1180.
<3> Pevsner N, 1979, The Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire 2nd ed., p 63 (Monograph). SNT4.
<4> DOE, Listed Building Description (Published document). SNT228.
<5> Smith DM, 1965, The Industrial Archaeology of the East Midlands, p 229 (Published document). SNT1304.
<6> Palmer M & Neaverson P, 1992, Industrial Landscapes of the East Midlands, p 106 (Monograph). SNT5.
Other Refs: fig 118
<7> Unknown, 1982?, Bennerley Viaduct - Historical Engineering Importance (Unpublished document). SNT2628.
<8> Unknown, Jan 1983, Bennerley Viaduct. Report on Current Condition and Need for Repair and Maintenance (Unpublished document). SNT2293.
<9> DOE, 1986, Dist of Erewash Derby (Published document). SNT6120.
<10> DOE, 1987, Dist of Broxtowe (Published document). SNT6117.
Sources/Archives (15)
- --- SNT2646 Ground photograph: Data Held: Ground Photograph.
- --- SNT2647 Document: Data Held.
- --- SNT2648 Photograph: Listed buildings slides. 12 slides.
- --- SNT5271 Digital archive: Historic England. 2021. National Record of Historic Environment.
- --- SNT6121 Published document: R. Wood. 1980. Nottinghamshire Industrial Archaeology Society J 6.1 Sept 1980 13-16.
- <1> SNT184 Published document: CBA. Industrial Survey.
- <2> SNT1180 Personal comment: Reedman K. 1977. Pers Comm.
- <3> SNT4 Monograph: Pevsner N. 1979. The Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire 2nd ed.. Penguin. p 63.
- <4> SNT228 Published document: DOE. Listed Building Description.
- <5> SNT1304 Published document: Smith DM. 1965. The Industrial Archaeology of the East Midlands. p 229.
- <6> SNT5 Monograph: Palmer M & Neaverson P. 1992. Industrial Landscapes of the East Midlands. Phillimore & Co Ltd. p 106.
- <7> SNT2628 Unpublished document: Unknown. 1982?. Bennerley Viaduct - Historical Engineering Importance.
- <8> SNT2293 Unpublished document: Unknown. Jan 1983. Bennerley Viaduct. Report on Current Condition and Need for Repair and Maintenance.
- <9> SNT6120 Published document: DOE. 1986. Dist of Erewash Derby.
- <10> SNT6117 Published document: DOE. 1987. Dist of Broxtowe.
Finds (0)
Protected Status/Designation
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (3)
Record last edited
Jun 17 2026 4:36PM