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)
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.

<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 Unknown, 1982?, Bennerley Viaduct - Historical Engineering Importance (Unpublished document).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 Report on Current Condition and Need for Repair and Maintenance (Unpublished document).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.