Cannington Viaduct
United Kingdom /
England /
Lyme Regis /
Cannington Lane DT7
World
/ United Kingdom
/ England
/ Lyme Regis
World / United Kingdom / England
bridge, railway bridge, Grade II Listed (UK)
This viaduct remains amazingly intact, and totally incongruous as it seems to be such a rurally isolated if graceful and a grand piece of art.
In fact, it formed part of the branch line from the London & South West Railway at Axminster which belatedly - January 1907 - struck out eastwards to reach Lyme Regis - by then a prosperous and popular seaside resort.
The terrain was tortuous - with a very steep gradient of 1 in 40 immediately on leaving Axminster - and the building of the line proved to be extremely expensive (given its length of just over 6 miles), and to add little to its long awaited high hopes, the station was some 250ft above sea level at Lyme Regis - not an ideal or convenient location for one's arrival at the seaside !!!!
Perhaps not unexpectedly, given the Beeching Axe, the life of this belated branch (first proposed in 1845 !) ended unceremoniously. Along with so many of the other branch lines at the time, it was closed in 1965.
Much of its course has been largely lost to nature / returned to farming, but just about traceable on 'the ground'.
Imagine current usage, both in serving visitors and locals as well as a glorious round trip as a Visitor Attraction for tourists in the area.
Despite all of that, this viaduct still stands as a proud and defiant reminder of another era (and what a foolish decision to close such lines, with the benefit of hindsight) - and well worth a look at from the Seaton / Lyme road, or closer study by going down a very narrow lane which actually passes under one of the arches!!! John 27/03/2008
Grade II listed in Oct 1984.
Ten elliptical arches on tall ractangular piers.
English Heritage listing: list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1305...
In fact, it formed part of the branch line from the London & South West Railway at Axminster which belatedly - January 1907 - struck out eastwards to reach Lyme Regis - by then a prosperous and popular seaside resort.
The terrain was tortuous - with a very steep gradient of 1 in 40 immediately on leaving Axminster - and the building of the line proved to be extremely expensive (given its length of just over 6 miles), and to add little to its long awaited high hopes, the station was some 250ft above sea level at Lyme Regis - not an ideal or convenient location for one's arrival at the seaside !!!!
Perhaps not unexpectedly, given the Beeching Axe, the life of this belated branch (first proposed in 1845 !) ended unceremoniously. Along with so many of the other branch lines at the time, it was closed in 1965.
Much of its course has been largely lost to nature / returned to farming, but just about traceable on 'the ground'.
Imagine current usage, both in serving visitors and locals as well as a glorious round trip as a Visitor Attraction for tourists in the area.
Despite all of that, this viaduct still stands as a proud and defiant reminder of another era (and what a foolish decision to close such lines, with the benefit of hindsight) - and well worth a look at from the Seaton / Lyme road, or closer study by going down a very narrow lane which actually passes under one of the arches!!! John 27/03/2008
Grade II listed in Oct 1984.
Ten elliptical arches on tall ractangular piers.
English Heritage listing: list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1305...
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_Regis_branch_line
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 50°43'38"N 2°58'9"W
- Flyover 37 km
- Shaldon Bridge 43 km
- Road Bridge 48 km
- Blachford Viaduct 79 km
- Laira Bridge 90 km
- Calstock Viaduct 91 km
- Tavy Bridge 92 km
- Weston Mill Viaduct 93 km
- Royal Albert Bridge 95 km
- Tamar Bridge 95 km
- Lyme Regis Golf Course 3.6 km
- The Baygitano (Wreck) 4.2 km
- Charmouth Beach 5.3 km
- Axe Cliff Golf Course and Country Club 6.1 km
- Seaton Marshes 6.8 km
- Golden Cap 8.9 km
- Beer Roads 9 km
- Beer Head 10 km
- Branscobe Mouth 12 km
- Dorset 46 km
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