Braithwaite Viaduct (London)

United Kingdom / England / London
 road bridge, viaduct (bridge construction style)
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Initially English Heritage took little interest in the goods station stating at the earlier Transport & Works Inquiry that "there was 'nothing of special architectural or historic interest' other than the gates and screen wall that were already listed (1996) at the time". There was an immediate public outcry that the demolition of the goods station would lead to the loss of the Braithwaite Viaduct which is one of the oldest railway structures in the world and the second oldest in London. It was designed by John Braithwaite (1797-1870), chief engineer of the Eastern Counties Railway, who with his partner Captain Jon Ericsson, raced George Stevenson's 'Rocket' for the Rainhill trials in 1829.

The viaduct was originally 2km in length but now only 260 metres of the original construction survives encapsulated within the structure of the Bishopsgate Goods Station.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Braithwaite
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   51°31'22"N   -0°4'24"E

Comments

  • The viaduct still remains under the new Shoreditch High Street station and while it's being built the workmen will happily show it to you.
This article was last modified 13 years ago