Bourne Valley Viaducts
Bourne Valley Viaducts | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The viaducts from the south in 2021 | |
| Coordinates | 50°43′45″N 1°54′48″W / 50.729305°N 1.913341°W |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Brick |
| No. of spans | 10 |
| Clearance below | Gordon Road, Surrey Road |
| History | |
| Built | 1888 (old bridge) 1893 (new bridge) |
| Closed | 1965 (original bridge) |
| Location | |
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The Bourne Valley Viaducts are two Victorian brick railway viaducts in Bournemouth and Poole, England. One bridge is disused while the other carries a section of the South West Main Line from London to Weymouth between Bournemouth railway station and Branksome railway station.
History
[edit]In 1888, London and South Western Railway constructed a viaduct consisting of ten curved arches.[1] In 1893, another viaduct was built on its west side that created a triangle of routes, allowing incoming trains to travel west towards Poole bypassing Bournemouth West railway station.[1] The railway bridge crosses the River Bourne.[1] Underneath the bridge are Surrey Road and Gordon Road near Coy Pond and Bournemouth Gardens as the railway follows Bourne Valley Road towards Branksome.[2] The original bridge was closed in 1965 during the Beeching cuts.[3] On 27 March 1941, an Luftwaffe air raid in World War II hit the nearby canteen at Bourne Valley Gasworks killing 33 people.[4] It is believed that the viaducts had been the intended target.[5] Repairs of the brickwork were carried out in 1998 costing £50,000.[6]
In 2020, a lorry crashed into the bridge.[7] The low arches at Bourne Valley Road reportedly make accidents common.[8] In 2023, improvements to the bridge were carried out by BCP Council.[9] In November 2024, the Bournemouth Daily Echo reported that the Branksome East Viaduct was earmarked for demolition.[10] The viaduct is under structural threat according to the council, but its demolition is unlikely soon.[11] The disused bridge is set for demolition by 2035 because it is “life expired”.[12] A local community group intends to file an application for the listing of the viaduct and will develop an alternative plan to restore as a nature and heritage park.[13]
Gallery
[edit]-
View from Gordon Road -
Houses in the vicinity -
View from Surrey Road -
Bournemouth Eye from the bridge
The military defences from World War II remain beneath the bridge.
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References
[edit]- ^ a b c Baddeley, Nicole (25 May 2021). "Dorset's impressive railway viaducts". Dorset Echo.
- ^ "Dorset walk - Branksome Park and Coy Pond". Great British Life. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ "Picture of the Day: Bourne Valley viaducts under construction in the 19th century". Bournemouth Echo. 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ "33 killed at lunch: Poole's worst World War II bombing". Bournemouth Echo. 2018-03-28. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ "'Someone screamed "Down! Down!"' – the Bourne Valley bombing | Dorset Life - The Dorset Magazine". Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ "Group look to take on viaduct to stop BCP Council's 'demolition'". Bournemouth Echo. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
- ^ "Lorry roof ripped off as it hits Poole railway bridge". BBC News. 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ "Lorry driver crashes into railway bridge". Dorset Echo. 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ "LISTED: The 55 roadworks in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole this week". Bournemouth Echo. 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
- ^ "'Viaduct plan an affront to our heritage'". Bournemouth Echo. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
- ^ "Viaduct 'under threat' - but council says 'not any time soon'". Bournemouth Echo. 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
- ^ "Group look to take on viaduct to stop BCP Council's 'demolition'". Bournemouth Echo. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
- ^ Hakimian, Rob (2024-11-07). "Victorian era 10-arch Bournemouth viaduct earmarked for demolition". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 2024-11-21.