Bennerley Viaduct

Bennerley Viaduct is a 433-meter-long iron structure that spans the Erewash Valley and is supported by 15 wrought iron pillars resting on brick foundations. The structure contains 16 spans and connects the industrial regions on either side of the valley.

The viaduct was built between 1876 and 1878 for the Great Northern Railway and greatly improved industrial connections between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Its iron design was developed using techniques typical of major transport projects from that period.

The structure showcases the engineering skill of the Victorian age and has become a place where visitors experience the region's past while walking or cycling. You can see how this area once connected to other industrial zones through this route.

After extensive restoration, the viaduct reopened in 2022 as a pathway for pedestrians and cyclists. The best time to explore is during daylight when visibility and natural light are strongest.

The structure survived an attack by a Zeppelin during World War I and sustained no serious damage. It remains one of only two wrought iron viaducts of this scale still standing in the United Kingdom.

Location: Erewash

Location: Awsworth

Official opening: January 1878

Length: 433 m

Website: https://bennerleyviaduct.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 52.98972,-1.29750

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:32