Hockley Railway Viaduct, Railway viaduct in Winchester, England
Hockley Railway Viaduct is a 19th-century railway bridge near Winchester, England, that crosses the River Itchen and the water meadows around it. It runs on a long row of piers, each with a brick outer face and a concrete core inside.
The London and South Western Railway built the viaduct in 1891 to connect its main line with the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway. Rail traffic stopped in the 20th century, and the structure was later converted into a public path.
The viaduct now forms part of a regional cycling route and is used daily by walkers and cyclists passing through the Itchen valley. From the top, you look out over open water meadows that have changed little since the bridge was first built.
The viaduct is open to walkers and cyclists at any time and free to use, with no gates or restrictions. The surface is generally comfortable to walk on, though it can be slippery after rain, so suitable footwear is a good idea.
The bricks used in the structure came from two separate suppliers, Poole Brickworks and Blanchards, making it rare to have two distinct sources used on a single bridge. If you look closely at the piers, you can sometimes spot subtle differences in color and texture between sections.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
