Stanford Viaduct, railway viaduct near Stanford on Soar, Nottinghamshire
Stanford Viaduct is a railway bridge made of blue Staffordshire brick that crosses the River Soar and Meadow Lane near Loughborough. The structure features three large arches in the center with a characteristic skewed design that allows the river to flow unobstructed and stabilizes the bridge.
The viaduct was built in the late 1890s by Henry Lovatt from Wolverhampton and opened in 1899. It was part of the Great Central Railway London Extension, a major Victorian railway line that connected London to the north.
The name Stanford refers to the ford across the Soar that this structure spans. The bridge has become a landmark in the rural landscape, connecting generations of visitors through its solid brick design.
The viaduct sits in rural countryside, easily accessible on foot or by car via Meadow Lane. Heritage Great Central Railway occasionally runs special train services across the bridge, so checking current schedules is helpful.
The viaduct's arches are deliberately skewed, an unusual feature that allowed engineers to create larger river openings and increase stability. This slanting remains one of the characteristic visual marks that sets it apart from typical straight viaducts.
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