Charlton Viaduct

Charlton Viaduct is a railway bridge made of stone and brick that carries trains across the valley near Shepton Mallet with a series of curved arches. The structure spans the River Sheppey and the surrounding landscape through a sequence of supporting pillars that form the base of the crossing.

The viaduct was built in the 1870s for the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway to connect communities across the hilly terrain. A second track was added in the 1890s to handle increasing railway traffic through the region.

The viaduct remains a testament to Victorian railway engineering and stands as a Grade II* listed building in Somerset.

The best view of the bridge comes from Kilver Court Gardens, where paths lead to different vantage points along the structure. From these gardens you can see the entire span and the way it sits in the landscape.

The bridge curves and dips toward its center rather than sitting level, requiring engineers to add extra reinforcement beneath to keep it stable. This curved design is less common in Victorian railway crossings and makes the structure visually distinct from other viaducts of that era.

Location: Shepton Mallet

GPS coordinates: 51.18990,-2.53372

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:24