Bourne Valley Viaducts

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Bourne Valley Viaducts
Bourne Valley Viaducts (51277081441).jpg
The viaducts from the south in 2021
Coordinates 50°43′45″N1°54′48″W / 50.729305°N 1.913341°W / 50.729305; -1.913341
Characteristics
MaterialBrick
No. of spans10
Clearance below Gordon Road, Surrey Road
History
Built1888 (old bridge)
1893 (new bridge)
Closed1965 (original bridge)
Location
Bourne Valley Viaducts

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.

Contents

History

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]

The military defences from World War II remain beneath the bridge.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Baddeley, Nicole (25 May 2021). "Dorset's impressive railway viaducts". Dorset Echo.
  2. ↑ "Dorset walk - Branksome Park and Coy Pond". Great British Life. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  3. ↑ "Picture of the Day: Bourne Valley viaducts under construction in the 19th century". Bournemouth Echo. 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  4. ↑ "33 killed at lunch: Poole's worst World War II bombing". Bournemouth Echo. 2018-03-28. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  5. ↑ "'Someone screamed "Down! Down!"' – the Bourne Valley bombing | Dorset Life - The Dorset Magazine" . Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  6. ↑ "Group look to take on viaduct to stop BCP Council's 'demolition'". Bournemouth Echo. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  7. ↑ "Lorry roof ripped off as it hits Poole railway bridge". BBC News. 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  8. ↑ "Lorry driver crashes into railway bridge". Dorset Echo. 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  9. ↑ "LISTED: The 55 roadworks in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole this week". Bournemouth Echo. 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  10. ↑ "'Viaduct plan an affront to our heritage'". Bournemouth Echo. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  11. ↑ "Viaduct 'under threat' - but council says 'not any time soon'". Bournemouth Echo. 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  12. ↑ "Group look to take on viaduct to stop BCP Council's 'demolition'". Bournemouth Echo. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  13. ↑ Hakimian, Rob (2024-11-07). "Victorian era 10-arch Bournemouth viaduct earmarked for demolition". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 2024-11-21.

See also

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