Saving the Iron Giant

Background

Bennerley Viaduct is a rare, 430 metre long wrought iron viaduct on the Nottinghamshire / Derbyshire border. Built in 1877 to carry the Great Northern Railway line over the Erewash Valley, it is an outstanding example of Victorian railway architecture, surviving in an almost unaltered state. It is one of only two wrought iron viaducts left in the UK. Historic England recognised its importance in 1974 by granting it a Grade II* listing (Historic England list entry 1140437). On a global scale, most wrought iron viaducts have now been demolished.

Demolition attempts

Following the closure of the Great Northern Line in 1968, the tracks and embankments were removed, leaving the viaduct unconnected and without any useful function. In 1974, the uncertainty surrounding the viaduct’s future led to it being registered as ‘Heritage at Risk’ by Historic England. A year later, British Rail applied to demolish the viaduct but both Erewash and Broxtowe Borough Councils councils refused permission. A public inquiry was held in 1980 at which British Rail continued to seek demolition. However, the local community proposed an alternative vision to bring the viaduct back into use as a walking and cycling trail. The threat of demolition was averted while feasibility studies were undertaken. Unfortunately, local groups did not have the resources at that time to bring this idea to fruition.

New ownership

In 1998, when the rail network was privatised, the viaduct passed into the ownership of Railway Paths Ltd, a sister charity to national walking and cycling charity Sustrans. As the principal custodian of the National Cycling Network, Sustrans had been given more than 300 miles of redundant rail trackbed with the intention that it be brought into public use through incorporation into the network.

2015 – 2017: Rediscovering Bennerley Viaduct

A significant milestone was the successful Heritage Lottery-funded project Rediscovering Bennerley Viaduct which ran from 2015 – 2017. This project, led by Sustrans, raised the profile of the viaduct and inspired the local community to take a fresh interest in restoring and reopening it.

An integral part of this project was the creation of the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct (FoBV), a thriving community group that drove the campaign to bring the structure back into use. An ambitious £8 million project was proposed to restore and repurpose the structure with a £4.6m bid submitted to Heritage Lottery in 2017. Although the bid was not successful on its first attempt, HLF recommended it be resubmitted. But in early 2018, due to other priorities in the organisation, Sustrans announced that it no longer intended to take the Bennerley Viaduct project forwards.

2018 – 2021: Access to Heritage

In 2018, the FoBV established a partnership with the viaduct’s owners, Railway Paths Limited to deliver the Access to Heritage project. The project had three phases which included: carrying out critical repairs, constructing a western ramp and installing a deck. This £1.8m project concluded with Bennerley Viaduct being reopened to the public in January 2022 after 54 years of closure, thanks to generous support from a range of funders.

Ten year vision 2022 – 2031

The FoBV trustees have set out their vision for the development of the Bennerley Viaduct and its surroundings as a successful, financially viable heritage attraction and community asset. The full document can be viewed here.

The development of greater links to, and working partnerships with, the Erewash Canal and the Erewash Museum, present the possibility of establishing a ‘heritage hub’ which will contribute to the revitalisation and regeneration of the area.

The Friends of Bennerley Viaduct (FoBV) recognises the need to be ambitious in its vision and consider its long-term role within the community, the region and the heritage sector. Delivery of the ten year plan has three distinct phases.

Phase one:
March 2022 to February 2024 – Bridging the gap

Bridging the Gap sought to build the skills and capacity within the FoBV for the successful development of the viaduct as a visitor attraction, a community asset and a pivotal partner in the regeneration of area.

This phase included the recruitment of full and part time staff to undertake the project management and maintenance of the natural environment and delivery of community engagement. It will contain funding to build important, long-term partnerships with the other neighbouring heritage attractions and test the concept of a ‘Heritage Hub’.

It allowed the FoBV to develop the skills required and experience needed to take on the lease of the viaduct and to develop its future.

Establishing a close relationship with the adjoining landowner allowed the FoBV to purchase pockets of land between Shilo Way and the eastern end of the viaduct, so that the ambitions set out in phase 2 could be realised.

Phase two:
2024 to 2027 – Increased access and visitor facilities

This phase focuses on improving physical access, establishing new connections to public rights of way and developing visitor facilities.

It includes:

• Building a ramp at the eastern end of the viaduct
• Building a Visitor Centre and café
• Creating picnic areas for visitors to rest and enjoy the viaduct and its surroundings

With the acquisition of land, the construction of an eastern ramp made the viaduct fully accessible from the Nottingham Canal and Shilo Way, creating crucial walking and cycling access for visitors to and from the Nottinghamshire area. This is important in the development of the Great Northern Greenway, and also makes it possible for links to public transport to be improved. The FoBV seeks to encourage visits by public transport, on foot and bicycle, so it does not rely upon visitors arriving by car.

The increased accessibility offered by the eastern ramp and the added facility of a café and visitor centre will allow the FoBV to become more ambitious in its calendar of events and increase the financial income, creating greater sustainability and opportunity for continued development.

The two canals of Erewash and Nottingham already form a major part of the Erewash Valley Trail. The Eastern Ramp and a visitor centre will link the Erewash Museum, Erewash Canal, Bennerley Viaduct and the DH Lawrence Birthplace in Eastwood in a heritage landscape in the same model as the Ironbridge Gorge. It is hoped that these individual attractions will together create a greater whole, communicating the important cultural and industrial heritage of the area.

The attractions tell the story of the area, its people and its industrialisation, but also that of the industrialisation of Britain, through the canal and railway systems, steel and coal industries. Equally, the two canals and the surrounds of the viaduct have a more modern narrative of care and management of the natural environment.

Phase three:
2027 to 2031 – Consolidation of the viaduct as a sustainable heritage attraction

By 2027, the viaduct should be a popular, accessible and financially viable heritage attraction, providing a full calendar of successful visitor events. It will have physical links to the Erewash Valley Trail including the Erewash and Nottingham canals and be part of the Great Northern Greenway. The public transport links will be well used and facilitating a successful working partnership with the Erewash Museum. Bennerley Viaduct will be incorporated into the National Cycling Network managed by Sustrans.

The Visitor Centre allows visitors to explore the history of the viaduct, the surrounding site, the Great Northern Railway and the Erewash and Nottingham Canals. It will partner with the Canal Lock Cottage at Sandiacre and the Erewash Museum, and be accessible between both by foot and short public transport journeys.

The Heritage Hub will offer exciting and engaging attractions through which visitors can explore the heritage of the area, the beautiful natural environment, canal side walks and cycling.

Opportunities

Sustainable travel

The viaduct is an important new link in the area’s walking and cycling network, opening up local access to the industrial and natural heritage of the Erewash Valley and increasing active recreation. This project provides the opportunity to develop further infrastructure which promotes sustainable travel over a much wider area.

Heritage tourism

The opening of the viaduct has attracted heritage related tourism, and will present opportunities to create links and partnerships with other local heritage destinations such as the nearby World Heritage designated Derwent Valley Mills, the Midland Railway Trust at Butterley, the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and the Erewash Museum.

International links

There are exciting opportunities to create international links with other projects where redundant railway infrastructure has been repurposed and given a sustainable future. We intend to develop a formal relationship with other inspirational schemes like the High Line in New York, the Promenade Plantee in Paris and the Myra Canyon Trail in British Columbia. These schemes have transformed neighbourhoods and created a vibrant heritage related tourist economy.

Empowerment

The FoBV is empowering local people to bring about positive change within their community. Participation in the project provides opportunities to acquire new skills and confidence. The project is enabling local people to become actively involved in the regeneration of their community. The heritage rich site generates local pride and builds community resilience.

Educational opportunities

People visiting the viaduct learn about their heritage through interpretation materials, guided walks, leaflets, brochures, websites, videos and guides. There will be much informal learning as families visit the viaduct and become acquainted with its fascinating stories. The viaduct also provides an inspiring educational resource where local children can learn in the great outdoors. A reopened viaduct creates the opportunity for a new generation to learn about the viaduct and to care for it.

Health

The viaduct is the centrepiece of an inspirational green space. The evidence is clear: connecting with nature improves our mental health and sense of well-being. Interacting with nature alleviates mental fatigue by allowing the mind to relax and restore itself; an outside landscape provides a calming space, which can help restore our ability to focus. Experiencing nature helps to restore our mind and outdoor activity has been shown to alleviate symptoms of a range of diseases, stress and depression disease, stress, and depression. The reopened viaduct creates opportunities for improved health in the community.

Owners, supporters and stakeholders

Owners:
The viaduct is owned by Railway Paths Limited (RPL), a sister charity to Sustrans, the national walking and cycling charity. The Friends group is working in partnership with the owners, RPL, to restore and reopen the viaduct.

Community group:
The Friends of Bennerley Viaduct ( FoBV) is an active and thriving community group which has the vision to create an inspirational green space with the viaduct as its centrepiece.

Key financial backers:
The Railway Heritage Trust, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England are the key financial backers of the project along with  the HB Allen Charitable Trust, Charles Hayward Foundation, Broxtowe Borough Council, Pilgrim Trust and Railway Ramblers. Our gratitude is expressed to all financial backers. In addition many other groups and businesses have financially supported the FoBV to bring the viaduct back into use. (link FoBV section)

Other stakeholders:
Other key stakeholders are the Canals and Rivers Trust (the viaduct will connect the Nottingham and Erewash Canals) and the Environment Agency. Erewash and Broxtowe Borough Councils, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire County Councils and Awsworth Parish Council have all expressed support. Local MPs have given the project their backing. Adjacent landowner Harworth Estates supports the plans for the viaduct.

Special interest groups and businesses:
The campaign to save the viaduct from demolition has been ongoing since 1970. The Arkwright Society and the Association for Industrial Archaeology have been active in this campaign. A wide range of special interest groups currently support the project to restore and reopen the viaduct. These include: historical groups, railway groups, engineering groups, local access groups, wildlife groups, cyclists and ramblers. Many local businesses have also supported the initiative.