Knaresborough's Beauty

The first viaduct in Knaresborough, Yorkshire, was built between April 1847 and March 1848 for the East and West Yorkshire Junction Railway Co. It was designed by Thomas Grainger. At thepoint of completion, it was met with disaster. on 11th March 1848, the bridge collapsed. Miraculously no one was killed, but nearly all the fish were poisoned by lime, as the cement dissolved in the water.The collapsed bridge created a damin the river, causing flooding to many properties and covering Waterside with mud.The total cost was £10,000, a huge sum at the time. The collapse was blamed on prolonged heavy rain and poor workmanship. Work began on a newly designed bridge , which opened October 1851.
There was national outcry at the building works and the damage it caused to the environment. Architectural scholar, Nikolaus Pevsner, described the impact the viaduct had on the beautiful Nidd Valley as "one of the worst railway crimes in all of England". Some people even attributed it to Mother Shipton's prophecies and mysterious presence. Nowadays the viaduct is protected as a Grade II listed monument and is often cited as visitors' favourite part of the town.
October 2018.
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