Arthington Viaduct

Arthington Viaduct, also known as Castley Viaduct or the Wharfedale Viaduct, is a railway bridge on the border of West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire in northern England. It is in the parishes of Arthington and Castley, between Leeds and Harrogate. It is a Grade II listed structure.

History

Construction work on the viaduct began in 1845 and was completed in 1849. It was part of the Leeds and Thirsk Railway's line from Leeds to Stockton-on-Tees via Harrogate, later the Leeds Northern Railway and eventually amalgamated into the North Eastern Railway. Opening of the line was delayed by problems with the nearby Bramhope Tunnel. During the construction of Arthington Viaduct, a worker was killed when one of the arches collapsed. The railway company's chief engineer, Thomas Grainger surveyed the line and designed the structures, including the viaduct. Grainger also built the better-known Knaresborough Viaduct on the same line over the River Nidd.
The viaduct is a Grade II listed building, a status which provides it legal protection. It is listed in both West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire.

Description

The viaduct spans the River Wharfe consists of 21 arches in punched sandstone, each with a span of and are carried on tall rectangular piers, rising to a maximum height of. The piers in the river are fitted with round-nosed cutwaters. At the spring of the arches are moulded impost bands and above them is a string course which runs the length of the bridge. The bridge is crowned with coped parapet. The arches have rusticated, stepped voussoirs and several have circular metal tie plates. The viaduct curves to the north east and has substantial stone abutments at each end. The six southern arches are in the parish of Arthington, West Yorkshire and the remainder in the North Yorkshire village of Castley.