Charlton Viaduct

Charlton Viaduct
Coordinates51°11′22″N 2°32′00″W / 51.1895°N 2.5334°W / 51.1895; -2.5334
CarriesSomerset and Dorset Joint Railway
CrossesRiver Sheppey
LocaleShepton Mallet, Somerset, England
Heritage statusGrade II* listed building
Characteristics
MaterialStone and brick
Total length317 yards (290 m)
Height45 feet (14 m)
No. of spans27
History
Construction start1870s
Opened1874
Closed1966
Location
Map

Charlton Viaduct is a disused railway bridge in Shepton Mallet within the English county of Somerset. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]

The bridge was built in the 1870s to carry the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. It carried the railway over the River Sheppey. Originally the stone bridge carried a single railway track but was widened to carry a second track in 1892 using red bricks.[2]

It consists of 27 segmental arches each of which has a span of 28 feet (8.5 m).[3][4] It is on a curve of 30 chains (600 m) radius falling at 1 in 55 from each end to the midpoint.[5] To cope with the curve the arches are strengthened by pilasters.[6]

It can be seen from the grounds of Kilver Court where it forms a feature.

  1. ^ "Charlton Viaduct". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Shepton Mallet Viaducts". Southern E-Group. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Charlton Viaduct". historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  4. ^ "Charlton Viaduct". Engineering Timelines. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  5. ^ Otter, R.A. (1994). Civil Engineering Heritage: Southern England. London: Thomas Telford Ltd. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-7277-1971-3.
  6. ^ "Charlton Viaduct". Forgotten Relics. Retrieved 21 October 2016.