As many of you will know from earlier posts, Sustrans manages the Bennerley Viaduct which used to carry the Great Northern Railway line from Derby to Nottingham across the Erewash Valley. This is one of only two cast iron trestle railway bridges in the country, the other being the Meldon Viaduct, near Okehampton in Devon, which now forms part of the Granite Way (NCR 27) from Plymouth to Ilfracombe.Recently Sustrans commissioned John Grimshaw to do a survey of feasible east-west routes across the Erewash Valley which will link towns on both sides of the valley and also tie in with longer-distance routes and the Erewash Valley Trail. The magnificent Bennerley Viaduct is expected to be the focal point of these routes, a cycling Mecca in our own local area.
John has been in the area twice recently and some of our rangers have met with him and Martyn Brunt, Development Officer of the NCN, the last occasion being last Tuesday (14 Dec) when we looked at routes through Heanor, Langley Mill and Loscoe; the Bentley Plantation route; and some routes through Kimberley.
When John’s report is ready, the next step will be to get as many local authorities, cycling groups, conservationists, companies and individuals as possible interested in developing this rich piece of our heritage as a cyclotouristic asset. This would include putting on the bridge some railway carriages which can be adapted as a B&B, a hostel, tea rooms, a pub, cycle shop, etc, etc.
It is envisaged that there would be a ‘Friends of the Bennerley Viaduct’ organization, with their own website, to raise awareness of the viaduct, and in this venture our own Sustrans rangers group would play a pivotal role, organizing regular rides and other events to draw attention to this marvellous structure. These rides will start in the new year. I’d like to hear from anyone who has a favourite ride they would like to offer to the public – thanks! Watch this blog as the story unfolds!
Stop Press: Martyn Brunt has written an article on the viaduct in English Heritage's Conservation Bulletin. Here is the link: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/conservation-bulletin-65/cb-65-full-version.doc Scroll down about two-thirds down.
An interesting development, which if actioned, might trigger the County Council to pursue the link from 672. I could not open the link, but I will try the English Heritage site for the reference.
ReplyDeleteI've travelled under this viaduct many times and never really thought about it as a potential cycle route or that it would be owned by Sustrans. It would be good to have another route between Derby & Nottingham - Route6 via Long Eaton is a bit convoluted.
ReplyDeleteSimon, you will be pleased to know that this is not the only proposed route linking Nottingham with Derby. Ultimately, the 'Big Track' route from Nottingham to Trent Lock, following the River Trent, should become Route 6 some time in the future. This will continue to Derby along another new route, involving Longhorse Bridge. The old NCR6 will become a backwater!
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