Rectory Junction Viaduct
Encyclopedia
Rectory Junction Viaduct, also known as the Radcliffe Viaduct, crosses the River Trent
between Netherfield
and Radcliffe on Trent
near Nottingham
.
of Lincoln
on the Nottingham-Grantham Line for the Ambergate, Nottingham, Boston and Eastern Junction Railway
.
The Trent Navigation Company
demanded a minimum clear span of 100 feet (30.5 m), so the railway company built a 110 feet (33.5 m) cast iron arch. The clearance above the water is 24 feet (7.3 m). The iron arch was formed of six ribs, constructed in eight segments.
The approach viaduct, originally constructed in timber and comprising 32 spans, was rebuilt in brick in 1909-1910 by Alexander Ross
. The brick viaduct comprises 28 spans, eighteen are 24 ft 11 ins, and ten are 25 ft 7 ins.
The internal cast iron ribs were encased in concrete by British Rail
in 1981 to increase the strength of the bridge, but the original cast iron ribs on the exterior were left exposed, leaving the bridge appearance little changed.
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
between Netherfield
Netherfield
Netherfield can refer to a number of locations in England:*Netherfield, part of Battle, East Sussex*Netherfield, a housing estate in Woughton, Milton Keynes*Netherfield, Kent*Netherfield, Nottinghamshire-See also:...
and Radcliffe on Trent
Radcliffe on Trent
Radcliffe-on-Trent is a large village and civil parish in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire-Location:Radcliffe has a population of around 8,000. It is to the east of Nottingham, and is close to but not quite part of the Greater Nottingham built-up area...
near Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
.
History
The bridge was built in 1850 by Clayton & ShuttleworthClayton & Shuttleworth
Clayton & Shuttleworth was an engineering company located at Stamp End Works, Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The company was established in 1842 when Nathaniel Clayton formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Joseph Shuttleworth .-History:...
of Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
on the Nottingham-Grantham Line for the Ambergate, Nottingham, Boston and Eastern Junction Railway
Ambergate, Nottingham, Boston and Eastern Junction Railway
The Ambergate, Nottingham, Boston and Eastern Junction Railway was an early British railway company, which opened in 1850.The original aim was to link to the proposed Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway at Ambergate to link Manchester with Boston and the East Coast...
.
The Trent Navigation Company
Trent Navigation Company
The Trent Navigation Company existed from 1783 to 1940. It was responsible for control of navigation on the River Trent in England.-History:...
demanded a minimum clear span of 100 feet (30.5 m), so the railway company built a 110 feet (33.5 m) cast iron arch. The clearance above the water is 24 feet (7.3 m). The iron arch was formed of six ribs, constructed in eight segments.
The approach viaduct, originally constructed in timber and comprising 32 spans, was rebuilt in brick in 1909-1910 by Alexander Ross
Alexander Ross (engineer)
Alexander Ross was a British civil engineer particularly noted for his work with the railway industry.Ross was born in Laggan, County of Inverness in Scotland on 20 April 1845. He was educated in Aberdeen and at Owen's College in Manchester, an institution now a part of the University of Manchester...
. The brick viaduct comprises 28 spans, eighteen are 24 ft 11 ins, and ten are 25 ft 7 ins.
The internal cast iron ribs were encased in concrete by British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
in 1981 to increase the strength of the bridge, but the original cast iron ribs on the exterior were left exposed, leaving the bridge appearance little changed.