Railway Viaduct Over River Ribble

The railway viaduct over the River Ribble, built between 1837 and 1838 for the North Union Railway Company and designed by resident engineer Charles Vignoles, is now a British Rail viaduct. It was widened between 1879 and 1880, with further additions made later. The structure is approximately 200 meters long and features five wide spans. It is constructed of rusticated hammer-dressed sandstone ashlar in a classical style. The viaduct has low barge-shaped piers and five wide segmental arches, which are adorned with long rusticated voussoirs, a continuous moulded cornice, and a plain parapet that is now interrupted by stanchions for overhead power lines. The soffits of the arches are also rusticated and have longitudinal joints along the midline. The northernmost arch spans a riverside road leading into Miller Park from the west and connects to a battered pier. The west side of the structure is partly covered by a later iron addition. Note that the southern half of the viaduct is located in Penwortham Civil Parish, South Ribble District.