Culvert, Arch And Retaining Walls, In West Face Of Embankment Over Causey Burn

NZ 25 NW STANLEY CAUSEY ROAD (West side, off) 3/161 Culvert, arch and retaining walls, in west face of embankment over Causey Burn GV I Culvert, arch and retaining walls. Dated 1717; for Mr. Wortley and Col.Liddell. Coursed squared sandstone with ashlar dressings. Part of the engineering works necessary for the Tanfield wagonway, as is the Causey Arch at the south end of the embankment. Funnelled retaining walls about 80 metres long and 2 metres high lead to portal arch which has voussoirs below stepped retaining wall. Top course of first step of wall has rough inscription '1717' and initials probably C.T., partly obscured by moss. Since Causey Arch is said to be the first railway bridge in the world, so this is said to be the first railway embankment and therefore first railway use of culverting. These works were described by Stukeley in 1725. Graded for historical interest. Sources: T.J.M. Lewis, Early Wooden Railways, 1970 p. 150. W.W. Tomlinson, North Eastern Railway, 1914, second ed. K. Hoole, Newton Abbott 1967, p.9.

Listing NGR: NZ2038356055