Wharfedale Viaduct

The Wharfedale Viaduct is a railway viaduct that carries the Leeds to Thirsk Railway over the River Wharfe. It was constructed between 1845 and 1849, designed by engineer Thomas Grainger. The structure is made of punched sandstone blocks and features twenty semicircular arches supported by very high rectangular piers. The piers have rounded-nose cutwaters and roll-moulded bands at the springing of the arches. The arches are adorned with rusticated stepped voussoirs, and there are large roll-moulded string courses and coped parapets on either side. Additionally, there are five circular tie plates on the first arch and seven on the fourth arch. The viaduct is also known as Castley Viaduct. It is important to note that only the six southernmost arches are located in this parish; the remaining arches are in Castley civil parish, North Yorkshire, where the structure is also listed.