Derwent Bridge (SPC8 1(D7))

Derwent Bridge is a low, five-span skew viaduct constructed between 1836 and 1840 for the North Midland Railway, designed by George and Robert Stephenson with Frederick Swanwick. It was widened on the west side in 1892 by the Midland Railway. The viaduct is built of coursed quarry-faced Derbyshire gritstone, with skew-set red brick on the east side and blue engineering brick on the west side forming the arch soffits.

The two phases of construction are similar, but the west side extension is wider to accommodate three railway tracks. From south to north, the five segmental arches span a footpath and the southern bank of the River Derwent, the three middle arches span the river itself, and the final arch spans the northern bank. Wing walls extend from both ends. The original east side features v-jointed, banded rusticated stone with a picked dressing, stepped voussoirs springing from ashlar impost bands, an ashlar cornice with a concave moulding that simplifies to a string course on the wing walls, and a parapet of three courses of v-jointed, banded rusticated stone with moulded ashlar coping, surmounted by 20th-century steel railings. The piers have a plinth, impost band wrapping around the pointed cutwaters, and ashlar capping. The soffit is of skew-set red brick in stretcher bond, with the voussoirs returning as quoins on both the east and original west faces.

The later west side extension exhibits minor variations including rounded cutwaters, a three-course ashlar cornice with a projecting upper course, and a parapet with a single recessed course of ashlar. A straight joint visible in the piers, abutments, and soffits marks the junction between the two phases. The soffit is supported by ashlar courses with an impost band and diagonally set springers. The quoins of the west side show the blue engineering brick of the 1892 soffit, laid in skew-set English bond. Narrow coursed quarry-faced stone faces the wing walls, terminating in smaller piers. A blocked round-arched opening is present in the north wing wall. Later brick walls abut both ends at right angles but are excluded from the listing.

Adjoining the south end is a bridge (SPC8/1A) of the same date that formerly spanned Derby Canal (now a subway). This bridge, which has a rebuilt steel deck and significantly altered wing walls, is also excluded from the listing.