Ouse Valley Railway Viaduct the Ouse Valley Railway Viaduct

The Ouse Valley Railway Viaduct is a significant structure located partly in the Parish of Cuckfield Rural. It is a remarkable example of scenic design and is the most important surviving architectural feature of the original layout of the London to Brighton Railway. Designed by John Rastrick and David Mocatta, the viaduct was constructed between 1839 and 1841. It is made of red brick and features 37 tall round-headed arches. Each pier is divided into two sections with a round-headed arch between them and a cornice above, situated below the springing of the main arch. At the top, there is a stone balustraded parapet with narrow round-headed arches and a small square recess over each pier, which projects out on brackets. At both ends of the viaduct, where it connects to the embankment, there are four solid rectangular brick piers topped with small pavilions that have a solid balustrade, three round-headed arches, a modillion eaves cornice, and a nipped tiled roof. These features serve as prominent terminal points of the viaduct, especially visible from passing trains. Sir John Rennie was the chief engineer for the railway line.