ISSUE ONE ISSUE Viaduct: Bennerley

of DH Lawrence country Lawrence DH of

a wealth of heritage in this corner corner this in heritage of wealth a

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the raid: James Hall and and Hall James raid: the

wrought iron railway viaduct and and viaduct railway iron wrought

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dropped 15 more bombs. bombs. more 15 dropped

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destroying the signal signal the destroying

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bomb fell onto the railway below damaging the line and and line the damaging below railway the onto fell bomb

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were dropped with one narrowly missing the viaduct. The The viaduct. the missing narrowly one with dropped were www.sustrans.org.uk Web:

over the . Here several high explosive bombs bombs explosive high several Here Valley. Erewash the over

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coming from Bennerley Ironworks and at 8.20 pm loomed loomed pm 8.20 at and Ironworks Bennerley from coming E

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E O M walking and cycling route: cycling and walking Franz Stabbert, it is thought, was attracted to the glow glow the to attracted was thought, is it Stabbert, Franz

One of the airships, the L20 captained by Kapitanleutnant Kapitanleutnant by captained L20 the airships, the of One conserving and bringing it into use as a a as use into it bringing and Viaduct Bennerley conserving

Find out more about Sustrans and the progress on on progress the and Sustrans about more out Find

became lost or turned back. back. turned or lost became

mechanical problems some of the airships airships the of some problems mechanical

Due to bad weather, basic navigation and and navigation basic weather, bad to Due

Photo by Steve Cole Steve by Photo

as their targets, crossed the North Sea. Sea. North the crossed targets, their as

airships, with Liverpool and Manchester Manchester and Liverpool with airships,

On Monday 31 January 1916 a fleet of 9 9 of fleet a 1916 January 31 Monday On

Bennerley also survived a Zeppelin raid. raid. Zeppelin a survived also Bennerley

Zeppelin Attack! Zeppelin

Viaduct as a cycleway were put forward. forward. put were cycleway a as Viaduct

Trust was established and plans to re-open Bennerley Bennerley re-open to plans and established was Trust

it, demolition was held off. A Bennerley Viaduct Preservation Preservation Viaduct Bennerley A off. held was demolition it, Viaduct

Public Inquiry was held and because of local demand to keep keep to demand local of because and held was Inquiry Public

Broxtowe and Erewash Borough Councils refused. In 1980 a a 1980 In refused. Councils Borough Erewash and Broxtowe

it started in 1975 when British Rail applied for permission, but but permission, for applied Rail British when 1975 in started it

Bennerley

affording it some protection. The second attempt to demolish demolish to attempt second The protection. some it affording

recognised by English Heritage who listed it as Grade II* II* Grade as it listed who Heritage English by recognised

www.sustrans.org.uk here: here:

the costs were too high. In 1974 its heritage value was was value heritage its 1974 In high. too were costs the

the National Cycle Network. Network. Cycle National the Find out more about Sustrans Sustrans about more out Find

first demolition attempt of Bennerley Viaduct failed because because failed Viaduct Bennerley of attempt demolition first

of the journeys we make every day and the charity behind behind charity the and day every make we journeys the of

were closed following the Beeching report. Fortunately the the Fortunately report. Beeching the following closed were

THE EREWASH VALLEY EREWASH THE

people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for more more for transport public or bike foot, by travel to people

have gone. Most were demolished after the lines they carried carried they lines the after demolished were Most gone. have

Sustrans is the sustainable transport charity that’s enabling enabling that’s charity transport sustainable the is Sustrans , all other wrought iron viaducts in England England in viaducts iron wrought other all Viaduct, Meldon

OF OF GIANT IRON THE

Bennerley Viaduct is a remarkable survivor. Apart from from Apart survivor. remarkable a is Viaduct Bennerley Find Out More Out Find Survivor The rediscovering

Location M1 Bennerley’s Heritage The Bennerley Bennerley Viaduct spans the Nottinghamshire/ border between and Cotmanhay Value puts it in the top Viaduct Story

Aldercar The Company which formed in 1844 had Moorgreen 8% of listed structures LANGLEY a monopoly of trade coming into and sole access to MILL Greasley M1 the thriving collieries of the Erewash Valley. Colliery owners, EASTWOOD in England. businessmen from Derby and directors of the Great Northern Newthorpe HEANOR Railway Company were keen to break the Midland’s stranglehold Bennerley NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Viaduct Giltbrook Watnall Built between May 1876 and November 1877 to carry on trade and they were successful in securing permission from the Great Northern Railway’s line over the Erewash Parliament to construct a new line from Staffordshire to Nottingham Shipley Valley, Bennerley Viaduct has great heritage value. It is via Derby. This ‘Friargate’ line named after its Derby station was KIMBERLEY challenging to build as the natural routes following river valleys had Shipley an outstanding example of the railway architecture of the Park Awsworth been taken up by the Midland. One of the engineering challenges Cinderhill Cotmanhay M1 time surviving in an almost unaltered state. It is also one of was to take the line across the Erewash Valley and over the Mapperley only two wrought iron viaducts left in England. The other Midland’s Railway, the and the Nottingham and Broxtowe DERBYSHIRE Cossall is Meldon Viaduct in Devon, however Bennerley is much Erewash Canals. To do this Bennerley Viaduct was designed.

ILKESTON Strelley Aspley longer. Because of its importance and to help protect it, Due to extensive mining in the area the Great Northern Railway’s West it has been given Grade II* listed status since 1974 which designers needed a design for Bennerley Viaduct which would Hallam Beachdale Bilborough avoid the problems of unstable ground. Resident Engineer Samuel M1 puts it in the top 8% of listed structures in England. It Kirk Little Trowell Scale: Mile Hallam Hallam Abbott and Chief Engineer Richard Johnson came up with a Kilometre spans the Erewash Valley for 440 metres (approximately wrought iron latticework design that was light in weight and could Wollaton ¼ mile) with its deck standing 18 metres (60 feet) above Dale New be built quickly and cheaply. Abbey Stanton the valley floor. Stanton The ironwork was prefabricated by Eastwood, Swingler & Co. of Gate Lenton Erewash Valley TrailStanton-by-Dale Broxtowe Country Trail links Abbey Derby and then assembled on site by the railway construction firm, Bramcote Broxtowe Country Trail Nutbrook Trail Future Plans Benton and Woodiwiss, the metalwork held together by rivets and Broxtowe Country Trail (on road sections) Rivers and Canals STAPLEFORD BEESTON cotter pins. Construction was completed by November 1877 and M1 The viaduct came into the ownership of Sustrans, the the viaduct opened early in 1878. sustainable transport charity, in 1998 as part of a deal Walking & Cycling The line was very profitable and extensions were built into the A great way to getRisley to the Bennerley area is by bike or on to convert 200 miles of disused railways into cycling heart of the coalfield. A familiar sight on the viaduct was steam foot along the many paths and trails. Canals pass close and walking paths. Working with communities and locomotives hauling coal wagons from the nearby collieries. The by both ends of the viaduct and the Erewash Valley Trail partner organisations, Sustrans wants Bennerley Viaduct line also meant that Skegness became the locals’ seaside resort, LONG reachable on day trips from . follows these for much of its route.EATON This beautiful 30 mile conserved and brought into public use by building a path largely traffic-freeBreaston circular trail has multiple access points. In 1948, the railways were nationalised. In 1963, following a report M1 across it. It will connect with a network of routes including Visit: www.erewashvalleytrail.co.ukDraycott for information. by Dr Beeching, the government made plans to close thousands the Erewash Valley Trail and will be a key link in the route Rail links of miles of railway lines and over 2000 stations. The Friargate Line is the closest train station from where it’s a between Nottingham & Derby. was closed with the last passenger train crossing the viaduct in pleasant 3miles\5km ride south along the 1964 and the last goods train in 1968. to the Bennerley area. Long Eaton train station lies 8miles/13km to the south from where it’s an excellent ride north along the canal to Bennerley. Visit: www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times A NEW STATION IS CURRENTLY BEING BUILT FOR ILKESTON. Once completed it will be a short bike ride or walk to Bennerley. Bus links From Nottingham catch Trent Barton’s ‘The Two’ to Bridge Street, Cotmanhay from where it is a short walk to the Erewash Canal. Visit: www.trentbarton.co.uk/ services/two for bus times. From Derby catch Trent Barton’s ‘Ilkeston Flyer’ to Bridge Street, Cotmanhay from where it is a short walk to the Erewash Canal. Visit: www.trentbarton.co.uk/ services/Ilkestonflyer for bus times. Page 45 rediscovering Opened in 1796 the Nottingham Canal met the Erewash D E TW A O R Canal and the in Langley Mill. Driven out G

L of business by the railways it closed to traffic in 1937 and

GRADE E I S THE IRON GIANT OF THE EREWASH VALLEY R only short sections are still in water. North of Newton’s Lane, T E U much of the canal was lost to opencast coal mining in the D T ST RU C 1980’s; however, the stretch by Bennerley Viaduct was Bennerley Viaduct forms a grand centrepiece to a part of reinstated on the original course. the Erewash Valley rich in industrial and natural heritage Today the Nottingham Canal is a haven for wildlife and has Local Nature Reserve status. The former Great Northern Railway bridge over the Nottingham Canal. Bennerley Viaduct early 1877 to late 1878 showing contractor’s temporary Photo courtesy of Michael Golds Paths & Trails railway in foreground. Image courtesy of www.picturethepast.org.uk The Erewash Valley is great for walking and cycling. EREWASH CANAL EREWASH RIVER The map shows public paths and trails around Bennerley Viaduct Erewash Valley Railway including part of the Erewash The railway line that runs under Bennerley Viaduct today Valley Trail - a 30 mile circular trail was originally built by the Erewash Valley Railway Company along both sides of the Erewash to compete with the canals in carrying valuable coal traffic. Valley and following the canals Opening in 1847 it soon became profitable and was quickly most of the way. absorbed into the Midland Visit www.erewashvalleytrail. Railway Company. co.uk for information. The Great Northern Railway Please drop your pace when which Bennerley Viaduct was cycling on canal towpaths. constructed for was built to compete with The Midland

RIVER EREWASH SUGGESTED ACCESS POINT Railway for this lucrative trade.

Erewash Canal The VIADUCT Running for 11¾ miles between the and Langley Bridge Inn VIEWING

Page 46 Page ENNERLEY POINT Mill, the Erewash Canal was completed in 1779, built largely SUGGESTED B VIADUCT ACCESS POINT Wildlife ACCESS to transport coal from the Erewash Valley pits. EREWASH CANAL FOOTBRIDGE UNDERNEATH A rich variety of wildlife habitats are found around Bennerley More commercially successful CURRENTLY BENNERLEY than the Nottingham Canal it CLOSED VIADUCT Viaduct with the whole valley forming an important wildlife was never taken over by the (2016/17) corridor. Plant life includes several orchid species while railways. animal life includes grass snake, great Managed today by the Canal crested newt and water vole. In the river and River Trust, it is still open white-clawed crayfish and otter have to boats for its whole length ROADSIDE NEWTON’S LANE been spotted while kingfishers breed in PAVEMENT Barn Owl the banks. Barn owls are frequently seen and connects to the inland Photographer: Paul Shaw. waterway network. on the viaduct, their presence indicating a rich supply of smaller animals in the area. N Water Vole EWT ON’S LANE Photographer: Richard Pitman. Bats fly around the viaduct in the warmer SUGGESTED months in the late evening, feeding on the

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DH Lawrence Country R N

E G W H A DH Lawrence knew the area well. He refers to the rattle of A S M H

C trains going over Bennerley Viaduct and the glow of the V KEY: A A N L AWSWORTH ROAD A ironworks which lay immediately to its north. L L RIVER EREWASH E Y

His fiancée lived in nearby Cossall so he would have R Erewash Valley Trail A I River Erewash & floodplain L walked from his home in W A Y The River Erewash gives its name to the valley and forms the

Eastwood around this part of L I Other public paths and N county boundary between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire E the valley. trails around Bennerley EREWASH CANAL Y for much of its course between Kirkby-in-Ashfield and the Viaduct A W COME River Trent. L O T L E I O H It flows south Bus Stops S W under Bennerley Viaduct into an

D area that seasonally DH Lawrence museum in Eastwood. Y H Scale: Mile floods providing an R

important site for L T Kilometre A N wetland birds. W U View south from the viaduct showing the River R O Erewash and its floodplain. ENCE C

Common Blue Butterfly Photographer: Paul Shaw.