Charlton Viaduct

Charlton Viaduct
Coordinates	51.1895°N 2.5334°W / 51.1895; -2.5334
Carries	Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway
Crosses	River Sheppey
Locale	Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England
Heritage status	Grade II* listed building
Characteristics
Material	Stone and brick
Total length	317 yards (290 m)
Height	45 feet (14 m)
No. of spans	27
History
Construction start	1870s
Opened	1874
Closed	1966
Location

Charlton Viaduct is a disused railway bridge in Shepton Mallet within the English county of Somerset. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]

The bridge was built in the 1870s to carry the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. It carried the railway over the River Sheppey. Originally the stone bridge carried a single railway track but was widened to carry a second track in 1892 using red bricks.[2]

It consists of 27 segmental arches each of which has a span of 28 feet (8.5 m).[3][4] It is on a curve of 30 chains (600 m) radius falling at 1 in 55 from each end to the midpoint.[5] To cope with the curve the arches are strengthened by pilasters.[6]

It can be seen from the grounds of Kilver Court where it forms a feature.

See also

• Transport portal
• Engineering portal
• Somerset portal

References

1. "Charlton Viaduct". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
2. "Shepton Mallet Viaducts". Southern E-Group. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
3. "Charlton Viaduct". historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
4. "Charlton Viaduct". Engineering Timelines. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
5. Otter, R.A. (1994). Civil Engineering Heritage: Southern England. London: Thomas Telford Ltd. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-7277-1971-3.
6. "Charlton Viaduct". Forgotten Relics. Retrieved 21 October 2016.

External links

• Aerial video of the viaduct