Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Scheduled Monument
- List Entry Number:
- 1002631
- Date first listed:
- 11-Jun-1976
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Scheduled Monument
- List Entry Number:
- 1002631
- Date first listed:
- 11-Jun-1976
Location
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Devon
- District:
- West Devon (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Okehampton Hamlets
- National Park:
- Dartmoor
- National Grid Reference:
- SX 56472 92348
Summary
Viaduct known as Meldon Viaduct, 330m south east of Meldon Farm.
Reasons for Designation
Despite necessary modern refurbishment to maintain the structural integrity and safety of the superstructure, Meldon Viaduct is dramatic in terms of both its location in a steep valley and its appearance as an intricate metal bridge of complex appearance. Described as a ‘monument to Victorian engineering ingenuity’ it is the last surviving high metal viaduct in the country.
History
See Details.
Details
This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 16 November 2015. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.
This monument includes a 19th century viaduct situated at Meldon and crossing the deep valley of the West Okement River. The viaduct survives as an approximately 165m long wrought iron trestle bridge completed in 1874 to carry the LSWR railway from Exeter to Plymouth. The viaduct is composed of two structures each carrying a set of tracks. Six girder spans are supported by lattice piers of flanged and riveted wrought iron. The tallest pier is approximately 37m high. The bridge is supported on massive masonry footings.
The railway line closed in the 1960s but the viaduct continued in use as a lorry road for Meldon Dam construction traffic until 1971 and for shunting goods trains from the nearby stone quarry. Following refurbishment it was officially re-opened in 2002 as a cycle route and footpath forming part of the ‘Granite Way’.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- DV 908
- Legacy System:
- RSM - OCN
Sources
Other
PastScape Monument No:-440878
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 08-Jun-2026 at 09:52:27.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.