Meldon viaduct

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Scheduled Monument
List Entry Number:: 1002631
Date first listed:: 11-Jun-1976

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Official 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.