Martholme Viaduct

The viaduct was built to carry the Great Harwood Loop (also known as the North Lancashire Loop) of the East Lancashire Line, owned by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (LYR). It crosses the River Ribble between Great Harwood and Read and was designed by Sturges Meek, the LYR's chief engineer. Construction began in 1870 but was beset with problems and the line did not open until. The line required deep cuttings at one end, the spoil from which was to be used to build the embankments needed at the other end, which required it to be transported a distance of around three miles (five kilometres). A large coalfield is located underneath the route and a colliery was located near the site of…

The viaduct is 170 yd on a sharp curve. It is built from snecked gritstone (local sandstone) and faced with rock with brick soffits. It has ten semi-circular arches, each of 40 ft span, and reaches a maximum height of 65 ft above the valley. The arches spring from impost bands. Above them is a solid parapet. The viaduct is now part of a walking and cycling trail. It is a Grade II listed building, a status which provides it with legal protection, first designated in March 1984.