Kielder Viaduct
From the Society's archive.
The forming of new reservoirs often means the submergence of farmhouses and cottages and even villages, but it is a rare occasion, and a great opportunity, when a new reservoir highlights an historical artefact of significance. When the old North British Railway constructed a line up the North Tyne Valley, the crossing of the river near to the Duke of Northumberland’s shooting lodge at Kielder had to be built on the skew with the line of the river. This situation produced arches of great complexity with the stones of the arch gradually changing from aligning with the skew piers to lying at right angles to the line of the bridge at the crown – no mean geometrical problem. The mathematics of this problem were solved by Peter Nicholson of Newcastle upon Tyne, about 1840, and it has been suggested that there are few people today who could solve this problem without reference to Nicholson’s method or modern day computing. See details of Nicholson's method on wikipedia
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Kielder Viaduct
Photo by Sue Howie
Apart from the significance of the Viaduct in the history of Civil Engineering, the edifice is a very elegant example of its kind. It is faced in rough hewn stone, and decorated with embattlements and a ‘cross’ motif above each pier. In 1958, British Railways closed the North Tyne line – a matter of particular regret with the prospect of a fine lakeside route once the reservoir was completed. By 1966, the Viaduct was on the point of being blown up, but was saved at the last minute by the Northumberland & Newcastle Society, who purchased it from the Forestry Commission for a nominal sum – no other responsible body being willing to undertake its preservations. An appeal for funds was immediately started for first aid repairs, mainly the provision of a waterproof membrane to stop water percolating into the arches, and the Viaduct was listed as an ancient monument. Those who contributed to the appeal included the central government, a local Trust, and some local engineers.
When planning permission was given for Kielder Reservoir, it included a condition that the bases of the piers of the viaduct were to be strengthened, as the water would be above the original river level. Subsequently, agreement was reached whereby a modification to the details stated in the planning permission, and agreeable to all parties, enabled the Northumbrian Water Authority to assist with permanent repairs to the Viaduct and for which the Department of the Environment also contributed. This work was competed by the time the Kielder reservoir was opened in 1981.
It is with great pride that The Northumberland and Newcastle Society has been able be involved in the preservation of this important result of British engineering skill for posterity, with the added advantage of the contribution the Viaduct makes to the reservoir landscape.
The Viaduct now serves as a useful element in the recreational footpath system, which has been developed around the reservoir and in the adjoining forest. In fact, in recent weeks, the Forestry Commission has proposed improving the visitor attraction facilities in the vicinity of Kielder Viaduct. The Society has welcomed their proposals to improve the footpaths and access arrangements around the Kielder Viaduct, which will include re-grading and resurfacing the footpath over the Viaduct and also work on the approach footpaths and improving the vehicular access up to and under the Viaduct arches. It is also proposed to repaint the railings and decorative panels which are beginning to show signs of surface deterioration. The Society arranged for these railings to be installed when they acquired the Viaduct as part of making it safe for pedestrians to walk across the old railway tracks
City and County
May 2011
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