Wharncliffe Viaduct
Historic site · Hanwell, England
The Wharncliffe Viaduct carries the Great Western main line across the Brent valley between Hanwell and Southall. It has eight semi-elliptical arches each spanning 70 ft (21 m), a deck 20 m (66 ft) above the ground, and is 270 m (890 ft) long and 17 m (56 ft) wide. It is listed Grade I as NHLE 1358811. The viaduct has no postcode of its own, and the addressed public access on the Hanwell side is Brent Lodge Park, Church Road, W7 3BP.
History
It was the first major structure Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed and was built in 1836-37. The Grade I listing, NHLE 1358811, was first made on 8 November 1949. The viaduct was widened in 1877 by an extra row of piers and arches on the north side, and the broad gauge was converted to standard gauge in 1892, which is when there was width for four standard-gauge tracks. Its piers are hollow and are used as a bat roost.
Visit
Brent Lodge Park, Church Road, Hanwell, London W7 3BP
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