The Ouse Valley Viaduct (also called Balcombe Viaduct) carries the London-Brighton Railway Line over the River Ouse in Sussex. The crossing, which is north of Haywards Heath and south of Balcombe, was completed in 1841. The 11 million bricks needed for its construction were shipped up the Ouse River (via Newhaven and Lewes) from the Netherlands. It cost £38,500 to build. (equivalent to about £3.6 million in 2016)
The viaduct is 96 feet (29 m) high and is carried on 37 semi-circular arches, each of 30 feet (9.1 m), surmounted by balustrades, spanning a total length of 1,480 feet (450 m). Each pier contains a Jack arch with a semi-circular soffit to reduce the number of bricks required. At each end of the abutment is an ornamental square open tower, the brickwork of which is faced with stone from Heddon Quarries near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The viaduct was designed by engineer for the line John Urpeth Rastrick in association with the architect of the London to Brighton railway, David Mocatta. It has been described as “probably the most elegant viaduct in Britain.”
Work to build the ornate viaduct began shortly after an Act of Parliament was passed in July 1837 giving the London & Brighton Railway company assent to construct the line to the south coast. More than 11 million bricks were shipped across the English Channel from the Netherlands to Newhaven and Lewes. Caen stone was also brought from Normandy in France. Building materials were transported to the construction site on barges up the Ouse River Navigation.
These Valley Viaduct or the Balkan Viaduct carries the London Brighton Railway line over the rivers in Sussex it is located to the north of Haywood’s Heath and the south of Balcom known for its ornate design the structure has been described as probably the most elegant viaduct in Britain
Construction of the used Valley Viaduct commenced by the London and Brighton Railway company in 1839 it was designed by the principal engineer for the line John erpathrastrick in association with the architect of the London to Brighton Railway David macata the viaduct is 96 feet high and is carried on 37 semicircular arches each
Of 30 feet surmounted by balustrades spanning a total length of 1480 feet each Pier contains a jack arch with a semicircular soffit which had the benefit of reducing the number of bricks required the roughly 11 million breaks required for its construction were mostly shipped up the river ooze via new Heaven and
Lewis from the Netherlands on July 12 1841 the viaduct was officially open to train Services although the structure was not fully completed until the following year despite the structure’s Fine Design materials and Architectural features the viaduct has had an expensive and problematic history the first major restoration work
Occurred during the 1890s during which sections of the original brickwork were entirely replaced in the belief that this would increase the structure’s strength however the viaduct suffered considerable Decay during the majority of the 20th century by May 1983 the viaduct had been recognized as a grade 2 asterisk listed structure
Between March 1996 and September 1999 the viduct was subject to an extensive restoration by National Rail infrastructure on a rail track this work was part funded by the railway Heritage Trust English Heritage and West Sussex County Council Construction in July 1837 an act of parliament was passed which gave the London and
Brighton Railway company assent to construct its proposed Railway line between London and the South Coast the route selected which was surveyed by a team headed by Sir John Rennie was fairly direct but had the downside of crossing over some relatively hilly Terrain as a consequence of a decision to limit
Gradients along the line to 1 in 264 the construction of a total of four tunnels and a single Viaduct the latter crossing the used Valley between Balcom and Haywood’s Heath in West Sussex was necessary the arched vaulting supporting brick piers construction of the new line commenced
In July 1838 worked to build the ornate Viaduct began during the following year it was designed by the principal engineer for the line John erbethrastrick in association with the architect of the London to Brighton Railway David makata the contractor appointed for its construction was Benjamin Bayless the total cost of the viaducts
Construction reportedly came to 38 500 pounds equivalent to 3.72 million pounds in 2021 the viaduct was designed as a relatively elegant structure being around 1 600 feet in length and carrying a straight line over 37 identical arches each of these semicircular arches had a span of 30 feet and was supported upon
Tapered red brick piers each Pier was almost divided into two separate halves by 9.8 foot vertical voids capped by semicircular rings at the top and base as a weight-saving measure this approach is credited with giving the structure a relatively slender appearance the foundation of each Pier is provided
With two courses of inclined footings which have a total depth of just over 3 feet 3 inches the viaduct is predominantly composed of traditional red bricks and smooth limestone the contrast between the two materials effectively highlights the deck and upper elements of the structure although the Limestone has been subjected to
Considerable weathering and staining since its original installation the brickwork and the Limestone elements have been replaced over time to maintain the structure’s Integrity extend its operational life and restore its appearance to better resemble its original state at its highest point the use Valley Viaduct is 96 feet above the river beneath