Foundations of Hewenden

The Hewenden Viaduct at Cullingworth in Yorkshire is one of those marvels of Victorian engineering. Built int the 1880s to bear goods and passenger trains, it predictably fell foul of the 1960s Beeching cuts. Yet it still stands solid, and provides an interesting cycle and footpath to those exploring that part of the county. This is all the more remarkable considering the unstable ground over which it passes and into whose mud its foundations sink. Standing at a height of 123 feet and spanning a distance of 576 yards, it required 17 arches, with foundations sunk to depths of over 60 feet. Various other precautions were taken to ensure that the arches were not slowly cosumed by the quagmire below. So tall and impressive though the visible structure is, it goes much deeper still, and required more work than the casual observer might assume.

Whosoever then heareth of me these words, and doeth the same, I will liken him to a wise man, which hath builded his house on a rock: And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not: for it was grounded on a rock, But whosoever heareth these my words, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which hath builded his house upon the sand: And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell, and the fall thereof was great.

Matthew 7:24-27, Geneva Bible (1599)