Arten Gill Viaduct

Groundwork on site was started in May 1870, with work on the viaduct itself beginning a year later, on 3 May 1871. The parapets were completed in July 1875, with the date being set into the middle stone on each side of the parapet wall. Arten Gill Viaduct is 660 ft long, and 117 ft high, with the parapets being 1,100 ft above sea level. The viaduct has 11 arches, each of which is 45 ft across. Whilst it is largely constructed of sandstone, the inner arches of the viaduct spans (soffit) are made from Dent Marble, as opposed to brick, which was normal practice for viaduct building at that time. The use of Dent Marble has been attributed to the proximity of the quarry, rather than of the need…