by Jeff Wynch
NOW OUT OF PRINT – New (3rd) Edition in preparation and expected during 2026.
[Please note that this publication is offered here to help The Friends of Bennerley Viaduct and the RCHS has had no role in its production. The price of £13.95 includes UK postage, and orders will be forwarded to FoBV for dispatch]
The Bennerley Viaduct, now restored, repaired and repurposed as a walking and cycling route, opened to the public in January 2022. Since then its fame has spread far and wide and thousands of visitors have been attracted to the Grade II* listed structure. To celebrate reaching this major milestone the FoBV have just published the first ever book about the viaduct. The printing of Bennerley Viaduct – the Iron Giant of the Erewash Valley was paid for by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Bridging the Gap project which started in March 2022.
The story opens in the early 1870s when the proposal for a new west to east railway line crossing the Erewash Valley was made, and tells the story of the people who built it, with a particular focus on the design and construction of the viaduct itself. The Iron Giant’s ninety year working life was fairly uneventful apart from its close encounter with a Zeppelin bombing raid in 1916. Things took a dramatic turn in the 1960s when the line was closed and the viaduct was threatened with demolition, only to be saved by some dedicated conservationists. Decades of neglect followed during which hopes of restoring the viaduct rose and fell. It was only about eight years ago that there was any realistic prospect of a restoration project. Even then it has been a roller coaster ride since 2015 when the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct was formed. The book ends on a high note with the 2022 opening ceremony and the tantalising prospect of more exciting developments to come.
The book was officially launched at the Erewash Museum on 30 September. Jeff Wynch, lead author, explained how the book came about: “When we made our bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) for the Bridging the Gap project we rashly included the idea of a book. We thought it would be a fitting celebration of the viaduct’s unique heritage status and of the people who built, saved and preserved it. Our Lottery bid was successful and of course then the book had to be written! Thankfully there was help on hand from several knowledgeable people who provided information for the text and many others who allowed us to use photographs and other illustrations. Special words of thanks are due to Peter Cave for his excellent design and to Moorleys Print and Publishing for the great job they did for us. The Friends are especially grateful to the NLHF for financing the production of the book.”
The book, priced £10 is on sale from the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct at their offices in Castledine House, Heanor Road, Ilkeston, from forthcoming FoBV meetings and events and at a pre-Christmas stall on Ilkeston Market place, or ordered here at £13.95 including UK postage.
Meetings, activities and events are always advertised on the FoBV website, Facebook page and in the newsletter which can be subscribed to free of charge. Another way to get hold of a copy of the book is to email the Friends.