THE most interesting picture of the viaduct under construction in last week's Gazette probably dates from autumn 1898.
Work had begun on the 14 and a half mile line from Stert to Westbury in 1897 and was completed in about three years. The line opened for goods trains on 29 July 1900 with passenger trains running from 1901. The contractor was Messrs Pawling and Co. The photo shows the centers in position for three arches with at least three further arches completed at the Patney end of the viaduct. The bricks in the foreground would be used for the incomplete arches and raising the brick walls along the whole length of the structure which is by far the largest piece of engineering on the line. The occasion of the photo may have been the ' topping out' ceremony and was obviously carefully staged for the photographer.
The bricks were probably from Staffordshire not Devizes.
B CROSBIE-HILL
Dawlish
Devon
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