In search of an old viaduct

WillowTheWhisp · 15-07-2004, 21:41

Inspired by mention elsewhere of the viaduct which used to exist down Priestley Clough we went for a walk earlier this evening and got chatting to a lady there who remembered the old viaduct and when it was demolished.

She told us that it had stood for many years after the railway line was closed down and people often went for a walk down there, just as they do now.

However it was demolished in the 1980s - when she asked the workmen why they told her is was because it was unsafe and yet when they tried to demolish it, it proved to be so firm and solid that they had to take it apart stone by stone. The foundations still remain in places and a new bridge has been (twice) built on them to carry the footpath across the river.

This latest version of the new bridge has only been open a few months.

She also told us of the death of someone who she and I both knew over 20 years ago - he either fell from the bridge, was pushed or committed suicide. Not long after his death the decision was made to demolish the bridge and she speculated that it probably had more to do with the death than with the stability of the structure.

Here are some photos taken on our walk.

Gobsmacked · 15-07-2004, 22:12

Nice photos. Where exactly is this located?

Doug · 15-07-2004, 22:12

Sorry to hear that its gone willow. as kids up ferngore (Miller Fold) we use to go down there a lot. I have many happy memoires of Priestley Clough and woodnook water.

I hope you enjoyed your walk willow and thank you for making the effort to find something I remember from my past, something I'm still proud of.

But I was right..it was there. Who was the chap that died, anyone we may know.

Perran · 15-07-2004, 22:23

I grew up in and around Baxenden and spent many hours messing around on the old railway track. The cubs and scouts used to practice their campfire lighting and tracking skills down on the track bed.

Before the viaduct was demolished there was a footbridge that ran along the side about halfway down. Absolutely rotten! It was a dare to walk or run across it. Almost came cropper a few times! When they demolished it at first it was part of this bridge that was straddled across the gap to enabled people to cross. It was just a flat piece of iron, no handrails or anything. Never did know why they really demolished it but know a few people got hurt acting stupid around there and there was arisk from falling stonework. Don't think the lads death had a major role in the final decision.

The viaduct can be reached by going down Hill St in Baxenden. Turn right at the bottom will take you to Nuttall Street past Hollins etc Left will take you to Rising Bridge Hollands pies. Straight on over the stile will take you down Priestley Clough.

If you look closely you can see the foundations of the mill or hospital chimney (Can never remember which it is!) just on the right as you drop down into the clough.

Gobsmacked · 15-07-2004, 22:54

I don't think it was a "lad" who died there. Wasn't it a middle aged chap? I recall a bridge down there over the river a few years ago looked to me made of something like a seaside pier.

WillowTheWhisp · 15-07-2004, 23:10

Yes now you're in the right place Gobsmacked. The lady we spoke to was talking about the previous bridge to the one that we photographed. She said the planks of wood cost about £100 each at the time and were imported from Norway. That one was recently removed and replaced by what you see now.

Yes it was an adult gentleman who died there. He used to have the embroidery shop in Little Blackburn Road.

Gobsmacked · 15-07-2004, 23:13

Not Jack Wilkinson???!!!

JohnW · 16-07-2004, 11:23

Actually it was a guy called Jack Wilkinson. The only reason I know this is because he had the same name as my father.

I think referring to the viaduct as being at Priestly Clough is a little misleading. It was actually at Shoe Mill and that was the name of the signal box which stood a few yards north of the viaduct. I spent many hours down there in my early life. If you go to Atarah's site "Accrington Uncovered" go to the "Industry" section and page through the photographs, she has a picture of the "Shoe Mill" showing the viaduct in the background. If she reads this, perhaps she would be kind enough to post it on here for all to see. In the meantime, here is a picture of the signal box, the viaduct would be to the right of the picture.

WillowTheWhisp · 16-07-2004, 12:33

Yes and yes. In answer to both the above posts.

The gentleman who died there was the man who had the embroidery shop as I said and his name was Jack Wilkinson. The lady we spoke to last night knew him and so did I. Until that conversation I had never actually known the circumstances of his death.

The viaduct in question, the one we photographed not being there, is named if you look at my first photo. You can see the name Show Mill Viaduct and in the second photo you see the carving which represents it. There were apparently four arches to this viaduct so it wasn't a big one like the one which runs through the town centre crossing various main roads (Whalley Road, Blackburn Rd, Hyndburn Rd) and is the main backdrop to the landscaped roundabout with floral features. Also, or so the lady told us, there was another bridge further downstream but she said you couldn't call that a viaduct because it only had one arch so she called it a bridge.

On the subject of bridges the Manchester line also went over a lodge behind Victoria St didn't it? I think the bridge supports are still there.

JohnW · 16-07-2004, 12:42

If I remember rightly, there were FIVE arches not four. Having said that, my memory is not what it used to be. Looking at the picture on the "Accrington Uncovered" site, only four arches are visible, but the structure 'suggests' there is another arch, hidden by the Shoe Mill chimney in the foreground.

WillowTheWhisp · 16-07-2004, 12:45

I'm only going off the carving and the plaque which says 4. I'll see if I can find that photo on Atarah's site and have a look at it.

WillowTheWhisp · 16-07-2004, 13:19

I found the pic on Atarah's site and she calls it '5 Arches'. Also I can see what you mean about the pic. It does certainly look as if there is another arch behind the chimney even though you can't see it. I wonder perhaps if someone, who had never seen the viaduct itself, saw this old photo and simply counted the four visible arches? If you look on the plaque in my photo it does say that the carvings were done by children (who wouldn't have been alive when the viaduct was there presumably) with the help of an artist who may not have been local. I don't know anything about him. Does anyone else?

Uncle Mick · 16-07-2004, 16:45

The viaduct was locally known as Five Arches. The path from Woodnook to Baxenden is being renovated as part of the National Cycleway (Route No 6) by Sustrans in partnership with Lancs County Council, for use by walkers, bikes and horse riders
www.sustrans.org.uk

Perran · 18-07-2004, 22:16

Ok I stand corrected in the "lad" sentence although im pretty sure there was an incident involving a young lad. Everything else is true, 5 arches and the area around was my hunting ground although i havent visited for about 2 years. I used to live at the top of Hill Street on Manchester Road. I am talking late 70s early 80s to give a timescale. I would say the viaduct itself went about 83 and the first proper footbridge was built about 18mths later. Before that it was as stated, the path/railbed sloped steeply down to the where the middle arch would have been. A piece of iron was placed across this gap. It was the side of a bridge and had rivets and was welded with raised up edges. Unsafe to ride your bike across and about 7 foot wide.

Many many hours were spent down there.

WillowTheWhisp · 18-07-2004, 22:21

Yes, the lady we spoke to said the viaduct was demolished in the 80s. I suppose if we tracked down Jack Wilkinson's date of death we'd know the actual year as it was after he died that it was pulled down. There may have been something at an earlier time too which involved a younger person.