Crowning Glory

Viaduct on its way!

Bennerley Viaduct is set to be open to the public by the end of the year. Work on the 144-year-old wrought iron structure was made possible thanks to a £1.4 million investment, with funding from 13 organisations including Historic England and the Railway Heritage Trust.

The viaduct has been closed for 53 years but the hard work of the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct and a number of organisations will see the structure brought back to life for public use. Work has taken place in three phases. The first involved critical repair and restoration work to pier bases, brick abutments and some ironwork repairs. The second phase saw the construction of an access ramp up to the deck.

The third phase of work is due to start this month and will involve the installation of new steps and a full length deck at the top of the structure that people can walk and cycle across. The Friends of Bennerley Viaduct is a charity made up of volunteers and has received community grant funding from Erewash Borough Council. They have been working in partnership with the viaduct owners, Railway Paths Limited.

Kieran Lee, community engagement officer for the Friends, said: “This project has been six or seven years of planning and getting the funding in place, with the work being carried out over the past 18 months.”

Drone shot of Viaduct

Photo supplied by Paul Atherton

Photo shows the aerial shot of the ramp under construction

Crowning glory

Award-winning local artist Joy Pitts has created a stunning fabric 471name ‘crown’ during lockdown, crafted using name tags, badges, buttons and even a belt buckle to celebrate just some of the workers and volunteers in Erewash.

Artist Joy gathered names from some of the essential services in Erewash, including GP surgery staff, volunteers, Ilkeston Community Hospital workers and other NHS staff, Trent Barton bus drivers, the Post Office and care and retail support and the council’s own refuse collection teams – and more – for the project.

The 471 names have been individually monogrammed by Joy onto discontinued woven clothing labels and attached to canvas using dressmaker pins. Also included in the corona are used clothing labels, silk thread and a ladies diamante belt buckle.

The celebration corona was on display at Ilkeston’s Juice Bar on Bath Street during the summer. The project was funded by the Arts Council England. Visit joypitts.co.uk If you can give hope, help and a home to a child that needs it, Derbyshire County Council would love to hear from you. Find out everything you need to know at derbyshire.gov.uk/ fostering or call 0800 083 7744

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