Visitor Centre opening date announced
The new visitor centre and café at Bennerley Viaduct is set to open this month, marking the next milestone in a ten-year project to bring new life to the historic structure.
East Midlands mayor, Claire Ward, will cut the ribbon on Saturday 18 July at the official opening at 10.30 in a formal ceremony that will be celebrated with volunteers and partners of the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct charity. Other local dignitaries will be in attendance, and entertainment will be provided by Shirland Welfare Brass Band and Pigeon Pie Folk Group.
The visitor centre will officially open to the public from midday.
The building, with its Corten steel cladding, is inspired by railway carriages, giving the structure an industrial appearance that reflects the viaduct’s past. The steel is uncoated to minimise future maintenance. The visitor centre houses toilets, an exhibition and education space and informative displays about the history of the viaduct.
The welcoming café will serve refreshments made with locally sourced ingredients.
The visitor centre arrives shortly after completion of the eastern ramp, which opened up an accessible route across the viaduct and was also financed by the Kimberley Means Business Fund.
Regarded as a gem of Victorian railway engineering the viaduct fell into disuse in the 1960s. It was given a new purpose by the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct (FoBV), formed in 2015, who repaired, restored and opened up the structure to walkers and cyclists.
The bridge was built to carry trains across the Erewash Valley between Cotmanhay and Awsworth and as the longer of only two remaining wrought iron railway bridges in the UK, it remains virtually unaltered. The structure soars 18m (60 feet) above ground, extending 442m (a quarter of a mile) across the valley and is recognised as one of the most important industrial heritage sites in the UK.
Chair of FoBV, James Dawson, emphasised that the success of the project was the result of partnerships and teamwork, backed up by the tenacity and hard work of volunteers. “The deck and western ramp project was achieved in partnership with Railway Paths Ltd (RPL), the owners of the viaduct, and financial support from a dozen donors including the National Lottery Heritage Fund. For the eastern ramp and the visitor centre we have Broxtowe Borough Council to thank.
But behind all this are the FoBV members and volunteers, who were responsible for generating public support ten years ago, and have since done so much valuable work caring for the viaduct and promoting it to local communities and general public.”
Broxtowe Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Asset Management & Development, Milan Radulovic MBE, added, “What the FoBV group have been able to achieve in saving, preserving, and improving this part of our local industrial heritage is nothing short of remarkable. Our borough’s industrial past has shaped the lives of so many in Broxtowe and beyond and preserving it for generations to come is of paramount importance.
I’m confident our investment will generate renewed excitement for frequent visitors to the ‘Iron Giant’ but also entice a new audience to come and experience the site, allowing the Friends charity to become self-sufficient.”
Paul Baker, FoBV Operations Director, said the new visitor centre will make all the difference. “Interest in the viaduct has shot up since we made it accessible; the addition of toilets, a cafe and parking will boost visitor numbers and make it possible for people to plan longer visits.”
Access to the new ramp, visitor centre and car park is via Woodiwiss Road, off Shilo Way (A6069) opposite Bennerley View housing development.
