A Brilliant Morning at Bennerley Viaduct with the B@R Team

A big thank you to everyone who joined the DHBT Buildings at Risk (B@R) team yesterday for a special walking tour of Bennerley Viaduct and the surrounding area. It was wonderful to welcome several new faces alongside our B@R volunteers and longstanding supporters, all brought together by a shared interest in Derbyshire’s industrial heritage.

We enjoyed a relaxed morning in the sunshine with our knowledgeable guides, learning about the story of this remarkable ‘Iron Giant’ - from its construction and 19th-century heyday to the uncertainty that followed the railway closures of the 1960s, and its more recent restoration.

The tour also included a peaceful stroll along the Erewash Canal, spectacular views from the viaduct walkway and a first look at the latest improvements for visitors to the site.

The visit was arranged as part of our Buildings at Risk project in Erewash.

For the DHBT team, one of the most rewarding aspects of the morning was seeing first-hand what a thriving visitor attraction this former structure at risk has become. Its transformation is testament to the dedication of the staff and volunteers at the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct - a genuine B@R success story.

Special thanks go to our guides, Hazel, Philip and Dave, for such an engaging and informative tour, and to the wider Bennerley Viaduct team for helping us arrange the event. If you haven’t visited yet, we would certainly recommend it!

To find out more about our Buildings at Risk project and its progress across the county, email the team at:

volunteers@derbyshirehistoricbuildingstrust