A new lease of life for Blandford Arches
The newly restored Blandford Railway Arches are looking magnificent! The derelict arches are all that remain of the viaduct crossing the floodplain of the River Stour, a monument to the closed Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway from Bath to Poole. Due to their dangerous condition they had to be fenced off from the public.
WDA took on the conservation of the arches as a Pro Bono Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project on behalf of the community, as Director Phil Easton has a childhood connection with the steam railway.
The work consisted of rebuilding damaged brickwork, creating a staircase access, providing railings and levelling the track bed. This has created a public view point, open daily, enabling visitors to look out over the river and water meadows.
Phil assisted the editing of the fascinating information panels designed by local artist which describe the history of the railway and the wildlife that can be seen from and around the arches.
Access is free, so if you’re in the area, why not go along and take a look!
Published 27 October 2021
