Image ID: 08814

Smeatons Arches, Newark-on-Trent

Courtesy of Antoine

Smeatons Arches
Newark On Trent
England

Smeatons Arches. Newark on Trent. The seventy-four Newark Flood Arches, bunched in eight groups, carry the A616, once the Great North Road, over the River Trent valley from Newark north west to South Muskham. See http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2533436 http://www.aerialphotography.org.uk/keyword/smeatons%20arches#!i=1824932542&k=7RNPmZb (Information kindly supplied by Vic Smith). This is a view of part of the causeway which carries the Great North Road from Newark to Muskham bridge. After the considerable flood of 1766, John Smeaton was asked to find a way to keep the road operational at times of future flooding. Originally consisting of 125 arches, there are now 74 remaining, in sections of different lengths. These sections of viaduct together with embankments, form the causeway which crosses the flood plain of the River Trent, and so allows flood water to pass beneath parts of the Great North Road. The sections of viaduct are known locally as, 'Smeaton's Arches'. In 1929 the Great North Road was widened, and to accommodate this, the arches were extended by about 14 feet on the west side. This view is of the west side, and at the time of widening, except for the parapet which resembles the original brickwork, the general appearance of the original structure was replicated in concrete, as seen in this image. (As the water flows from the west, this concrete extension provides effective protection for the original structure.) The arches each span a distance of about 15 feet, and the width of the structure, before widening, was about 33 feet. The Great North Road is the A616 at this point, and these nine arches of the viaduct are immediately north of the roundabout where the A46, A617 and the A616 meet.The two telephone poles would be supporting the wires for telephone calls between Newark and towns to the north. (There would have been many more poles continuing the route to the left and right.) The poles behind the arches and towards the left, support power cables carrying electricity to the sugar beet factory, which is further to the left. The section of viaduct nearest to Muskham Bridge has 18 arches, and on the road side of the east wall is a plaque which includes the information that: 74 arches were strengthened and refurbished in 1990 by the Nottinghamshire County Council. Ref: http://www.biffvernon.freeserve.co.uk/smeaton's_viaduct.htm (Note: A6065 is now A616)Ref: http://www.smeatonslakes.co.uk/why-smeaton.phpRef: Google Earth: 53 05 02 77 N; 0 49 01 11 W (Additional information very kindly supplied by Roger).

Date: 1900 - 1999

Organisation Reference: NCCE002772

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