Chappel Viaduct
The Chappel viaduct was built for the Colchester and Stour extension of the Eastern Counties Railway between 1847 and 1849. Originally planned as a timber structure the viaduct was built of locally made brick, due to the additional cost of maintaining a timber structure. Appoximately 600 men were involved in the construction, most of whom were local East Anglians, the cost of construction was approximately £21,000. The viaduct consisted of 32 arches of 30 feet (9 m) span, with a total length of 1,136 feet (346 m) long, and a maximum height of 80 feet (24 m). The piers consist of two shafts, separated by a 6' opening, and joined at top and bottom by arches; each shaft contain a hollow void 4' by 3' maximum, partially filled with concrete to the level of the bottom arch. The running level of the viaduct has a gradient of 1 in 120
The viaduct became a listed monument in 1967, is thought to be the second largest brick-built structure in England.
The first passenger train to Sudbury, carrying an official party from Colchester, ran on 2 July 1849. The viaduct currently takes the Marks Tey to Sudbury branch line (Stour Valley Railway), which connects regularly with trains to and from London's Liverpool Street Station.
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