This event is part of the On My Watch series and took place virtually on Thursday, April 22, 2021, at 1 PM (EDT). See below for more information on the discussion, including the event recording, description, and speaker information.
Event Description
Built in 1877 to carry an important railway line across Erewash Valley in Nottinghamshire, Bennerley Viaduct is one of the two last remaining wrought-iron viaducts in England. Although the structure has been out of use since 1968, efforts to demolish it have failed, facing local resistance and objection. Today, a group of local volunteers, supported by the site owners, are aiming to reconnect the communities on either side of the Erewash River. Spotlighted by the 2020 World Monuments Watch, Bennerley Viaduct is being revitalized as part of a UK-wide and global movement to transform disused railway routes into trails for walking, cycling, and to strengthen social ties, health, and well-being.
Join us on Thursday, April 22 at 1:00 pm (EDT) // 6:00 pm (BST) for an On My Watch virtual discussion on the plan to restore Bennerley Viaduct and transform it into a recreational venue encouraging outdoor exercise and community gathering, putting heritage at the heart of health and well-being. The conversation will feature Kieran Lee, Community Engagement Officer from the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct; Tim Dunn, railway architecture historian, author, and broadcaster/TV presenter; and Rebecca Chan, Executive Director of Friends of the Rail Park in Philadelphia. The event will be hosted by WMF Britain Executive Director, John Darlington.
Date: Thursday, April 22
Time: 1:00 pm (EDT) // 6:00 PM (BST)