Workers dismantle the Hook Norton Viaduct, which was built in 1885 and stretched eight 100ft lengths across nine stone pillars. – Vintage Photograph

In February 1958, four men contracted by British Railways began the demolition process of the Hook Norton Viaduct, a railway bridge built in 1885 that spanned Duck’s Pool Farm in Oxfordshire, England. The viaduct, which cost two million pounds when it was built, was gradually being taken apart with the longest stretch featuring nine stone pillars, some of them 85 feet above the ground, being smashed and twisted between the sturdiest piers. The men used oxy-acetylene equipment to cut up the fallen spans, with one end still resting against a pillar. The contract for the demolition work was given to J. O’Connell, of Coatbridge, Scotland, with the hope of getting about 2000 tons of metal from the viaduct. The stone pillars, measuring 20 feet by 10 feet at the base, are being left like fingers pointing skywards as relics of the steam age.In February 1958, four men contracted by British Railways began the demolition process of the Hook Norton Viaduct, a railway bridge built in 1885 that spanned Duck’s Pool Farm in Oxfordshire, England. The viaduct, which cost two million pounds when it was built, was gradually being taken apart with the longest stretch featuring nine stone pillars, some of them 85 feet above the ground, being smashed and twisted between the sturdiest piers. The men used oxy-acetylene equipment to cut up the fallen spans, with one end still resting against a pillar. The contract for the demolition work was given to J. O’Connell, of Coatbridge, Scotland, with the hope of getting about 2000 tons of metal from the viaduct. The stone pillars, measuring 20 feet by 10 feet at the base, are being left like fingers pointing skywards as relics of the steam age.

Dimensions: 18.9 x 25.5 cm

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OCR computer generated text:

3″ LAM Ha

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-4 FEB 1966 fad Fiter only 80 years 0 service the Hook Norton viaciuc, which cost twa mens ires when it was buil: in 1885, is gradually crash- ing to the valley below. A reacy the longest stretch af he viaduct, eight 100ft engths arried on nine stone pilars, some of them 85 feet above the ground, is being dismarted. Only cne length is intact on this stre ch. The seve thers e crooked, twisted and smashed between the sarestere piers. The remarkable thing about the demolition is that although it took 200 me almost two years to com- plete the viaduct, it will be demolished in about si vekst four Scotsmen.. The contract for the demo- Sition work was given b 3rtsh Railways to J. Connell, of Coatbridge, nea- – 4 FEB 958 Crash end to giant viaduct Glasgow, and yesterday Mr. John McPartland and Mr. Tom Lecgerwoce were cut- ting the massive ron girders. Mr. McPartland said the fi-m hopes to get about ,000 tens of metal from the via- duct, which w be taker a vay by lorries and solc Iccally. “It makes a fait crash when the girde’s fall” he said. “There’s no doub 772 about it, they Enew how to bui d bridges.” The men are 10 using ex- plosive to fell the bridge sec ions, but they cut one end free and le the sections fall These are then dis- mantled on the ground. Cne of the nazards they face is the bitumen paint on the metal, which flares and smokes as they cut. The viaduct spanned Ducks Pocl Farm and when it was being built a Roman burial urn was found. The stone pers measure 20 eet by 10 feet at the base anc are to remain like fingers pointing skywards as relics of the steam age. They may, however, be useful for mountaineering practice. The picture shows one of the fallen spans being cut up with oxy-acetylene equipment. One end still rest against a pillir.