Coatdyke, Centenary Avenue, Railway Viaduct Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK
Listed Building Description
Text courtesy of Historic England. © Crown Copyright, reprinted under the Open Government License.
1860-1863. Viaduct of 9 deep segmental arches (1 on high bank to E), crossing Centenary Avenue and W corner of Centenary Park. Bull-faced sandstone battered piers, voussoirs; polished ashlar impost courses and wallhead band courses below bull-faced parapet with railings. Circular iron tie-plates.
Listed Building Statement of Special Interest
© Crown Copyright text courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland, reprinted under the Open Government License.
Built as part of the Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway for the Monkland Railways from Sunnyside to Armadale to link with the line from Bathgate and also spanning the South Burn (now partially submerged). Monkland Railways was formed in 1848 with the merger of the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway, the Ballochney Railway and the Slamannan Railway, all of which were built to service the regional coal and iron industry. The viaduct follows the form of engineers, Thomas Grainger and John Miller's earlier designs (Hurlford, Kilmarnock), though Miller had ceased to practice by 1849. Grainger and Miller were the engineers for the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway (1823-1826). Latterly the property of the North British Railway and LNER, prior to the nationalisation of the railways, the viaduct still serves the line between Drumgelloch and Glasgow Queen Street station (2003). Coatbridge and Airdrie were once heavily industrialised communities and their history is based on the great expansion of coal mining and iron smelting during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The rail networks were extensive and responded to this great economic development. The layout of modern day Coatbridge and Airdrie is still defined by its various railway viaducts and bridges and it is their architectural design which now act as landmarks, contributing greatly to the town centre and its periphery. The viaduct at Centenary Avenue acts as a gateway feature of the area, particularly from the Coatbridge's eastern approach from Airdrie.
Listed Building References
© Crown Copyright text courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland, reprinted under the Open Government License.
1st edition Ordnance Survey (1864). Website: www.railscot.co.uk/Bathgate_and_Coatbridge_Railway. Additional information courtesy of North Lanarkshire Council.