Cannington Viaduct, Nr Uplyme, Devon

Opened in 1903, this 600ft viaduct was the first in Britain to be constructed in concrete. Unfortunately, the builders ran into problems when subsidence was discovered between two of the arches. This was subsequently reinforced by a fill-in arch, which gives it an unusual and distinctive look. It is the only remaining part of the Axminster to Lyme Regis railway branch line, which was closed in 1965 during the 'Beeching Cuts'.

The viaduct can be seen from the A3052 road between Seaton and Lyme Regis, and looks quite toy-like nestling between the hills. Close to, its impressive height has a slightly oppressive quality, and seems incongruous to be spanning a quiet country lane in the middle of a farming and village community.  There's a slight high-pitched singing from the wire attached beneath the span too, which is a little eerie.

A short distance along the lane is Shapwick Grange Chalk Quarry, which also adds to the otherworldliness of the landscape. I didn't know it was there until I looked at the maps on-line before going, and was really chuffed to be able to explore that too while there. Please note though, that since my visits to the quarry it is no longer abandoned but is now being re-worked, therefore access may not be possible.

The photo of the viaduct below, taken from the quarry.

My first visit to the viaduct was in November 2007, followed by a further explore the following year with a friend, at which time we investigated the possibility of walking across it. As it happened, the bridge was fenced off and totally overgrown. Mind you, I'm totally acrophobic, so I wasn't keen on walking over if it had been accessible! Not least because of the tiny ridge of earth across to the bridge with massive drops either side, below.

 

However, late in 2010, another friend had been told that it's now accessible, and invited me to join him to investigate. It was indeed accessible, and the following photos show some of the walk across and the views from the top.

I have to admit that there were moments of complete frozen terror for me whenever I remembered what wasn't between me and terra firma, but it was so well worth it. 

Below...that's a long way to go to get to the end! 

By the way, I must apologise for the bad quality of some of the photos; I seem to have had a bad camera day, plus the printer managed to lose half of the first film in the machine (recoverable later, fortunately). The biggest problem with 35mm photography is that you don't know what you've got until the films are processed, and it isn't always possible to go back and retake them...as in this case!

Cracks in the concrete walls didn't inspire my confidence, lol!

Looking back, below.

Fantastic views through the grills in the parapet walls...

...with the lane looking like a stream in the low Winter sunlight.
 

Finally reached the western end.

Very overgrown at that end and no way off, which meant, of course, going back the way we came. I was very much hoping we didn't have to do that! ;) 

A final photo of the fantastic view over the parapet; lower due to the build-up of earth from the trees and shrubs growing on the bridge, then a much-needed ciggy break before the journey back across to the start.

Next article up, Shapwick Grange Quarry just along the lane. :) 

     

Derelict Farm Worker's Cottage, Colyford, Devon

This is a bit of a mystery. I was told that it used to be a cottage belonging to a nearby farm. But it's so overgrown during the summer that only the roof can be seen, and appears to be extraordinarily tiny. However, exposure during the winter reveals more to this building than meets the eye.

I'd often noticed it while going past on the bus and one day on the way home I decided to cut short my journey to investigate.

Despite the frustration of too much undergrowth and not being able to get a proper look all the way around, or clear photos of some of it, it was a lovely little mooch and some intriguing detective work. The undergrowth was far worse than it looks on the photos - a machete would have been helpful! - and was mostly impassable, but it was fun trying and I managed to get through from the side.

Interestingly, I've since discovered that very old farm buildings that we today would consider tiny, were home to quite large families. There are remains of these - sometimes just the basic foundations - dotted around the Devon countryside and usually hidden from view in small woods and coppices.

However, what appeared to be tiny was, in fact, only part of an altogether larger structure. The rear wall is over twice the length of the frontage and only the rear and end walls of the right-hand side of the cottage still remain.

 

 

It was walking behind the rear wall that made me realise the building was longer than appeared at the front. The above photos show the end of the rear wall, which was as far as I could go...or wanted to, in case I fell down into what looked like a steep pit the other side.  

 



















 

The other oddlty is a small porch-like structure at the rear of the building. There's no access between it and the building, and I did wonder if it was originally an outside toilet. But, I now realise that it must have been the porch entrance to the front door, taken off and dumped at the back when the frontage was either demolished or became unsafe.

With the front more exposed during winter, and by wriggling through some of the hedge at the front, I could see that the right end wall of the intact part of the cottage was once inside, and could see the rear wall of the right side. It's impossible to explore that side due to the coppice of trees and brambles which have grown up and around it. Also there is the considerable drop to the same level of the ground floor or a cellar beneath, which I thankfully managed to avoid falling down!

 

It can't be seen on the photo, due to the intense undergrowth, but there is a door halfway up the erstwhile inside wall. 

  
Altogether a nice little mystery and a rather interesting explore, despite the struggle through the undergrowth to see it. Then a nice walk of just over a mile home and a well-deserved cuppa.