Upperton Road Viaduct: Building Recording and Investigation

Oxford Archaeology (OA) was commissioned by Leicester City Council to carry out a programme of built heritage recording at Upperton Road Viaduct, Leicester. The viaduct was constructed c.1898 and carries the Upperton Road over the course of the Great Central Railway. It is a good example of late Victorian engineering and includes an elegant skew arch bridge over the Old River Soar with a box girder bridge on the approach from the west. The expanse of brickwork gives it a solid and substantial appearance which is enhanced by riveted steel girders visible on its underside. Incorporated into its design is some attractive brick detailing. It represents a complex network of transport links with the Upperton Road being carried across another road, a right of way, several railway tracks, and a river.
It is due to be demolished and replaced with a new low-level highway, a new bridge over the old River Soar, and a pedestrian/cycle crossing. The recording was undertaken at English Heritage Level II as defined in ‘Understanding Historic Buildings: a Guide to Good Recording Practice’ (2006).
The overall aim of this project was to investigate and record the viaduct in advance of its
demolition, concentrating on the structure’s construction, history, use, phasing, and how it fitted into the overall local railway network. The main objective of this work was to create an ordered and permanent record to be deposited with the Leicester City Archives.