The Denby Dale Viaduct
The Railway Viaduct is one of the main landmarks of the village - as it strides across the Dearne Valley carrying the Penistone Railway Line across it.
The viaduct started life in 1846 as a wooden construction, opening in 1850 as part of the newly-constructed Huddersfield to Sheffield railway line - but not before it was badly damaged in a storm and partially rebuilt.
It was an obvious fire hazard, 400 yards long and 112ft high and wobbling as every train travelled over it. Each day, local railway workers had to refill fire buckets with water along its whole length - although by the end of the day, most of the water had slopped out of the buckets due to the vibrations of the trains.
Discussions began in 1867 to replace it with a stone built one, but it was not until 1877 that the local firm Naylors won the contract. Just over two years later it was complete, with an official opening in 1880, although it took another 4 years before the wooden structure was finally dismantled.
