Kirkstall Viaduct, Leeds

The Kirkstall Viaduct, also known as Kirkstall Road Viaduct, is an impressive Grade II listed railway structure located in Burley, Leeds. Built in 1849, this historic viaduct was designed by engineer Thomas Grainger for the Leeds and Thirsk Railway, serving as a critical piece of infrastructure for the Harrogate line. The viaduct spans approximately 440 meters (0.27 miles) and carries the railway over the A65 Kirkstall Road, the River Aire, and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Grainger’s design features 21 elegant segmental arches supported by rusticated piers. These piers, crafted from locally sourced Bramley Fall sandstone, showcase rock-faced ashlar construction, which contrasts strikingly with the red brick and darker industrial surroundings. The southern end of the viaduct includes a distinctive low elliptical arch over the canal. Notably, this viaduct also passed over rows of working-class back-to-back housing during its early years, emphasizing its role in Leeds’ 19th-century urban landscape.

The viaduct was completed on March 23, 1849, and became operational on July 9 of the same year. Despite the transformation of its surroundings into industrial parks, the viaduct remains a prominent local landmark, spanning the wide and shallow Aire Valley.

Designated as a Grade II listed structure on September 22, 1975, Kirkstall Viaduct is recognized for its national importance and special architectural interest. In 2020, the viaduct became a focal point of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme. Plans were proposed to install a flood wall with a hydrophilic seal around a pier north of the River Aire, addressing vulnerabilities highlighted by severe flooding on Boxing Day 2015.

Today, the Kirkstall Viaduct stands as a testament to 19th-century engineering, maintaining its role as an active railway link while remaining a symbol of Leeds’ industrial heritage.