[WillowTheWhisp]

Inspired by mention elsewhere of the viaduct which used to exist down Priestley Clough we went for a walk earlier this evening and got chatting to a lady there who remembered the old viaduct and when it was demolished.

She told us that it had stood for many years after the railway line was closed down and people often went for a walk down there, just as they do now.

However it was demolished in the 1980s - when she asked the workmen why they told her is was because it was unsafe and yet when they tried to demolish it, it proved to be so firm and solid that they had to take it apart stone by stone. The foundations still remain in places and a new bridge has been (twice) built on them to carry the footpath across the river.

This latest version of the new bridge has only been open a few months.

She also told us of the death of someone who she and I both knew over 20 years ago - he either fell from the bridge, was pushed or committed suicide. Not long after his death the decision was made to demolish the bridge and she speculated that it probably had more to do with the death than with the stability of the structure.

Here are some photos taken on our walk.