Holborn Viaduct

Holborn Viaduct, from the north.

Holborn Viaduct was designed by the City Surveyor, William Heywood, as a way to connect Holborn with Newgate Street, over the Fleet valley.

Work began in 1863 and took six years to complete, at a cost of around £2.5 million. It is 1,440 feet (438 metres) long and 80 feet (24 metres) wide.

Along with the construction of Holborn Viaduct, Charterhouse Street, St Andrew's Street and Holborn Circus were also built.

Holborn Viaduct is adorned with ornate decorations that include, City of London dragons and four bronze statues. The bronze statues were erected in 1868 and, on its north side, represent 'Agriculture' and 'Commerce', while the two on the south side represent 'Fine Arts' and 'Science'. They were designed by Henry Bursill.

The firm Farmer and Brindley produced many of the sculptures, but not the statues.

On the corners of the bridge stood four Italian Gothic style buildings, of which two and a half remain. These contain stairwells, allowing access to Farringdon Street, below. These buildings, or pavilions, have niches that contain statues of Henry Fitzailwyn, the first Mayor; Sir Hugh Myddelton; Sir Thomas Gresham, founder of the Royal Exchange and Gresham College; Sir William Walworth, the Lord Mayor.

Below, ornate granite columns and stone arches support the cast iron viaduct. The intricate design of the underside of the viaduct is sadly missed by those who use the viaduct. Those using Farringdon Street whizz past without noticing the work that Victorian engineers put into the project, too.

On Saturday November 6, 1869, Holborn Viaduct was opened by Queen Victoria. This was the same day that she opened Blackfriars Bridge.