IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Market Meadow, ORPINGTON, BR5 3NW

The viaduct carries the main line to the Medway towns and points east.

Built in 1860 to carry the London Chatham and Dover main line. Through the arch can be seen St Mary's Church (see Image).

A railway viaduct in St Mary Cray, in the outer suburbs of south east London. The viaduct carries the main line from London to Chatham, Dover and the Isle of Thanet. Look closely at the viaduct arches, and it may become obvious that it is two structures, one behind the other. The railway line originally had two tracks, carried by the viaduct further back. Two more tracks were added in the late 1950s, which meant the viaduct needed to be widened. This was done by adding the section of viaduct in front, closer to the camera.

John Newman in Pevsner's 'The Buildings of England: West Kent and the Weald' writing in 1969 was fairly scathing about St Mary Cray. He wrote: "The post-war expansion in the Cray Valley has been terrific... So it is an indictment of the planners that St Mary Cray is no place to linger in, and an indictment of the architects, and also it must be admitted of post-war austerity, that there is hardly anything worthy to be mentioned in 'The Buildings of England'; not a factory, not a school, not a housing estate, just one undistinguished church." Of the church he says: "Below the intimidating arches of the railway viaduct. Outside all one sees is of the restoration of 1861-3 (E. Nash), 1876 and 1895. ..But in essence the church is early 13th century. West tower and shingled spire. Nave and aisles of three bays." This view looks downriver to where the River Cray flows underneath St Mary Cray viaduct which is here between St Mary Cray and Swanley stations. The viaduct was built in 1860 for the London, Chatham & Dover Railway. On the right is what was the Mary Rose Hotel which has now been renamed The Pavilion.

Grade II listed inn dating originally from the 17th century - for listing particulars see www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359327.

John Newman in Pevsner's 'The Buildings of England: West Kent and the Weald' writing in 1969 was fairly scathing about St Mary Cray. He wrote: "The post-war expansion in the Cray Valley has been terrific... So it is an indictment of the planners that St Mary Cray is no place to linger in, and an indictment of the architects, and also it must be admitted of post-war austerity, that there is hardly anything worthy to be mentioned in 'The Buildings of England'; not a factory, not a school, not a housing estate, just one undistinguished church." Of the church he says: "Below the intimidating arches of the railway viaduct. Outside all one sees is of the restoration of 1861-3 (E. Nash), 1876 and 1895. ..But in essence the church is early 13th century. West tower and shingled spire. Nave and aisles of three bays." Seen from the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin is St Mary Cray viaduct between St Mary Cray and Swanley stations. The viaduct was built in 1860 for the London, Chatham & Dover Railway.

On the village green on the junction of the High Street (unseen, to the right), Sandway Road (in the background) and the B258 Millbrook Road (on the left). In the background is Image

The Green at the junction of High Street and Sandway Road. In the centre is the village sign - see Image Behind is the Mary Rose Hotel (see Image) and in the background is the viaduct carrying the South Eastern main line from London Victoria to Chatham and Dover.