Roman Town

Category: Aston Cantlow

  • Aston Cantlow Railway Bridge

    One of the surviving railway bridges that once carried the Alcester Branch between Alcester and Bearley crosses the River Alne near Aston Cantlow. In its working days, trains would have passed over this bridge multiple times each day.

    The bridge seen today is not the original structure. In January 1901, severe flooding caused the River Alne to burst its banks, washing away the original steel girders. According to the book The Alcester Branch, the displaced girders were never recovered and are believed to still lie in the river beside the bridge abutments.

    I ventured down to the bridge to photograph what remains today.

    Aston Cantlow railway bridge crossing the River Alne, surrounded by dense vegetation
    The disused railway bridge over the River Alne at Aston Cantlow, viewed from the south on 25 August 2026.

    Standing on the river bank you get a good view of the bridge from the south. One of the three flood arches are visible on the Bearley end, to the right of the photo.

    Aston Cantlow railway bridge crossing the River Alne, framed by trees and riverside vegetation
    The disused railway bridge over the River Alne at Aston Cantlow, viewed from the north on 25 August 2026.
    Aston Cantlow railway bridge crossing the River Alne, surrounded by dense trees and vegetation
    The disused railway bridge over the River Alne at Aston Cantlow, viewed from the north on 25 August 2026.
    Close view of Aston Cantlow railway bridge crossing the River Alne, showing its riveted iron girder
    The surviving riveted iron girder of the disused railway bridge over the River Alne at Aston Cantlow, photographed on 25 August 2026.
    Close-up of the riveted iron girders of Aston Cantlow railway bridge over the River Alne
    Close-up of the surviving riveted iron girders of the disused railway bridge over the River Alne at Aston Cantlow, photographed on 25 August 2026.
    Underside of Aston Cantlow railway bridge showing iron girders above the River Alne
    The surviving ironwork beneath the former railway bridge over the River Alne at Aston Cantlow, photographed on 25 August 2026.
    Brick abutment and underside of Aston Cantlow railway bridge over the River Alne, looking towards Alcester
    The brick abutment and underside of the former railway bridge over the River Alne at Aston Cantlow, looking towards Alcester on 25 August 2026.
    Close-up of the brick abutment and iron girder of Aston Cantlow railway bridge over the River Alne
    Close-up of the brick abutment and adjoining iron girder of the former railway bridge at Aston Cantlow, looking towards Alcester on 25 August 2026.

    What isn’t visible on the banks are the two masonry blocks at the top of the abutments. Are these original or were they put in after the re-construction in 1901?

    Brick abutment beneath Aston Cantlow railway bridge over the River Alne, looking towards Bearley
    The brick abutment beneath the former railway bridge over the River Alne at Aston Cantlow, looking towards Bearley on 25 August 2026.
    Top-down view of the surviving iron structure of Aston Cantlow railway bridge above the River Alne
    A top-down view of the surviving ironwork of the former railway bridge over the River Alne at Aston Cantlow, photographed on 25 August 2026.

    You’d be hard pressed to find many photographs of this bridge, or indeed much information about it, outside of a handful of local history books. Although the structure now shows clear signs of age and decay, it remains in surprisingly good condition considering that the last train crossed it around 75 years ago.

    I’m a firm believer in preserving our local history. We would miss these things if they were to disappear, so at the very least, it’s important that we document them while they are still here.

    All photograph’s on this page were taken on Tuesday the 25th of August 2026.