Wasteland no more. Let me tell you about the Millwall Viaduct. It stands as a testament to the Isle of Dogs’ industrial past. The Millwall Viaduct, known as The Arches to locals, is a rare 19th-century survivor.
The Millwall Viaduct was built around 1872. It formed part of the Millwall Extension of the London and Blackwall railway line. The extension ran from Millwall Junction to North Greenwich Railway Station.
Early images of the Millwall Viaduct include a fanciful drawing in a 1905 magazine. A 1903 photo shows the arches in the background of a Millwall football match. By 1920, a steam train traveled over the Millwall Viaduct. The area around it transformed into the Millwall Recreation Ground.
Some arches of the Millwall Viaduct were enclosed and occupied by businesses. Railway traffic declined after WWI. Passenger services ceased in 1926. Hawkins and Tipsons demolished a section of the arches.
The remaining section of the Millwall Viaduct gained a new purpose during WWII. It was used as a public air raid shelter. Bunk beds and heavy entry doors were installed. Some damage to the Millwall Viaduct occurred during the war.
The Docklands Light Railway reused the Millwall Viaduct in the 1980s. Trains ran along the top of the arches for the first time in 60 years. In 1999, the DLR extended through a tunnel. The Millwall Viaduct lost its function as a railway viaduct again.
In 2007, Millwall Rugby Football Club leased two arches as its clubhouse. There has been talk of creating a garden and walkway on top of the arches. Today, weeds grow there.
The Millwall Viaduct has seen two periods of train-carrying service. The first ended in failure. The other ended in success. The terminus station was called North Greenwich. Some say it was to sound more upmarket than Millwall.
The railway was busy on match days when Millwall Football Club played nearby. In 1982, the London Docklands Development Corporation built a light railway. It followed the old Millwall Extension route. A second railway bridge over Manchester Road was constructed.
The Island Gardens branch ran through Canary Wharf. It went down to South Quay and then to Crossharbour. This followed the Millwall Extension Railway across the Millwall Viaduct. The line terminated at Island Gardens.
Although not used now, the Millwall Viaduct remains. It is the only evidence of the Millwall Extension Railway. The Millwall Viaduct stands as a reminder of the past. It reminds us of the island’s industrial heritage. Mesh fencing on some arches features art.
Remember the Millwall Viaduct. It’s more than just old arches. It’s a piece of the Isle of Dogs’ vibrant history.