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Network Rail Bridge 176 spans the River Walk path between Guithavon Valley and Highfields Road. The bridge was built as a 23ft span, 38ft long underline tunnel with a five-ring semi-circular arch. In such cases the ‘tunnel’ was built first and the embankment tipped over the top. This bridge is in a pale yellow brick (unlike the other original bridges in Witham). It has suffered some graffiti since, which has been overpainted.
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The extension of the eastern Counties Railway from Brentwood to Colchester was not opened until 1843.
By 1841 contracts were let for the building of the railway to Witham including a ‘Witham Embankment: 40,000 cubic yards carried with 180,000 cubic yards to complete. Considering these works were carried out by hand, including all the excavations and embankments, it was truly a massive undertaking and a remarkable achievement.
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Sources: Peter Kay (Essex Railway Heritage Supplement); Witham & Countryside Society