A modern, sleek building in the distance surrounded by trees, with a vast open field in the foreground, architecture by MOXON Architects.

Oxford Canal Viaduct

Stratford upon Avon, England

2017

Client HS2 Ltd

Infrastructure · Road & Rail

Oxford Canal Viaduct is located between Banbury and Daventry and is one of 15 viaducts and bridges across the central area of the HS2 route. It crosses the Oxford Canal, which is one of the oldest in Britain and was designed to bring coal from the Coventry coalfields to Oxford and the River Thames.

A calm river reflecting the sky and surrounding trees, with a bridge in the distance, lush green grass along the banks, and architecture by MOXON Architects.

A canal with a narrowboat passing under a modern bridge, flanked by greenery and a cloudy sky, architecture by MOXON Architects.

Set low in the landscape three concrete spans will carry the railway 62.5 metres across the canal, towpath, and a country lane near the village of Wormleighton close to the border between Warwickshire and West Northants.

Following engagement with the local community, local ironstone will be used on the piers and abutments that face onto the towpath and passing canal boats. Tough and hardwearing, the warm-brown stone has been a feature of local buildings for hundreds of years and gets its name from the small quantities of iron ore contained within it.