Galleries - July 2024

CHAPPEL VIADUCT ARCHES at the East Anglian Railway Museum 175th Anniversary Exhibition W Ł A D Y S Ł A W M I R E C K I 64 WATERCOLOURS EAST & WEST VIEWS This Exhibition celebrates the 175th anniversary of the Chappel Viaduct which was completed in 1849. It was built by the Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury and Halstead Railway under the direction of railway engineer, Peter Bruff. Bruff was also instrumental in the development of both Clacton on Sea and Walton on the Naze as resorts. The first train ran across the viaduct on Monday 2nd July. On entering the branch line the engine’s chimney became entangled with the triumphal arch that had been erected, causing the arch to fall onto the engine, which continued to Sudbury adorned with foliage and woodwork. Hopefully no such mishaps will befall the celebration weekend. As part of the viaduct commemoration, this exhibition by renowned Chappel-based artist Władysław Mirecki is being staged at the museum Goods Shed between 15th June and 18th August. On display are Mirecki’s 64 watercolours of the viaduct’s arches. He has painted each of the 32 arches from both east and west perspective, and, seen together in one place, the paintings are breathtaking. It is fortunate that the museum has a space adequate for the exhibiting of the complete set. Born in Chelmsford of Polish parents, Władysław Mirecki is self-taught and has painted all his life. He painted whilst studying for his science degree at Kingston Polytechnic, London (1975-78); then during his time as an industrial designer and whilst co-proprietor of Chappel Galleries (1986 to the present day). The viaduct, was built with seven million bricks, making it one of the largest brick-built railway structures in the UK. The Stockport and Ouse Valley viaducts used approximately 11 million. For comparison the Stanley Dock warehouse in Liverpool, the world’s largest brick-built warehouse, now 550 apartments, took 27 million and Battersea Power Station six million. Sited on the Gainsborough line between Marks Tey and Sudbury the 32-arch structure is just to the south of Chappel and Wakes Colne station where the East Anglian Railway Museum is located. The viaduct was under threat in the 70’s when the government announced that the Marks Tey – Sudbury line would close in 1974 with the viaduct to be demolished. The plan was abandoned in the aftermath of the oil crisis triggered by the 1973 Arab-Israel Yom Kippur war, which had raised concerns about the future availability of petrol. In 1967 the viaduct was Grade II listed as being of special interest and in 2002 it became a scheduled monument due to its role in the “stop line” strategy developed to respond in the event of an invasion in 1941. The Historic England listing states,