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Railings 1876
The viaduct was originally built using a combination of red brick and local red sandstone. The sandstone came from a quarry at the top of what is now Maypole Close, just a few yards north of the viaduct. Although it appeared strong and hard when freshly cut, it was liable to soften, split and disintegrate when exposed to the atmosphere. This was probably known by the contractors at the time with its use being a cost saving measure; the stone and brickwork on [[Dowles Bridge]] and other structures on the [[Wyre Forest Line|Tenbury and Bewdley Railway]] built only about two years later by the same contractors is of a far better quality.<ref name=SVR106>SVR News 106, "Bewdley Viaduct" (John Marshall)</ref><ref>SVR News 113, "Silica, Sandstone and the Severn Valley" (Keith Beddoes)</ref>
Iron railings were added in October 1876 following the death of a passenger who mistook the parapet for the station platform when alighting from a still moving train as it approached Bewdley from Tenbury.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001785/18761014/087/0005 Kidderminster Times and Advertiser for Bewdley & Stourport Saturday 14 October 1876 on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>. The railings have since been removed.
By the outbreak of the First World War the stonework in the viaduct had deteriorated badly, especially on the south-west side and in the retaining wall along Kidderminster Road which were exposed to the wettest winds. In 1915 large sections were cut out and replaced by blue engineering bricks which can be seen on the main photograph.<ref name=SVR106/> The neighbouring [[Accommodation bridge off Northwood Lane]] underwent similar repairs at that time which included a date plaque set into the bricks. The largest repair appears to have included a similar plaque near the top, although this is no longer legible. One of the smaller repairs in the revetment carries a plaque dated 7-1915.
