The viaduct connects Knaresborough with Harrogate on the Harrogate line, in North Yorkshire, England.^[8] The line was built in 1848 with the Leeds and Thirsk Railway creating a branch from their line at Starbeck railway station to go through Knaresborough and connect with the line that was being built westwards from York as part of the East and West Yorkshire Junction Railway.^[9] Just as the viaduct had been almost completed, it collapsed into the River Nidd on 11 March 1848.^[10] The resultant noise of the falling masonry was said to have lasted for five minutes. Whilst there was no official inquiry, it is believed that the collapse of the viaduct was down to a combination of bad workmanship, poor materials and excess water in the swollen river below as a result of heavy rain over a period of two months.^[11] Despite the collapse, the centre span was still in-situ and had to be demolished before work could start again on a replacement viaduct.^[12]

It is a lovely place to visit not only do you get a guided tour that explains the history and how the mill works.  There is also opportunity to walk around the mill pools and through the surrounding woodlands which allow views of the mill from different perspectives.

There is also the opportunity to walk under the viaduct (part of the severn valley railway) and view it from both sides along with trains travelling along the viaduct.  The walk also allows you to see the track and the steam trains at eye level.  The train drivers often blow the trains whistle and wave to visitors as the train passes by.  The flour that the mill produces can be purchased raw or in the form of scones in the tea shop.

From a signboard at Daniels Mill:

In the late 1850s the railway came to the area and the imposing Oldbury Viaduct was built.  Absorbed into the Great Western Railway in the 1870s, the mill owners were one of many small share owners of the original construction company.

The connection has been maintained, and the present miller Alan George, became a founder member of the Severn Valley Railway Society set up in the late 1960s to rescue the line after it was closed under the ‘Beeching Axe’.  Today it operates as a successful heritage railway with regular services between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster

The viaduct is on the Settle-Carlisle Railway line. It has 24 arches, is 100 feet high and 440 yards long.