Torksey

Foss Dyke, a Roman canal constructed in or about the 2nd century, joins the River Trent by way of a series of lock-gates about one-half mile (800 m) south of the village.

During the 9th century, Torksey was part of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Lindsey. In the late 860s, a Viking invasion force known to the English as the "Great Heathen Army" conquered eastern England. In 871–2, the Vikings established a winter camp in London, but returned to Northumbria soon afterwards, following a rebellion against their rule. During 872–3, the Great Heathen Army established its winter quarters at Torksey.^[4] The archaeological remains of the winter camp lie between the modern villages of Torksey and Marton east of the River Trent. Geophysical surveys and excavations revealed that the winter camp occupied a total area of roughly fifty-five hectares. Mark Blackburn was the first to conduct archaeological investigations of the site. A further project was developed from the 2011 investigations and was carried out between the British Museum in partnership with the University of York and with the support of the British Academy, Society of Antiquaries of London, and the Robert Kiln Trust. Archaeological data continues to be acquired via metal detecting and over one thousand items of Viking-Age metalwork have been discovered.^[5]

The now Grade I listed 16th-century Torksey Castle was destroyed in August 1645 during the English Civil War; its remains are on the river side of the dike which separates it from dry land.^[6]

Torksey Viaduct, a disused Grade II* listed railway bridge, has two 130 feet (40 m) spans across the River Trent. It was built between 1847 and 1849 to carry the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (Clarborough Junction-Sykes Junction branch). It is of unusual design and is regarded as the first box girder bridge.^[7] It was designed by John Fowler, who had been influenced by Fairbairn and Stephenson's tubular bridges at Conwy and the Menai Straits. The tubular girder bridge was not initially accepted by the Board of Trade's inspector Lintorn Simmons;^[8] this decision (and also the basic premise that a bridge designed by a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers which had passed all practical tests could be rejected by a railway inspector because he was uncomfortable with its novel design) was criticised by the ICE:^[9] "The subject has been discussed in the Institution of Civil Engineers, and every eminent engineer was of the opinion that the Government inspector was clearly wrong". Threatened with a call for a parliamentary enquiry should approval continue to be withheld, the Railway Inspectorate reconsidered and approved the bridge un-modified.^[10] Subsequently, and consequently, the Board of Trade took the view that (as it explained in defending itself from criticism that the defects in the Tay Bridge should have been seen and acted upon by the Railway Inspectorate): "The duty of an inspecting officer, so far as regards design, is to see that the construction is not such as to transgress those rules and precautions which practice and experience have proved to be necessary for safety. If he were to go beyond this, or if he were to make himself responsible for every novel design, and if he were to attempt to introduce new rules and practices not accepted by the profession, he would be removing from the civil engineer, and taking upon himself a responsibility not committed to him by Parliament."^[11] Torksey bridge was strengthened in 1897 by adding a more conventional central truss above the deck rather than by strengthening the box.^[9]

The viaduct was closed to traffic on 2 November 1959, because of the cost of renovating it at a time when British Railways were under pressure to reduce costs, and passenger trains between Retford and Lincoln were diverted via Gainsborough.^[12]

The environmental charity Sustrans has carried out work on the viaduct in preparation for opening it as a walk/cycle-way.^[13] They obtained planning permission in 2015 for the paths, which Sustrans aimed to link as a walking and cycling route to connect the quiet roads east of Torksey with those west of Cottam, a village about 1.2 miles (2 km) to the west.^[14] In April 2016, the viaduct was opened to both cyclists and walkers.^[15]

• List of crossings of the River Trent

• Dawn M. Hadley and Julian D. Richards, "The Winter Camp of the Viking Great Army, AD 872–3, Torksey, Lincolnshire", The Antiquaries Journal, vol. 96 (2016), pp. 23–67.

• Historic England. "Castle - Grade I (1064079)". National Heritage List for England.
• Historic England. "Railway viaduct - Grade II* (1359456)". National Heritage List for England.
• Heritage at Risk Register: Torksey