Summary (by AI): I was so struck by the tremendous and architecturally stunning Chapel Viaduct in Essex that its unplanned discovery led me to revise my ABC tour rules to require prior intent.
Blog: I stumbled across the Chapel Viaduct while I was out in Essex, and I was immediately struck by it. I knew right then that I wanted to get it into the ABC tour, but I ran into a bit of a labeling dilemma. I’d already used "A" for Architecture and "H" for History, so I ended up filing it under "T" for Tradition. It’s a little bit cheeky, I’ll admit, but the place was just too good to leave out.
However, reflecting on that discovery actually led me to change my own rules for the tour. I’ve decided that from now on, I can only include or visit a location if I’ve properly planned it before leaving home that morning. If I just happen to run into something amazing by accident and count it, it feels like I'm making a mockery of the whole process. The ABC tour needs that element of intent.
Rule-breaking aside, the Chapel Viaduct itself is a tremendous place to visit. It serves a small, working branch line of the Great Eastern Railway, but don't let the "branch line" status fool you—it is actually one of the largest brick structures in all of Britain. It's composed of a staggering six million bricks.
There is a fantastic area nearby called Millennium Park where you can walk around and get these truly tremendous views of the viaduct's scale. But the real magic happens when you walk underneath it. Because of the specific way the structure was built, there are these incredible gaps down the middle of the piers. Apparently, those openings were originally designed just to save on the number of bricks used, but today they provide a stunning architectural perspective as you look through the heart of the viaduct.
The Map: