Tanfield Arch Postcard – Beamish Causey Arch Engraving

Description

Tanfield Arch Postcard – Beamish Causey Arch Engraving

Engraving of Tanfield Arch — the world’s first railway bridge — captured in evocative pastoral style from an original painting, now part of Beamish Museum’s historical tribute.

Measurements: approx. 5 7/8 x 4 inches
Dates: not available
Condition: In decent condition. Please check our images.
Internal notes: QC passed

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Winding through a wooded valley beneath a graceful stone arch, this scene conjures the tranquil beauty of early 18th-century County Durham — a place where nature and industry quietly intersected. The soaring Tanfield Arch, also known as Causey Arch, was constructed in 1727 to carry colliery wagons over the gorge — an engineering marvel long before the railway age truly began.

This historically respectful postcard reproduces an engraving by I.C. Stadler after a painting by Joseph Atkinson, offering a romanticised yet topographically faithful view of the bridge. It was published by E.T.W. Dennis & Sons Ltd., Scarborough, and distributed via Beamish, the North of England Open Air Museum, where efforts continue to preserve Britain’s industrial past.

Causey Arch is believed to be the oldest surviving railway bridge in the world, making this card a fitting piece for railway enthusiasts, industrial heritage collectors, or admirers of fine 18th-century topographical prints. Owning this postcard is a quiet act of stewardship — a way to honour innovation, labour, and the landscapes they transformed.

Categories:
bridges, ephemera, industrial, postcards, railway, travel, vintage

Tags:
beamish, causey, durham, engraving, history, northumberland, railway, stadler, tanfield, vintage

Focus Keyword:
tanfield arch postcard

Suggested Internal Link Keywords:
tanfield arch, causey arch, beamish museum, early railway, joseph atkinson, 18th century engraving, industrial heritage

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