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I'm sure it is. You can see parts of it in some of the photos in this article:

Here's how it looked in 1955, so the arches were in place then and seem to form part of the viaduct structure.

Before refurb:

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After:

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I'm sure it is. You can see parts of it in some of the photos in this article:

A close look at the way the brick rings around the arches finish, in the refurbed M&S, compared with the old photo, confirms we're not looking at the same thing. The real viaduct is somewhere behind the fake brickwork. Apart from anything else, if they left the real brickwork exposed there'd be drips and leaks all over the place. And you can see they are new bricks.

Screenshot 2024-11-21 at 17.47.16.jpg

Screenshot 2024-11-21 at 17.50.46.jpg
 
A close look at the way the brick rings around the arches finish, in the refurbed M&S, compared with the old photo, confirms we're not looking at the same thing. The real viaduct is somewhere behind the fake brickwork. Apart from anything else, if they left the real brickwork exposed there'd be drips and leaks all over the place. And you can see they are new bricks.

View attachment 451948

View attachment 451949
I agree. Definitely a new cosmetic skin with a service void behind. It’s nicely done regardless.
 
A close look at the way the brick rings around the arches finish, in the refurbed M&S, compared with the old photo, confirms we're not looking at the same thing. The real viaduct is somewhere behind the fake brickwork. Apart from anything else, if they left the real brickwork exposed there'd be drips and leaks all over the place. And you can see they are new bricks.

View attachment 451948

View attachment 451949
So you reckon they've built a series of new arched vaults with new or reclaimed London stocks as well as making a new facing. I don't think so. You can see there's the same four brick courses at the end of the vaulting in both photos. And the bricks look like they've been nicely cleaned and repointed.
 
So you reckon they've built a series of new arched vaults with new or reclaimed London stocks as well as making a new facing. I don't think so. You can see there's the same four brick courses at the end of the vaulting in both photos. And the bricks look like they've been nicely cleaned and repointed.
The new arches look much narrower.
 
Aside from the fact that you couldn't just run a ventilation ducts and electrical trays straight into a solid railway viaduct, another clue that this is not the real viaduct wall is where it stops (red arrow) and the ceiling beams that carry on above & behind it (blue arrow).

If it were the real viaduct wall I'd be a bit worried about the railway tracks being held up by the M&S ceiling.


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Regardless of whether the arches are 'authentic' I think it looks great. Getting rid of all the clothing has freed up a huge amount of space to extend the food range. Popped in on Wednesday to take a look around and I'll be there again tomorrow to do my weekend food shop.
 
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