ENGINEERS working on the project to make Dawlish railway line more resilient have uncovered an historic piece of the town’s heritage.

The team working to excavate the stilling basin came across a large piece of granite.

With help from Dawlish Local History Group, it was identified as part of the original colonnade columns, built by Brunel when the railway between Exeter and Newton Abbot was constructed in the 1840s.

After the initial discovery, the team searched the excavation site further and were able to retrieve another piece of the column.

Both have been removed so they can be preserved as a reminder of the town’s railway history.

A spokesman for Network Rail, which is running the resilience programme, said: ‘Celebrating the history of the original sea wall is an important part of the new wall project, which will ensure the railway’s resilience for future generations.

‘Wall panels have been installed which feature sketches of structures that previously stood on the wall, such as the old coastguard’s boathouse, and eight information boards will be displayed along the new wall to tell the story of this historic stretch of Brunel’s railway.

‘Unearthing the past while working to ensure the future is a fantastic reminder of Devon’s railway history, showing how important this line continues to be for the local community and all those who use it.’