Pont-y-Cafnau
Pont-y-Cafnau | |
|---|---|
 Pont-y-Cafnau | |
| Coordinates | 51°45′17″N 3°23′44″W / 51.75467°N 3.39550°W |
| Carries | (originally) Gurnos Tramway, aqueduct; (today) pedestrians |
| Crosses | River Taff |
| Locale | Cyfarthfa Ironworks, Merthyr Tydfil |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | King post truss |
| Material | Cast iron |
| Total length | 14.2 metres (47 ft) |
| History | |
| Designer | Watkin George |
| Constructed by | Cyfarthfa Ironworks |
| Construction end | January–June, 1793 |
| Location | |
 | |
The Pont-y-Cafnau (
History
The Cyfarthfa Ironworks were founded in 1765 and grew to the world's largest
Taff River.[8] The bridge was built between January and June 1793, replacing a previous wooden structure, and is the world's oldest known iron railway bridge.[1][2]
The elevated trough carrying the Taff Fawr leat was removed by 1850, having been replaced by a leat along the south bank of that river.
Design
The present bridge was designed by Watkin George. George had been trained as a carpenter, but in 1792 became the chief engineer of the ironworks and a partner in the business.
Heritage
On 22 August 1975, the bridge was listed as a Grade II*
Scheduled Ancient Monument (reference number GM424).[4] It has been refurbished by the local authority and is used as a footbridge.[2]
See also
- Gaunless Bridge, an iron railway bridge, built by Stephenson in 1823, and the first iron bridge to be built for a railway, rather than a tramway.
- Old Iron Bridge, Merthyr Tydfil
- List of bridges in Wales
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pont-y-Cafnau.
- ^ DeLony, Efic (1996). "Context for World Heritage Bridges". International Council on Monuments and Sites. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- ^ ISBN 0-7277-2576-9.
- ^ National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ a b Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (1990). "Cadw Scheduling Records". Retrieved 14 January 2010.
- ^ 51°45′54″N 3°23′57″W / 51.7651176°N 3.3991528°W
- ^ "Pont-y-Cafnau". Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^ Rowson, Stephen & Wright, Ian. The Glamorganshire and Aberdare Canals, Black Dwarf Publications 2001, 65,69
- ^ Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust. "Historic Landscape Characterisation: Merthyr Tydfil – 012 Cyfarthfa Iron Works". Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ISBN 0-7277-2939-X.
- ^ Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (2007). "RCAHMW Digital Survey, Pont y Cafnau Aqueduct". Retrieved 12 January 2010.