Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Former Tramroad Bridge
Newcastle Higher, Bridgend, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 20 October 1988
- Locality
- Aberkenfig
- Community
- Newcastle Higher
- Unitary authority
- Bridgend
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.53530, -3.59420
- Cadw reference
- 11351
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
Spanning a stream close to the junction with Ogmore River on W side; reached from E side of Bridgend Road between M4 motorway and B4281 road bridge.
History
Built to carry the Bridgend Railway, a horse-drawn railway built between 1827 and 1830 between Bridgend and the Dyffryn Llynfi and Porthcawl Railway, which in turn linked the area with the harbour at Porthcawl. The engineer for the railway was John Hodgkinson, who began as principal assistant to Benjamin Outram and became a leading early railway engineer in his own right, responsible for several important lines in South Wales and the Midlands. The railway opened in 1830 and was absorbed into the South Wales Railway in 1861 but abandoned by 1864.
Exterior
Single-arched bridge of coursed rubble sandstone, which has a round arch with tooled voussoirs and quoins. The abutments are swept out slightly. Above the arch is a shallow string course. Originally there was no parapet, but timber posts and iron rails have been added.
Reason for designation
A rare example of an early railway bridge and an important component of the early industrial history of the district.
Nearby in the register
- Tynygarn Mile markerTransportunder 1 mi
- Glan Rhyd Railway ViaductTransportunder 1 mi
- Glan Rhyd Railway Viaduct (partly in Newcastle Higher community)Transportunder 1 mi
- Williams monument and railings in Llansantffraid churchyardCommemorativeunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.