Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Ynysafan Tramroad Bridge
Cwmavon, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 9 August 1993
- Locality
- Cwmavon
- Town
- Port Talbot
- Community
- Cwmavon
- Unitary authority
- Neath Port Talbot
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.61661, -3.75356
- Cadw reference
- 15845
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
At the end of a lane off Ynysafan terrace and crossing the River Afan.
History
A 3-arched viaduct built to carry the Bryn Railroad over the River Afan. The Bryn Railroad was an early horse-drawn railway or tramroad which connected coal mines on the east of the valley at Bryn to the coast, the copperworks to the west established by the English Copper Company in 1838 and the ironworks just to the south established c1810. The viaduct dates from c1840 or earlier, and may have been built as early as 1819. Horse-drawn tramroads were vital to the development of the south Wales coal field in this period.
Exterior
Built of coursed rubble sandstone with 3 elliptical arches of dressed face voussoirs with rubble vaults springing from 2 narrow piers and from curving abutments. There are dressed stone triangular cutwaters which step in towards the top, to both sides of the piers. The parapets are in rougher stonework and may be later additions. They are partly missing. The bridge is unusually wide and may have carried a double line of track. A modern steel footbridge has been erected across the top, spanning the entire structure along the N side.
Reason for designation
Listed as an unusually complete early C19 tramroad bridge of impressive proportions. The viaduct is one of only 5 multi-span tramroad bridges known to remain in Wales.
Nearby in the register
- Penuel ChapelReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Pen-y-CastellHillfortunder 1 mi
- Church of St MichaelReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Tabernacle ChapelReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.