Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Foel Valve Tower
Rhayader, Powys, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Water Supply and Drainage
- Date of designation
- 31 July 1995
- Locality
- Elan Valley
- Community
- Rhayader
- Unitary authority
- Powys
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.26398, -3.59769
- Cadw reference
- 16201
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 1608 "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
Near NE end of Carreg Ddu viaduct.
History
Part of the Elan Valley reservoir scheme built by City of Birmingham 1893 to 1904. Engineer James Mansergh. The scheme was amongst the greatest civic achievements of the late C19. The Corporation of Birmingham employed direct labour for the scheme which involved the construction of 53 km of railway to transport materials from the Wye Valley line at Rhayader, 4 dams, an aqueduct 126 km long, and a village for construction workers. The height of the reservoirs enabled water to reach the outskirts of Birmingham by gravity alone, without the expense of pumping. Provision was made for future expansion in the Claerwen Valley where the scheme was brought to its current state by the Claerwen dam in 1952. Water supply to Birmingham is taken from this tower.
Exterior
Round valve tower; brown rock-faced stone. Upper stage has copper dome with low lantern and weathervane, seven round arched windows; towards landward side, doorway onto bridge connecting tower to land; bridge has elliptical arch and parapet which continues round broader lower stage of tower which runs down below water level. At least two tiers of barred round-headed intake windows.
Interior said to contain original operating machinery.
Reason for designation
Graded II* as an integral part of one of the greatest civic engineering achievements of the C19.
Group value.
Nearby in the register
- Elan Valley PillboxesPillboxunder 1 mi
- Carreg Ddu Viaduct and Submerged DamTransportunder 1 mi
- Rhos y Gelynnen Ring CairnRing Cairnunder 1 mi
- Rhos y Gelynnen Stone RowStone Rowunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.