Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Claerwen Dam, including attached footbridges (partly in Llanwrthwl Community)
Rhayader, Powys, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 31 July 1995
- Locality
- Elan Valley
- Community
- Rhayader
- Unitary authority
- Powys
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.25929, -3.65748
- Cadw reference
- 16222
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
Approximately 11 km SW of Rhayader; reached via Elan Valley road.
History
The great reservoir scheme in the adjacent Elan Valley built by City of Birmingham 1893 to 1904 made provision for future expansion into the Claerwen Valley where the scheme was brought to its current state by the Claerwen dam built between 1948 and 1952. Engineers Sir William Halcrow & Partners.
Exterior
Masonry-faced concrete dam, approximately 56m high, supports viaduct on 13 elliptical arches; stone parapets. Central arch of viaduct broader, and carries viewing platform with balustrade; end piers of platform run down full height of dam framing stepped spillway. At foot of this, two buttresses with doorways which are linked by bridges (diagonally set) over pool at foot of dam. To ends of dam, stepped spillways with parapet walls, spillways broaden as they drop, walls turn to frame channel in front of foot of dam which is spanned by stone bridge of 2 segmental arches, with iron railings.
Reason for designation
Listed as impressive civil engineering project of high architectural quality.
Nearby in the register
- Gauge House at Claerwen ReservoirWater Supply and Drainageunder 1 mi
- Claerwen dam, including attached footbridges (partly in Rhayader community)Water Supply and Drainageunder 1 mi
- Road bridge below Claerwen dam (partly in Rhayader community)Transportunder 1 mi
- Cerrig Llwydion Deserted Rural SettlementDeserted Rural Settlement1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.