Carmarthenshire Dock west quay

Cadw's description

Location

Located on the west bank of the Afon Lliedi adjacent to North Dock.

History

Carmarthenshire Dock was built c1799 by the local industrialist Alexander Raby as a shipping point for his coal and iron. A tramroad was built from the canal to Raby's furnace at Cwmddyche at the same time. In 1802 the Act was passed for the 'Carmarthenshire Railway or Tramroad' to be built from the dock to limestone quarries west of Llandybie. The tramroad was opened in 1803, making it by a few weeks the earliest autonomous public railway in Britain. The engineer was James Barnes, who was also responsible for the company's reconstruction of Carmarthenshire Dock in 1804-6. This included constructing a new quay on the west bank of the river, a connecting wall to the east quay, and a weir and reservoir. The dock remained busy throughout the nineteenth century. The dock continues to be used to moor small boats.

Exterior

A well constructed stone quay built in 1805. The quay is straight and level from its northern end at the former tranroad bridge and extends for some 170m roughly southwards. It is crossed near its southern end by a modern road bridge. It is constructed of dressed sandstone, carefully coursed, with large sandstone copings. The wall is approximately 6m high from the current silt level in the Afon Lliedi, and is slightly battered to the base. It is thought to be tied to a concealed stone dock floor.

Reason for designation

Listed as an important surviving structure from Llanelli's early industrial development, and linked with the first public railway opened in Britain.