Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Pont y Bettws
Betws Gwerfil Goch, Denbighshire, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Bettws Gwerfil Goch, Betws Gwerfil Goch, Denbighshire, designated on 1 April 1998.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 1 April 1998
- Locality
- Bettws Gwerfil Goch
- Community
- Betws Gwerfil Goch
- Unitary authority
- Denbighshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.00654, -3.44776
- Cadw reference
- 19579
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1795 map "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1795 · To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most… (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 120 Corwen (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
The bridge is at the SE end of Bettws Gwerfil Goch village and carries the road to Corwen over the Afon Alwen.
History
Built in 1785, according to the datestone; apparently to the design of the County Surveyor Joseph Turner. (Turner is known to have designed bridges, though this one is not mentioned in Colvin's Biographical Dictionary.) This probably replaces an earlier bridge at a lower level, and was designed to cope with flood conditions.
The construction of a reservoir upstream has since removed the flooding risk at Pont y Bettws.
Exterior
Built of local ashlar with a rubble stone parapet, with a datestone set below the coping on the road face of the main span. Three semicircular arches, the centre arch spanning 13.1 m and rising 5.7 m above the river, and each flood arch of 10.4 m span, rising approximately 5 m above the water. Each arch is constructed with 0.6 m voussoirs and a regulating course and spans on to water piers. The flush parallel spandrels rise to flush shale-coped and iron cramped parapets, providing a carriageway width of 5.5 m, the total width of the bridge being 6.3 m. The abutments are slightly outset and swing outwards to terminate in square stone piers. Pilasters rise from each water pier between the spans.
Reason for designation
Included as a fine example of a dated C18 road bridge, one of the few 3-arch bridges built during the period of improvements to the minor roads of the district which took place in the late C18 and early C19.
Nearby in the register
- Y Gro, including railings to forecourtDomesticunder 1 mi
- Capel-y-gro, with Ty-capel and Schoolroom, including railings in front of the graveyardReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- The HandDomesticunder 1 mi
- Church of St MaryReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.