Dark Bridge (Canal Bridge No 109)

Cadw's description

Location

Situated 0.45km E of Pen-pedair-heol Bridge (Canal Bridge No 110), this bridge links areas of woodland and carries a path.

History

The Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal was proposed in 1792 to connect the Upper Usk valley to the Monmouthshire Canal at Pontymoile and from there to the sea at Newport. The middle section of the canal, between Gilwern and Talybont and including Llangattock, was cut between 1797 and 1799. The upper section between Talybont and Brecon opened in 1800, both sections being engineered by Thomas Dadford. The lower section between Gilwern and Pontymoile was completed in 1812 and was engineered by William Crosley. The canal was sold to the Monmouthshire Canal Company in 1865, which was later incorporated into the Great Western Railway. The last toll was taken on the canal in 1933 and it was finally abandoned in 1962. The canal, renamed the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, has been undergoing restoration since 1964, and is currently used by pleasure craft.

This bridge lies within the section constructed by Thomas Dadford between 1797 and 1799.

Exterior

Single-span bridge of rubble sandstone with asymmetrical segmental arch and continuous parapets. The narrow deck slopes up sharply from N to S. The arch has thin voussoirs, and on the E (downstream) side is a cast iron plaque with the bridge number cast in relief. The parapets are splayed, especially sharply to the S. A low wall running parallel with the towpath butts the NE side of the bridge.

Reason for designation

Listed for its special interest as one of a group of well-preserved original Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal bridges.