Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Cilsan Bridge
Llanfihangel Aberbythych, Carmarthenshire, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 27 August 1999
- Locality
- Cilsan Bridge
- Town
- Llanelli
- Community
- Llanfihangel Aberbythych
- Unitary authority
- Carmarthenshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.87332, -4.05011
- Cadw reference
- 22197
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 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
On the River Towy carrying the road from Golden Grove village to Llangathen.
History
The bridge was built near the site of the former Cilsan Ferry. It is believed that The Three Commons Turnpike Trust (dissolved 1845) had planned a bridge in this location, and there are references to a bridge here by the 1850s: in June 1850, the published 'Diary of Thomas Jenkins' has an entry as follows: 'took Miss Davies over Cilsan Bridge in phaeton', and R.K. Penson's 'Carmarthenshire Bridges 1854, sketches' notes a bill for bridge repairs at Cilsan. The 1839 Tithe map shows a newly built approach road (but no bridge) suggesting perhaps a bridge was built here c.1840-45.
Exterior
Fine stone bridge of three equal spans. High arches, designed to cope with the notorious flooding of the Towy.
Squared limestone common masonry in small courses; dressings in ashlar: arches, cutwaters, parapets. The arches are semi-elliptical, with spans of about 18m. Cutwaters with a small offset at mid height, sloping top, countinued up to parapet level as shallow pilasters. The carriageway is wide, with low parapets each side. Grey limestone copings. At the approaches the carriageway is wider and the parapets are in a rougher masonry.
Reason for designation
An elegant mid-Victorian main-road bridge in local masonry.
Nearby in the register
- Pont Cilsan (partly in Llanfihangel Aberbythych)Transportunder 1 mi
- War Memorial in Llangathen ChurchyardCommemorativeunder 1 mi
- Church of St CathenReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Neuadd LlangathenRecreationalunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.